Maggie Blackbird

I recently joined the Author Toolbox Blog Hop.  What is it?  A chance for authors at any stage in their career to connect by providing helpful posts related to all things writing.  The Hop occurs once a month, with the exception of November and December.  My first post for The Hop is on scheduling.  So read on…

I’m not sure what I’d do without my trusty built-in computer calendar.  I’m a scheduler at heart.  Everything for me runs according to schedule LOL.  It’s true.  I schedule my days, because if I don’t, I become consumed by the dreaded sidetracking.  I’m not saying everything in my daily schedule goes off without a hitch.  Because it doesn’t.  There are times when my day doesn’t start at five in the morning.  Like today, I overslept, LOL.

But I’m at the computer, working away, because my early mornings (once my daily walk and workouts are out of the way) are dedicated to promo and marketing.  My blog is active seven days a week.  So scheduling is a must.  And this handy-dandy computer calendar, along with excel spreadsheets keep me organised.

Being a new author (my first book was published in the summer of 2018), getting my name out there is imperative, and I do this by engaging and helping other authors.  Not only am I tour host for three author book promotion web sites, I also host my own interviews, book reviews, etc. at my blog.  And, I participate at other numerous events all over the web, whether at Facebook, another author’s blog, a book reviewer’s site, or wherever someone will host me.

Now, crazy me, went and signed up for the monthly Author Toolbox Blog Hop.  I’m a glutton for punishment, aren’t I?  LOL.

When I first look at my trusty calendar, I know right away what I have scheduled for myself, and what I have scheduled for guests.  I keep my activities in CAPS, and guests in lowercase.  This lets me know right away if my commitments are closing in, or if I have an opening for a potential guest at my blog.

This morning, I thought, “Oh boy, my first blog hop is coming up, I’d better get a post written.”  This post is third on my list of marketing/promo duties.  I had other items to address before tackling a new blog post.

Mornings work best for me because this is when I’m most focussed, and I need a focussed mind when it comes to marketing/promo.  My writing doesn’t happen until the later morning, the later afternoon, and in the evening (if I’m home).

 

The calendar is also handy for reminders, and the calendar follows me wherever I go.  It’s linked to my laptop and my iPhone through my email address.

In my former job, I used a day planner.  Not anymore.  Sure, I can take the day planner wherever I go, but I much prefer the computer calendar.  I can hit “delete” if someone can’t fulfill their guest slot, and contact another person who is on the list.  And One-Drive is also a life saver because it syncs with my other devices.  All I have to do is open the excel spreadsheet and pen in the needed information.

I admire people who can “wing it,” but “winging it” is not for me.  As I said, I’m a scheduler at heart.  My dogs love me for this, because they also love their schedule, heh.