Every Tuesday, I update the two to do lists I maintain to keep track of my work at my two main publishers. I normally have about a dozen or so items on the first, with a few items assigned to people I manage, and about a handful of items on the second, all for me. Book cover titles are highlighted in green, and checked off items are highlighted in orange. Relevant notes are pencilled in. I print the lists out each week and get giddy when I get to highlight an item in orange.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Lately, finally, my lists have been fleshing out the printed pages, filling the expanse of white with black text so that I no longer fear having to twiddle my thumbs. It’s a nice feeling. I like being busy, and I like checking off items on a to do list. The more projects I have, the more streamlined I get overall. I find more efficient ways of doing things, just for the sake of checking items off in a timely manner. In reality, it’s my attempt to “beat the list.”

But I need another list—one for all my odds and ends, the freelance bits that don’t fall under the heading of the two main publishers, the freebie bits I promised friends long ago, and the marketing bits I need to do for myself. I need it because unless a project is on a list somewhere on my desk, it’s not really, officially “in my queue.” And if it’s not in my queue, there is no estimated date of completion. It’s not even on my horizon. I may or may not do it, but there is no gaurantee.

Now, that’s no way for a freelancer to work. So, time for another list!

If you need to be on it, just let me know.

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