Last Updated on: June 14th, 2021
In my attempts to become more productive and make better use of my time, I’ve been doing some reading, some planning, and some goal-making for my upcoming year. This largely resulted from past failures as well as the post I wrote last month, Overcome Writing Failure With a Personalized Writing Plan. This post has introduced me to quite a few new people, many of whom are writers and authors. (And bloggers, too!) 🙂
Planning has never really been my “thing” but it’s useful. The strategies I’ve been using and the tips that I’ve learned have helped me increase the amount of guest posts that I’ve been writing (and getting published!) and I wanted to let you in on a few sites and introduce you to a couple of people who can help you if you are struggling with planning this year. 
As thanks, I’ve also created a FREE PDF Planner for you.
What I’ve Been Doing
In trying to be more productive, I’ve started to implement some new time-management strategies. I’ve modified my subscriber options so I get less email, I’ve created a few checklists to keep me on track each day, and I’ve read a few productivity ebooks to learn more tricks and tips on getting sh** done, which is actually the name of a book written by one of my Facebook friends, LaVonne Ellis, a self-proclaimed flake! 🙂 (Her words, not mine.)
I’ll tell you who’s not flaky, though: Timo Kiander. He’s also known as the Productive Superdad, and he gives his ebook, Online Business Productivity, away for free on his site, where he also lists several tools to help someone become more productive.
My biggest problem is email overload. Timo has a tip for that, too, called THE EMAIL GAME. Playing the email game is pretty cool, I have to admit, even though I don’t always play it.
FYI, I just know I’ll never get to “inbox zero” but that’s okay with me. I like having email records to refer to, and I’m happy for having Rapportive and a few other things shown to me by Natalie Sisson, The Suitcase Entrepreneur, too. 😉
My many different time-busting strategies are hopefully going to help me “find time” to write. And work. Which are sometimes the same thing, sometimes not.
As part of my strategy to free up some more time for “work” (writing and all it entails), I’m going to be cutting back on the amount of blog posts on this blog. I’m not sure when this is going to start, though, but I’ll keep you posted!
I’m also taking on more paid work, too. I’m pleased to announce that I am having more guest posts published this month, including the one on Carol Tice’s blog, Make A Living Writing, where she offers a free e-course for freelance writers (which I took). This post was actually published yesterday, which didn’t work out so well for me due to having surgery on Tuesday. (I was a bit sick from the Tylenol 3s and so wasn’t able to go on my computer until last night to respond to comments. In retrospect, I should have informed Carol of my surgery, but I didn’t want to screw up her posting schedule, so I didn’t.)
Are You a Successful Freelance Writer? 6 Ways to Tell is the post I wrote for Carol. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to read it. 😉
I’m loving guest posting! 😀
I’m having another published on Wrote by Rote, a memoir blog that recently featured a post written by one of my blog commenters, Susan Cooper, a dyslexic blogger who recently authored an ebook.
I also just wrote a post about guest posting and hosting, too, called Guest-Posting and Guest-Hosting: Best Practices, which you can find over on Greg’s blog, Dear Blogger. (Remember Greg Narayan? He made you a video recently, when I hosted his guest post on my blog.)
I have to say, Guest-Posting and Guest-Hosting: Best Practices is an informative post that is a must-read for bloggers everywhere. It’s even better than my post about 20 Blog Post Must-Haves 😉 AND it mentions things such as guest-i-quette and host-i-quette. Yes, I’m creative when I wanna be! LOL
In further guest posting news, I’m kind of nervous about my upcoming guest post that will be published on January 18th on Wrote By Wrote, since I pretty much bare my heart and soul and reveal mega-personal things in them. (UPDATE: It’s been published and it was a hit!)
Of course, writing my memoirs (one of my current writing projects) is pretty tough and I’m testing the waters by going public with portions of the book’s contents before it is even published…um, I mean finished. (Well, both, really.)
And for those of you wondering what’s going on with my e-book of short stories, um, er, I’m working on that, too! (UPDATE: Risky Issues has been published!)
I’m also now a regular contributor to Dear Blogger; I’ll be posting there once a month from now on. (UPDATE: Greg from Dear Blogger was a client of mine for about a year!) 😀
It seems like I’m reaching for the stars these days, and grabbing hold of them! 😀 So different from where I was a year ago, huh? 😉 
I just hope I don’t slip and let go. Here’s to soaring!
