Mark McGuinness - Productivity for Creative People

We are living in an age of unprecedented creative stimulationvia the internet, social media, all-pervasive technology, and an always on working culture.

Which means we are living in an age of unprecedented distraction from focused creative workfrom all the same sources.

First, computers and the internet transformed the work we did at our desks. Then along came smartphones to transform our social lives and make our work mobile. Now we have our work, our network, our media, and our social media with us wherever we go. Augmented Reality (AR) is layering more and more virtual elements over the physical world we inhabit, and Virtual Reality (VR) promises us escape to unlimited virtual worlds. The pace of change is exhilarating, overwhelming, and unstoppable.

Personally, Im an enthusiast for the new era. Its technology and social shifts have opened up a world of opportunityenabling me to publish my writings to a global audience, work with clients all over the world, build a thriving business as an independent writer and coach, and make new friends to share the journey. Not to mention all the wonderful literature, music, movies, and other art and entertainment I now have at my fingertips. Maybe you have a similar story to tell.

I also have personal experience of the downside of the brave new world: countless distractions and interruptions; endless email; pressure to keep up; anxiety about falling behind; difficulty concentrating; excruciating repetitive strain injury (RSI) from too much time at the keyboard; and a nagging sense that my most important work was being left undone.

If youre excited by the opportunities of the creative age, but worried about the effect of all those interruptions and digital distractions on your creative work, this book is for you. Its a collection of insights, tips, and techniques gleaned from my own practice as a poet and nonfiction writer, plus 20 years spent coaching creative professionals like you.

The book started out back in 2007 as a series of articles about time management for creatives, published on Catherine Morleys Business of Design Online website. The series was well received, so I made it available as a free ebook, Time Management for Creative Peoplewhich was when I realized Id struck a chord with the creative community. It was enthusiastically downloaded and shared on social networks, and picked up by influential blogs including Copyblogger and Lifehacker. I lost track of the numbers after 100,000 downloads, and Ive lost count of the number of people who have emailed, commented, or tweeted their thanks, or told me in person that the ebook changed the way they worked for the better.

After publishing the ebook, I continued to write about creativity and productivity on my own blogs, Wishful Thinking and Lateral Action, and in my column at 99U.com. My own working habits and ideas have evolved over the years since I published Time Management for Creative People, and the pace of technology has accelerated, making the challenges for creators even more acute. So I thought it was time for a new edition. For this version I have extensively revised and restructured the original material, and added to it from my other writings on the subject.

The result is Productivity for Creative Peoplea guide to getting creative work done amid the demands and distractions of 21st century life. I hope it helps you create time for the extraordinary work that only you can do.

Lets start by making one thing clear:

This is not a productivity system.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to creativity, so there is no point trying to devise a rigid system that will allow for the idiosyncrasies of your unique creative talent, work situation, and working habits. Instead of a system, this book gives you a menu of options, a set of parts for designing your own way of working. I invite you to read through the book, test the ideas in your own working life, and take what works for you.

The book is divided into three sections, taking you through a process of, firstly, reflecting on your working habits and big-picture decision-making; then carving out time for your most creative work; and finally, keeping up with the rest of your work.

Part 1. Laying the Foundations

Unexamined assumptionsabout your true priorities and the most effective ways of workingare often the biggest barriers to high-level performance. Grasping some key concepts and getting clarity about your priorities will have a huge impact on your working life.

The chapters in this section challenge some common myths about creativity and productivity, and will help you make decisions about your goals and ways of working that will make everything you do more effective.

Part 2. Doing Creative Work

Whether youre an independent artist, a freelancer working for clients, or an agency or studio creative, producing outstanding creative work is the source of your greatest fulfillment and generates the most value for you (artistic, financial, and otherwise). It needs to be your top priority.

The chapters in this section will show you how to devote your most valuable time and energy to your biggest creative challengeswhile overcoming your inner Resistance and fending off external distractions.

Part 3. Dealing with the Rest

You cant spend your whole week working in the creative zone, tempting as it might be. So you need to have reliable ways of dealing with incoming demands and more mundane tasks.

The chapters in this section will help you build your own robust systems for capturing ideas and commitments, never forgetting any of them, and doing everything you consider important within a reasonable timeframe. Not only will your systems make you more productive, they will free up your mental bandwidth for more creative pursuits.

There are a lot of ideas in this bookdont try to implement them all at once! Make one or two changes at a time, test them for at least a week, and see what results they produce for you. You can then layer in more changes, tweaking and adjusting your work habits and systemsto the point where they become effortless and automatic, leaving you free to focus on the work in front of you.

Mark McGuinness is a poet and a coach for creative professionals.

Also by Mark McGuinness:

Motivation for Creative People: How to Stay Creative While Gaining Money, Fame, and Reputation

Resilience: Facing Down Rejection and Criticism on the Road to Success

Praise for Productivity for Creative People:

Of all the writers I know, I have learned the most about how to be a productive creative person from Mark. His tips are always realistic, accessible, and sticky. It's not just talk, this is productivity advice that will change your life.

Jocelyn K. Glei, author and Founding Editor, 99U

Many creative people are busier than ever, but rarely get around to the work that truly matters. Mark McGuinness offers solid and practical advice for busy creative people who want to make their mark on the world.

Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative

Authors now have amazing online tools to reach readers all over the world, but those same tools can distract us from the focused creativity that we love and that we need to write better books. In Productivity for Creative People, Mark McGuinness outlines a way of working that will help you sort out what's really important and achieve your creative goals, while still managing your daily tasks. Recommended for any author who is feeling overwhelmed.