Advice for young writers ... from a young writer: Managing your time!

Hey, everyone. Hope you don’t mind if I crash Mrs. Goyer’s blog again. I don’t know about you, but managing my time is an important skill I’m still learning. However, here are a few things that I hope are helpful (and that Mrs. Goyer has taught me).

*Make a schedule.
Even if you never look at it again, at least you have an idea of what is going on over the next few days. It’s easier to keep track of all that you have going on!

*Set a word count.
It helps a lot to get an idea of how much work you are going to get done every day. Know how many words is a challenge for you and set a reasonable limit. If you can write 2,000 words on break or the weekends, then you might want to set a smaller limit for days you have homework or other things going on. In other words, go easy on yourself!

*Dirty work first.
Writers are wonderful procrastinators. It’s too bad, because if we could some of the dirty work done first, we’d have more time to do the fun stuff! When I get home from school, it’s really hard to sit down and do my homework, but I find I have so much more time to write if I get the stuff I don’t like out of the way first.

*Use time off.
It’s so easy to look at times when you have a break in our schedule as time to just to play hookie. This is a good time to actually dig in and do some writing, though. Breaks from school and work can be wonderful writing times. Think of all the hours you have to craft your story!

*Rest.
Whew! You’ve accomplished everything! Good for you. Now, sit back, relax and so something fun. Know what your biggest stress relievers are (tea, good book, and a warm blanket for me) and enjoy yourself. You’re amazing!

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More About Alexa:
My current website is here. You can also contact me through email, Facebook, my blog, and Twitter. I'd be happy to answer any questions about publishing, my book, or anything that comes to mind.

Alexa Schnee has always wanted to be a writer. She is the youngest recipient ever of the Mount Hermon "Most Promising Writer" Award. She loves the smell of the bookstore, because nothing in the world smells exactly like it. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her parents and her sister and brother. She also likes shopping, playing the piano and guitar, and traveling. She listens to Indie music and drinks way too much coffee. She will never, ever like math and she will always love dancing in the Montana rain.