FINAL UPDATE: I have been guest posting a lot (both for free and for money) since I began blogging. Just check out my list of guest post on my Portfolio page to see what I mean!
I can’t imagine the degree of consideration bloggers dedicate to this social stuff, I really find it hard to get enough time to start reading not
to mention start writing!
So happy that you are doing so well Lorraine. You deserve it, you work so hard. I have to apologize for being so late in reading your blog posts. I’m way behind, but I’m working at catching up.
Donna, I’m going to aim for shorter posts in the future, so that might help you stay on top of things. I know I tend to write longer ones, so this will be a challenge for me.
It’s nice to see you’re catching up – I’ve missed you! 🙂
It sounds like what is showing up now, are the results of your blogging? You mentioned some paid work. Maybe that was one of your intentions of blogging and if it was, then it IS productive for you.
I am not familiar with the email game. Email is evil. Every year I cut back on subscriptions and tighten up spam filters. If by the end of any month by inbox in down to 25 or so, that works for me.
Keep us posted on your success from productivity!
Yes, Patricia, one of my goals WAS to start making money using my writing abilities, so I’m happy I’m finally starting to do this. 🙂
I just didn’t think blogging would lead me to this, but I’m glad it has. 😉
I’ll definitely be keeping everyone posted.
And I wish I could get my email down to 25. Sigh. The thing I hate are the unnecessary ones! Grr. I’ve modified my settings so much already, but my problem is that I like to be informed and so dislike unsubscribing. But, it’s gotta be done. Somehow.
Have a great week!
No matter what I hope you keep blogging, but let it evolve as your grow in other areas. I agree with Diana that a personal domain name can be quite a help. I’ve made a ton of contacts because of my blog and you have too. With all the guest posting you do, it’s no wonder two posts a week on this blog can seem a bit much at times. Finding balance can be so hard. My issue is prioritizing. I tend to set goals that are goo broad, but I’m gradually getting better at setting more achievable daily, weekly, and long-term goals.
I know I was doing so much guest posting that it did seem to drain me; good observation, Jeri! 😉 However, I’m finding that I really like it, as it makes me think about different audiences and allows me to hone my writing abilities. It seems like I’m more prone to doing a great job if I’m doing it for someone else. I wish this attitude could carry over to my personal writing goals, though. It’s tough for me to look at myself as more important but now that I’m trying to think of myself as a client, I am becoming more positive.
I’m still torn about what to do with this blog, too, but thanks for the suggestion. 🙂
Good luck with your goals. Do you still have an accountability partner? If not, would you like one? 😉
Thanks for asking, but I do have an accountability partner. Third time was the charm on that front 😉 I can relate in that I tend to prioritize tasks that must be completed for someone else. That’s been the biggest learning curve for me when it comes to trying to be an effective freelancer.
I am the exact same way and in fact just finished telling Greg the same thing in an email! 😀
Wow Lorraine, you’ve been a busy girl. Very impressive my friend along with continuing to write here. I was getting tired just reading all the places you’ve been lately, my goodness.
I’m thinking about perhaps cutting back myself this year. I think it will depend on whether or not I can keep up with the pace I’ve been at these past few years because there just never seem to be enough hours in the day. I spend my weekends trying to get caught up but if I have some personal things planned like having to take my Mom to two funerals this past Saturday then that puts a big old cramp in my entire day.
Very impressive and I have no doubt you’ll do really well this year. Sounds like you’ve got some great goals set and I know you’ll reach them.
Hope everything is okay after your surgery, that’s never fun.
Have a great week my friend.
~Adrienne
I would think that posting once a week would be sufficient for you, Adrienne. From the many comments you get now on all of your posts and the reciprocal commenting you do, I’m sure much of your time is eaten up reading and commenting on their blogs. Eliminating one post per week would cut your work time in half, thereby doubling your free time!
I really like blogging and think I may just keep up my current schedule. For now. 😉
I’m doing a bit better, too. I’m on the mend and feeling more positive than I have been lately. Finally.
