I’ll admit it. I tend to let deadlines dictate my schedule. Even though I know better, I still allow circumstances to determine what I work on, and when I work on it. While some of this is natural, most of the things that affect my schedule are well within my control. I try to be better at it, but my efforts seem to come in fits and spurts. Something comes up and I put off what I had scheduled, always planning on getting to it sooner rather than later, but ending up putting off until the deadline is looming.

It shouldn’t be that way!

Have you ever watched a juggler work? There is a set rhythm and pattern to what they do. They don’t put off grabbing a ball until they have to grab it (unless that is part of their routine). There is an order to what they do, and when they do it. They start out learning to juggle with three balls, and when they’ve learned the pattern they can add more balls.

The same is true with scheduling your work. When I stick to my schedule I find that I can get more accomplished, and I can handle more work (and consequently, make more money). I know that, and yet I still let my schedule get away from me.

If I have relatively few assignments to deal with, I can usually get away with my bad habits, but like a juggler, the more balls I have in the air the more difficult it becomes to keep control. I know that, and yet…

I continue to work at maintaining a schedule. I figure if I keep going back to it, eventually it will become a habit, and I will be able to handle more. There are several projects that I have been toying with, but I haven’t started them until I’m sure I can spend the time on them that they need. That means keeping a better schedule.

For more thoughts on keeping a writing schedule, read what Opal has to say over at Addicted To Writing.

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