For Article Writers

How to Take Advantage of Your Peak Work Periods.

The truth is that most of us have more energy and more mental capability at certain times of the day than at others. Writing a first draft requires one type of mental capability level rewriting another, doing research another, and filing or reading, still another.  To increase your productivity you must match your capability level to each writing task.

Here is a system developed to increase office efficiency that has helped a number of writers turn out more work. 

Become Familiar With Your Five Basic Capability Levels

Level One. You're at your very best in mental energy and in your ability to create on paper.  You are able to concentrate well, and to work on obscure concepts.  This is a good level for dreaming up article ideas, outlining and writing first drafts.  At this level, the writing process proceeds rapidly.  .

Level Two.  Better than average level, but not quite the best.  This is a good level for writing and rewriting.

Level Three.  The average level of good working energy.  You can carry out complex activities, provided you are not trying to be your most creative.  You can edit your material, write letters, send manuscripts and E-mail, keep records, and do most things.

Level Four.  A very relaxed and pleasant level if you stick to the easy and familiar.  This is not the time to write first drafts or to rewrite complex material.  But you can compose letters, file, read magazines, clip files, your hobbies and more.

Level Five.  This is your lowest mental energy above sleep.  You don't want to write at this level, but you can file and clip.  You can also relax and catch up on your reading, watch TV, and do similar things.

Pinpoint Your Writing Task.  Start by listing 15 to 20 activities you perform in connection with your writing.  Here are a few:

Creating Ideas.  (1)

Filing (4 – 5)

Writing first drafts (1-2)

Computer research (3)

Rewriting (2 – 3}.

Analyzing articles (3)

Studying the markets (3 – 4).

Reading for pleasure (4-5)

Interviewing by phone (3)

Answering letters (3 –4).

Interviewing (3).

Writing query letters (2-3)

Cleaning office (4 – 5)

Reading Information (3)

Keeping records (4)

Clipping (4 –5)

Assign Each Task a Capability Number 

To do this, refer to the capability levels above. Beside each of the activities on your list, note the number that corresponds to the level of mental energy level you feel is necessary to accomplish that job comfortably.

Naturally most activities are accomplished more efficiently and quickly at higher mental energy levels.  One writer finds that she can write two pages of manuscript in about 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., but it takes four times as long to turn out the same amount in the late afternoon.

Chart Your Writing Activities for a Full Day  

Every hour, during a particular day, take a moment to think about your level at that time.  Try to separate in your mind when you feel you aren't capable of and what you are actually doing.  At 10 a.m., you might say, "I've been filing material, but I've also been working out an article in my head.  That means my level must be fairly high.  Let's say I'm at a level two mentally, but filing is a level 4 task."

Some writers work better at night, others in the morning.  Everybody however starts low and rises to a peak, sometimes two or three peaks during a day.    Morning people peak quickly, others take hours before they reach their highest level of the day. 

The only way to get the most work out of yourself is to figure out your peak periods and do your creative work during those times.