The Writer’s Business Plan: Building a Production Schedule

I never thought of myself as a very goal oriented person, but over the last couple of years I’ve fallen into it as I’ve planned out my writing year. This helps me to be a more productive writer and blogging keeps me on track. This planning also helped me when it came time to plan my production schedule in my Business Writer Plan.

Building a Production Plan is not so hard if you know roughly how long it takes you to do each task and add extra time for unexpected events in life and holidays. Because inevitably something always pops up to throw it all into chaos.

1. List your tasks

Start with writing out a list of thing you know you have to accomplish for each book. This would be things like outlining the book, writing the book, revising, editing, and proofreading the book, sending it out for feedback from beta readers and editors, getting cover art, doing the layout and book design, interviews, permissions to use copyrighted material, marketing, pictures, etc.

2. How long does it take to accomplish each task?

If you know how long it takes to do each item on that list you’ll know when to set deadlines for yourself. I know it takes me anywhere from 1 to 3 months to write a book. After that, I like to let it sit for about two weeks before I revise it, which takes up to a month. During that two weeks I usually outline the next book in a series or just take a break if I’m burning out. After the revisions, I let it sit for about three months while I edit the previous book or write the next one.

3. Fill in your Schedule

I usually use a calendar of the next year, or a large piece of paper folded into half and then sixths with each month written into the box, and some sticky notes for this next part. I start with filling in appointments I know about, holidays, family events, vacation, business events, and other commitments. Then I write on the sticky notes each task and my time limit for it, factoring in extra time for the unexpected. I’ll stick them on my calendar so I can “see” the path my book production will flow from month to month.

I hope this helped. If you have any questions, please comment below. If you have any suggestions, please speak up so we all may learn. And as always if you find this helpful, please share.

 

The Writer’s Business Plan: An Introduction

The Writer’s Business Plan: Parts of the Writer’s Business Plan

The Writer’s Business Plan: Creating a Budget

The Writer’s Business Plan: The Marketing Plan

The Writer’s Business Plan: Setting Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Goals