Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Single-tasking in a Multi-tasking World

WINNERS:
AMY VALENTINI
RONI

Please email me your addresses: pamela@pamelapalmer.net



I'm the first to admit that I'm a terrible multi-tasker. And though I'm a decent juggler, able to keep an impressive number of balls in the air at one time, I much prefer to focus on one thing at a time. I actually love being under deadline. I love that crunch at the end when everything else must, out of necessity, be pushed aside. Because then I get to focus on ONE THING. The book. Nothing but the book. And I love that.

I've often tried different ways of scheduling my days. At one time, I attempted to partition each day--write a couple of hours, cleaning/laundry for an hour, website updates/answer emails for a couple of hours--you get the idea. But this kind of schedule never works well for me. It takes me time to switch gears and I don't like doing it. I've found that I work best when I can partition weeks, not days. Devote five days to writing...and nothing else. (That's not to say I don't do anything else, but that I don't have to.) The other two days are for everything else. If I wake up knowing it's a Business To-Do list day, I'm ready to tackle that list and tackle it hard. I can get so much done when that's my focus. If it's a writing day, my mind goes to the book and stays there, even when I take breaks to fold a load of laundry or empty the dishwasher or take a walk around the neighborhood. Switching from writing the book to writing a blog is painful. For me, at least.

We all work best in different ways and it's taken me years to figure out what works for me. For the past couple of weeks I've been swamped with business To-Dos (website updates, launching my blog, writing blogs and interviews for guest appearances in conjunction with the upcoming release of Ecstasy Untamed, prepping packages for mailing, etc.). I've also been working on revisions of my first Vamp City book and copy edits for my third Esri book. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In that light is the time to start writing Feral book 7 and that's what I'm looking forward to, immersing myself in the writing once again. Another week, I think, and I'll be there, back to my five writing days, two business days schedule. And that's the one I like the best.

On another note, for a limited time Avon has dropped the ebook price of DESIRE UNTAMED, book 1 in my Feral Warriors series, to $1.99! If you haven't read my books, yet, here's your chance to get book 1 at a great price. If you do read my books, don't forget that ECSTASY UNTAMED comes out in less than two weeks, October 25th!

Back to the multi-tasking discussion. What about you? When you can, do you prefer to concentrate on one task at a time, or juggle several at once? I'll give away signed copies of PASSION UNTAMED to two commenters.

22 comments:

Roni said...

Here's the way I look at it. Take on one job at a time, finish it, and do it well. My father always said, "If you're going to do it, do it right. If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all." Sometimes that's hard to live by.
roni42@roadrunner.com

DebbieB said...

I prefer doing one job at a time, ti make sure it is done right. Although there are times when I must multi-task. We do what we must do. Lol. Great post. And thanks for the giveaway.
Okmom43@yahoo.com

Amy Valentini said...

Writing is what I love. When I do have the time to really sit down and work on my WIP, I fall deep into that world and I hate to leave it, but leave it I must. My days are filled with chores, blog posting and errands so when I have that precious down time is when I escape into the writing. I am a major proscrastinator so give me a deadline and I'm there. My hope is that when, and I say when not if, I get published I will be able to tell all those errands and chores, sorry, no time right now, I'm WORKING. : )
We're all forced to multi-task, it's our job if we have a home but those days when I can spend hours writing are worth the other days when I'm doing a hundred things at the same time AND thinking about the book. Pamela, your multi-tasking obviously works because your books are wonderful. You've got it, girl!

http://unwrappingromance.blogspot.com/

alainala said...

im a die hard multi tasker.. due to the fact that i have ADD.. playing on the computer i usually have muliple windows open, am sitting here reading a book or playing on my phone while watching tv. lmao..

Cate said...

I prefer to multi task. I love the challenge of doing it. Kayko118(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be a single minded person only do one task at a time. Unfortunately my life makes me multi task.




Davlyn@comcast.net

Julie said...

I feel so much more efficient when I'm multitasking, but I also feel more satisfaction when I'm concentrating solely on one task at a time. I guess it depends on the situation!

CrystalGB said...

I prefer to do one task at time and get it finished. Then I move on the next on my list. Thanks for the great giveaway. I love your Feral Warrior series.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

SandyG265 said...

I usually wind up multitasking but if I had my choice I'd do one task at a time.

Di said...

If possible, I like to get a task finished off, but life doesn't seem to work that way very often. Things interrupt, have to wait between stages of a task, have to get something before I can finish - so many things tend to break tasks up into stages.

sallans d at yahoo dot com

Helen Lowe said...

Writing is a single-focus task, isn't it? And having a routine is the only way to stick with it!

Na said...

Thanks for hosting a wonderful Pajama Party last night :)

Typically, I like to do things one at a time and finish it. Usually though I have had to multi-task. I always have a to-do list next to me and I will break tasks down and check them off as I go. It will super good to see those check marks!

Anonymous said...

I like to juggle several things at once. However there are times when I simply can't and I must focus on only one thing.

~Heather F.
book_lover6983@yahoo.com

Bibi said...

I like making a list and ticking it off every item on it. The order does not matter, as long as it all gets done in one day. It is very satisfying.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

If I have my way... it will be one at a time. BUT does that ever happen??? LOL

Barbara E. said...

I usually prefer to concentrate on one task at a time and then move on to the next one. Sometimes that's not possible though, and I just try to still give my attention to whatever is most pressing as any given time if there are several things I have to deal with at once.

Llehn said...

I'm a multitasker. There are only so many hours in a day.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

host said...

I don't like multitasking either, it feels like I don't do any of the things I have to do properly. I like to focus on one thing, finish it and then start another one :)

Anonymous said...

im a multi-task person :)
reginamayross@gmail.com

Bonnie said...

I'm a multi-taking person. I usually have to be doing several things at once or I get bored except when I write. If i'm writing, I have to put everything a side and work on my manuscript. I work a bunch of hours so I have to use every minute in my life.
Pam I'm looking forward to all your new books coming out especially the new Vampire series.
Please enter me in your contest
Bonnie

Bonn1511(at)aol(dot)com

Barbara said...

I hate to be obvious here. But, it depends on the task(s) at hand. Some tasks take more concentration and therefore need to be handled one at a time so they're done the right way. Others...not so much. These you can juggle. So, I multi-task when I can...take things on one at a time when I have to.

barbbattaglia@yahoo.com

shauntih said...

I'm a DBA who works for a hospital with a VERY understaffed IT department, so multitasking is a must. The key to multitasking is organization. The only time I have problems doing more than one thing at a time is when I'm reading. I have trouble switching from one world to another, so I generally read one book all the way through before starting another one.