Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie discussion

Hello, all.

I'm struggling with trying to market my debut novel, get my next one started (thankfully, that happened today), keeping up on my social presence, and so on. I have two problems: I either get so tunnel-visioned that I work on only one thing (like writing) or I'm so scattered I feel like a raccoon who is chasing something shiny but not catching it. I can only get to my Twitter feed when I'm in the bathtub. (Shh, don't tell anyone that.) Any time management tips or pearls of wisdom?

I feel your pain.
Once I realized that I was missing the writers' 70/30 mark (70% writing and 30% marketing etc) I decided to make some changes. I had an honest talk with myself, looked at my sales spreadsheet and decided that I'm darn sure not in this for the money. Writing makes me happy so when I keep that my focus life is sweet. Of course we have to market, network, etc but try to keep it in perspective. Build and maintain good records. You shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel each time you publish.

Prioritize. Is the majority of what you're doing putting your book in front of readers or in front of other authors? Are you doing what you'v been told or what feels right? Also, know who your reader is. Like, really know who he/she is. Give her a name if that makes her more real - where does she buy books? What does she do on the weekends? What music does she listen to? How old is she? It takes research but every genre has an overall demographic that becomes easier to understand the more niche your book is. If you're not promoting to, marketing to and speaking to that reader there is a possibility you are not maximizing your time. If your target is a 36 year old millennial mom maybe you should be on Pinterest and not so much on Twitter. That was an example, but it really is possible to research these things.

Are you automating? Tweets, FB posts, even blog posts can be set to post automatically according to your schedule. Most tweets are successful on Thursdays and Mondays. People read more blog posts on Tuesdays. Try to do the same things at the same time each day. If you go through emails over morning coffee make that a habit. If you write for a few hours after dinner don't use that time to check emails. After awhile it will feel odd for you to do things out of order and the result may be that elusive 70/30 writers' mark!

Lastly, learn to be jealous of your time. We went on a family cruise last Thanksgiving and as we were boarding I was checking emails up until the last minute. By day two I was so grateful not to be near a computer I could have cried. I realized how overextended I was and so my New Year's resolution was to embrace the art of saying no. Just no. It was so freaking liberating and gave me back so much of my time that I may have gone a bit overboard. Hubby: Honey do you want to go to Martha's Vineyard for your birthday? Me: NO! Wait...

You're concerned about this so I already know you'll make some great decisions :) I'm anxious to hear what everyone else thinks as this is a huge issue. Great post!!

Erin wrote: "I feel your pain.
Once I realized that I was missing the writers' 70/30 mark (70% writing and 30% marketing etc) I decided to make some changes. I had an honest talk with myself, looked at my sales..."

You should totally convert this into an article for www.navigatingindieworld.com

*praying hands emoji*
Greetings, your fangirl, Alexis. :p

Alexis wrote: "Erin wrote: "I feel your pain.
Once I realized that I was missing the writers' 70/30 mark (70% writing and 30% marketing etc) I decided to make some changes. I had an honest talk with myself, looke..."

NO!
Ha ha, I kill me! You got it, lady, just PM me with some parameters (not that I tend to ramble or anything...) and a timeframe and I'm on it :)

It's hard. I learned to embrace the chaos and do exactly what Erin says- prioritize. Learn to let go of less important stuff. It's kind of like an exercise- the heavier weights you lift, the more you are capable of lifting.

I live by lists- there is nothing more satisfying than crossing off the tasks- done and doner!

Great advice, Erin! And I love the 70/30 'rule'. I'd never heard that before.

Alex, turning off the internet while I'm trying to write really does help me. Those shiny objects don't pop up then ;-)

Carole - I love my lists too! Wouldn't know where I've been without my trusty spiral.

Thanks, everyone!

I have this rule reversed. I am more 70% marketing and 30% writing. I have been trying to do more writing, but I just like interacting with people too much. Lol

That's so true, Erica. Writing is such a solitary experience. Social marketing is..well...social.

I have a plan! It's born of many years' experience. Everything in my life is factored in, including time for housework and so on.

So long as I stick to the plan (to the minute) life and writing/marketing trundle along well. But one interruption like a long phone call, and it all gets behind, so I have to have at least half-an-hour everyday to allow for over-runs. Have I got OCD? No. It would be better if I did. I'm now over-running my 'catch up on social media' time by 10 minutes.

Every now and then I rebel - feels so goooooood! Then I wish I hadn't.

Make a plan and stick to it. Best advice.

I've just remembered something funny. I was once awarded as a prize. Careful... rein in those thoughts. I was to spend a morning with a start-up business putting in a time management plan. The person who 'won' me was pretty good already, so the fact you are asking the question probably means you're on the right road.

The 70/30 rule is a good one and I happen to run on that.

Good advice, Anna. I think people have to evaluate the time-suckers- which is what I call activities that steal minutes from the day that could be used more valuably.
You'd be surprised at what is really essential and what can be jettisoned.