Have a great week, too. 🙂
Hi Lorraine; Thanks for sharing your journey with us. So proud of all your guest posting opportunities. I’m sure you will do just fine. And my experience tells me that personal posts get more response than anything else so I’m sure your story will be well received. Looks like your cutting back on some things to put more into others that are in line with your passion of writing and sharing. best of luck to you sweety. Take care, max
I’m sure going to try! Thanks for the comment, Max. Unfortunately, having surgery has thrown me for a bit of a loop. But I’m sure I’ll get there, eventually.
Take care, too. 🙂
Looks like you have been busy, Lorraine 😀
I played the email game a while ago (then realized it would take a lot of time to go through all of my emails…so I mass deleted of all my emails – well, I kept everything that is recent, till June 2013).
I’ve unsubscribed from a lot of my emails..but I still have a few to go.
So, active guest posting, huh? Great. I’ve tried that in the past (especially writing once or twice a month, on a medium sized blog). It works well – gives us a small break for new readers/visitors to join the blog and introduce ourselves to those bloggers.
Anyways, I am on my way to check those guest posts 🙂 Thanks for sharing them!
Jeevan, I like learning about new tools that help save me time, IF they actually help.
Guest posting takes a lot of time, but is worth it, in my opinion. Even if you don’t get paid for it (which refer to most places). The exposure is good. Exposure is always good, especially if you are an author or a wannabe author. Like me. 😉
I hope you find something you like, in the guest posts I’ve written. 😀 Feel free to comment on any of them, too!
And good luck with school. Not sure if I sent you those wishes last time. 😉
Glad you’re finding Rapportive handy – I adore it. And Sanebox. This is defo the time of the year to look more at the habits that aren’t serving you well, not just the systems and tools. That’s where I’ve found the most transformation in my productivity – still a work in progress though.
Thanks for stopping by, Natalie. No matter what we seem to do, there is always room for improvement. Sometimes it can get frustrating, can’t it?
And yeah, “a work in progress” sums it up nicely. 😉
Girl, you’ve been busy! No wonder you want to cut the number of posts you publish here – it looks like you are doing a guest post per week! 😀
A question – why don’t you buy your own domain first and then write so much on other blogs? Not that it’s bad to have a free domain… but i remember you mentioned you have plans to buy your own domain soon enough – and it may be challenging to keep all the good link juice when transitioning from this site to your new one… Just food for thought 😀
I saw a couple of interesting links here (yeah, they both were to your blog posts :-P) so heading over to read and leave comments).
Keep up the great work, Lorraine!
I don’t know. On one hand, I want my own site, but on the other, I don’t know how long I’ll be blogging for. Some days, I just don’t want to be bothered with the whole thing. Others, I love it with all my heart.
Guest posting sure takes up a lot of time. So does writing blog posts. So does reading, writing a book, and editing. I think if I had more time, I’d be okay. LOL
I saw your comment on Carol Tice’s blog, too. Thanks for that. 😀
I see what you mean. But let me add another pro – if you are serious about freelancing your skills, a website with your own name could help a ton. Even if you don’t blog as regularly as you are right now and/or as you’d like, just having a place where to showcase your work and lead prospective clients to get to know you better – it makes the kind of impression you want to make. Unfortunately, people still (mostly) judge the book by its cover…
I want to get my book done first, I think. But I totally get what you’re saying. I’ll think about it. I promise. 😀
First, thank you for the ping-back. I reviewed Memories of Me and yes, I do review books on a regular basis. That having been said, I agree with Diana. I have been reviewing for a number of years and also attending writer’s conferences and while the opinion does vary, I see more and more established authors now writing and promoting on their own blogs. When you begin looking for publishers, it means a lot to have an already established platform (preferably with a domain with your name) and a following. It not only shows that you have a loyal following, but that there is an audience for your book – because you WILL be doing a lot of self-promoting. Having your own domain and following puts you not ahead, but even in the game. I recommend seriously considering it. That’s my two cents. http://www.mylifeonestoryatatime.com
Thank you, Donna, for adding your thoughts. You and Diana both make good points. I have been considering another site, with my own name as the domain name.
I’m not sure, but I think this comment was left on the wrong post. Did you mean to leave it on my book review of Memories of Me? I don’t think that is where it is going to show up (and I don’t know how to fix this, or even if I can).
Anyway, thanks for chiming in!