Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Wacking Self in Head With Heavy Textbooks Also, Lists are Incredible

I am not methodical. Whatever. But if I have to get something done, a manuscript, a draft, a thesis (barf), I make a list. I've been incredibly productive ever since I developed a detailed list for writing and editing my thesis. So, every time I zip through the beast, I'm looking for something specific. And I actually get shit done.

Otherwise, when I'm editing for everything and anything, I find myself editing what I want to edit and leaving other problems for later (my lazy bone can be extremely convincing).

But a specific goal helps alot, particularly now that I've stopped caring about the bioavailability of dissolved organic matter in Gulf of Mexico coastal waters.

Plus, I get to mark stuff off my list when I finish it, so I can see my progress. I can see the end. And usually the bog isn't quite as labrinthine as I thought.

I plan to apply this strategy to my creative projects as well.

How do you guys concentrate when you need to?