Do you have a writing procedure in place? How about for submissions or promo. Read on…Do you have procedures in place for your writing/submitting/promoting? If not, consider creating procedures, then tape them to your monitor where you can see them and repeat them and get into the habit. What kind of procedure? Consider how you write. Do you like to print out your chapters as you write them? Then edit them and then input your changes? If so, then consider writing up a procedure like this to help you stay organized:

1.Complete chapter.
2.Print chapter. Use headers to indicate chapter number, page count, and print date. (This will help you stay organized and keep your pages together.
3.Place chapter in the folder marked Current Chapter.
4.Make edits in red pen. (Clip the red pen to the folder so it’s always handy)
5.Once edits are made, put them back into the computer and save the file. Save a backup too. (You have space to do so on yahoo – the briefcase – or your personal website space. Or use disks, CDs, or a flashdrive.)
6.Take the printed chapter and paper clip it. Put it in the folder called (whatever your title is).
7.Put the Titled folder back in your filing cabinet and put the other folder by the printer for your next chapter.
Having steps and procedures in place really helps me stay organized. Thinking the whole process through and writing it down and keeping it where I can see it helps me follow it and life is more stress free because I know just where everything is. And if I’ve followed my steps, everything is in order.

You can do this with any sort of writing process. Even submitting. It might look something like this.

1. Write first draft.
2. Send draft to critique partner.
3. Make changes.
4. Proof
5. Write synopsis
6. Write query letter
7. Research editors/publishers (visit CataU for editor/publisher inteviews)
8. Print chapters, synopsis, and query letter
9. Send package out.

Or for promo you might do something like this once you’re under contract.

1. Give book a title
2. Write a blurb about the book.
3. Pull an short excerpt and a long excerpt for promo purposes.
4. Compile info on the book (such as title, author, publisher, page count, ISBN, price, a buy it link, release date. Keeping this info in a file makes it easier to copy and paste later.)
5. Update your website and blog with the news about the new book.
6. Send out review requests
7. Send out interview requests (give interviewers an angel they can use!)
8. Arrange guest author days on various websites and blogs
9. Arrange advertising for the book.
10. Display cover art on website and blog.
11. Set up chats and author days as release date gets closer.
12. Make announcements in your newsletter.
13. Get with the PR person at your publisher to see what advertising and promotion they’re doing.
14. Start arranging book signings, coordinate with fellow authors.
15. Set up a contest for the book. Announce the contest.
16. Update your website weekly as the release date gets closer. Give people a reason to come back and tell them to come back.
17. If you’ve corresponded with readers about your books, write them a personal note announcing your new release.
18. On release date, kick it into high gear and sing from the mountain tops about your new release. Send out a newsletter. Participate on your blog. Remind reviewers and interviewers about the release. Send out remaining promo materials and finish off with a favorite meal and a glass of wine and a big pat on the back.

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