Deadline Reminders

As someone who is forgetful, I have found that using sticky notes to help me remember things has been most helpful.

 

 

I use these for my writing as well. I often grab the sticky notes to write on if I need specific information about a submission call, a reminder to pitch somewhere, a reminder to submit a story somewhere, or if I need to follow up with someone on a certain day.

 

Ever since I started using a planner to help manage my days as a writer and author, the sticky notes have also been useful in another way: Acting as a reminder for deadlines.

 

 

 This particular planner includes a full month spread at the start of each month’s days, so I use this to also note any deadlines for submissions long in advance. Or sometimes I will add deadlines when I learn about them.

 

This, too, has been immensely useful in helping me to stay on top of deadlines coming up.

 

But sometimes, I forget to check the monthly spread! Oops! I try to check it every Sunday, just to see what is coming up in the next week, but of course, I tend to forget to do this. Sigh.

 

Even so, this method of reminding me about deadlines has helped a lot, and I still keep using it.

 

The deadlines I include in the monthly spread are both for submissions I have already committed to via the editor as well as “maybes” that I am interested in, but not sure yet if I’ll have anything to submit to in time. (If I do have anything that might fit with a forthcoming deadline, I will submit to it right away! For example, I had a short story that fit a theme for a submission call, so I sent my story off right after I learned about it.)

 

In the past, I have written my deadlines on calendars, but these days, the planner (and the sticky notes!) work better. I don’t remember to look at my calendar every day but I DO remember to look at my planner every day, so it has been more effective as a reminder of any deadlines coming up.

 

The thing that really made this method stick for me is to make it a daily routine to check my planner. Unlike some other writers, I have something going on EVERY DAY. So I started grabbing my planner every morning when it was time to get busy with the writing stuff. The only days I don’t use the planner is if I’m too sick to do anything or I’m in the hospital. Otherwise, I use my planner every day – even on my birthday and holidays!

 

 

When it comes to trying to remember to do things, I usually make it a part of my routine – whether it’s the morning routine, weekend routine or a seasonal routine. Routines are the saving grace for anyone who tends to forget things. If I make it a routine to grab my planner when I start my writing work for the day, then I will likely notice those reminders. I just need to create a routine to start checking the monthly spread every weekend! Maybe using a sticky note will help too.