So you always wanted to write and now you are a student at the Writer’s Institute. How will you stay focused on your writing assignments when you are pulled in a thousand different directions because of work, family, and other commitments? Write a list, but not just any list.

Maybe you’ve used lists before, but they haven’t benefited you. Did you know there’s a specific way to make a list so that it motivates you? Here are some tips for making lists that help you get things done.

1. Be specific—don’t just write, for example, “Complete assignment.” Break the assignment down into specific steps. For any of the writing courses, these steps would include: reading the course manual, working through the exercises, scanning the related reading, and studying your textbooks. Once that’s completed, you can begin writing the first draft, editing, revising, and proofreading. Some assignments ask you to include a letter updating your writing goals, and don’t forget to send in your assignment once it’s completed.

2. List vertically. Don’t use paragraph form. When you write your list vertically, you can easily scan to see what you need to do. Write the steps in a logical order. So this is what your list might look like: * Read the course manual
* Work through the exercises
* Related reading
* Study textbooks
* Write first draft
* Edit
* Revise
* Proofread
* Update writing goals
* Send

3. Cross it off. Once you complete a task, check or cross it off. This way, you don’t need to do them in the exact order they are listed. You can use different colored ink to write and cross off, but I like to keep it simple—either blue or black ink.

4. Use a notebook. I used to make lists on scraps of paper, but they were hard to find and keep track of. Now I make my lists in a spiral notebook. That way they are all together. I date my lists, too. I can look back on them, if needed. If it’s on my list, it WILL get done.

5. Add to your list. Did you complete a task that’s not on your list? No problem! Add it to your list and cross it off. There’s no better way of feeling productive. This type of list can be used not only for your Writer’s Institute courses, but also your bigger goals.

6. Have a goal. Research shows that there’s something in your brain that helps you accomplish a goal you’ve written down. That’s why you read about people who have done everything on their “bucket list,” a list of bigger goals people want to accomplish before they “kick the bucket.”

7. Break it down. While these bigger career or life goals take longer to accomplish, there is no limit to the possibilities. Just like the course assignment, break down a bigger goal into steps. For example, many of my students want their story published in a particular magazine. That’s the big goal. Breaking it down into steps might look like this:

* Enroll in a Writer’s Institute course
* Observe children in my target age group
* Study the elements of writing good fiction
* Practice writing for my target age group
* Read several issues of the magazine
* Study magazine for the types of stories they publish, the tone, voice, etc.
* Write a story for the magazine
* Write a cover letter geared to magazine
* Submit story and cover letter to the magazine
* If story is rejected, write another story

Writing specific lists will help keep you stay on task and succeed. So write a list that motivates you to accomplish your goals and you’ll be on your way to making your dreams a reality!

Copyright 2010 Amy Houts