Mary was a card-carrying Boomer who loved writing. But, along with her boomer status came a boomer brain. She’d miss the great memory she had if only she could remember she had one.
Okay, so maybe this is sounding autobiographical.
- I am a Boomer who loves writing
- If it weren’t for my electronic brain (my smartphone), I’d forget a lot
- That’s despite the fact I used to win memory contests when I was *ahem* younger
If I wanted to be a successful professional business writer, I needed to deal with my evolving boomer brain.
- Writing checklists work for me
- And I think they can work for you, too
- No matter what age you are
Really. Hear me out.
Why Writing Checklists
I’ve always been a list lover. They center me when my active brain darts from one task to another. Yet, I know some darn good writers who hate lists or outlines. And you can certainly overdo them.
But before you reject the idea, look at the graphic below to see if writing checklists could work for you.
1. So you don’t drop the ball
Even if you are blessed with a fabulous memory, you can overlook important steps in business writing. The following is an example of some of the information you need for completing a case study. (By the way, if you’d like a copy of the case study information, you can download a PDF version).
That’s a lot of moving parts. And the above doesn’t include process steps like doing research, developing interview questions, and making sure you don’t miss key points in writing the case study.
Did you notice how little involved the actual writing?
Writing checklists are often more about the process than the actual writing.
Using the above example, the following are possible checklists you could find helpful.
- A list of your steps
- Roles & responsibilities (who does what)
- A timeline checklist
2. Don’t rush and regret
Who hasn’t felt the pressure from a looming deadline (or a boss) to get a writing assignment out the door?
As someone who worked over 30 years in a corporate environment, I get it. So, how does a checklist help in that scenario?
Scanning a writing checklist ensures the most critical steps happen.
Maybe that deadline compels you to skip items on your list. Which ones do you skip? A quick review will help answer that so you know what you can sacrifice without seriously jeopardizing results.
While skipping the editing part is tempting, the results can be expensive. Need proof? A missing comma in a state’s legislation ended up in a $5 million settlement for claimants. Now, that’s a costly comma.
So, while you may be able to decrease the number of reviews, skipping the entire review process can hurt. How often have you skipped editing only to be bitten by a terrifying typo (or worse)?
Try using a customized “go-to” list(s) when crunched for time. Create or choose one that addresses your most vulnerable areas in writing. The following are a few examples.
- A checklist with your most common grammar or spelling stumbles
- Or something like the Marketing Litmus Test list ensures you keep writing focused on your audience
- Perhaps a simple checklist to keep your business writing Accurate, Brief, and Clear becomes the list you need
A good writing checklist outwits rush and regret repercussions.
3. You raise the bar on expectations
Finally, writing checklists can make you a better writer.
- They raise the bar on what you expect from yourself
- And what you expect for your customers
Even professional writers may shortchange their “personal” writing. We may skip steps or dash off content for publication without following the steps we would for a client. Let me give you an example.
Recently, a colleague of mine asked me for a LinkedIn recommendation. I was happy to do it and because she is a writer whose work I admire, it was easy to do.
But, right before I sent off the recommendation, I thought why don’t I practice what I preach. So, I pulled out a checklist for completing LinkedIn recommendations.
- The first copy was good
- The final version was better
- And that was directly related to me reviewing my checklist
Writing checklists can make you and your business writing better.
We Love Writing Checklists Freebies
The best lists are the ones you customize to your style and habits (good or bad). But, you may struggle with getting started. So, I’ve sprinkled some examples throughout this post. You can also look at Free Stuff for others that strike your fancy.
Tweak them to make them your own. Let me know if they help. Do you have your own customized lists? What do they look like? Please share your thoughts in Comments.
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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours
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I’ve never been one to make a lot of lists, groceries aside, nor do I outline my fiction beyond a few basic story elements. Where I have found checklists helpful in recent years is when working on the nonfiction history books with collaborators, especially the most recent one that involves three of us. All of us in our older years 🙂 so memories are not what they used to be. We made a list of who was going to be responsible for what in terms of research, actual writing, acquiring pictures, and compiling it all into book format. That latter responsibility is primarily mine, with the other two members of the team splitting the other jobs between them. I wrote up the list on my computer and printed a copy for the one member who does not work on a computer at all. He still writes his weekly newspaper column by hand in a notebook and takes it to the newspaper to get printed. I’ve also made a folder for NOTES in the document folder that gets updated as I find questions to send to the one member who has a computer and when she responds, I add the answers with a date, so we both know that question was answered.
BTW, I really like the way you present material on your site. I don’t visit often because I don’t do business writing, but I have learned something about layout for a blog post. When I worked in print media a long time ago, I was told the value of white space, which you use quite well. I’m glad that blogging has finally started to catch up to what was a tried and true method of creating eye appeal and attracting readers.
Hi, Maryann. Nice to see you here. Happy any time you want to stop by. 🙂 Because I have yet to pen my own novel, I cannot comment on what my style would be regarding lists. Although I suspect I’d be like you. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this. And thanks for the kind words regarding my site. That means a lot coming from you.
Thanks again for stopping by, Maryann.
Checklists — how can I live without them? They are my power, for all you said and for keeping my life livable, because often with anxiety and depression swings I’d spend more time staring at the ceiling than doing something, be that work, a personal project or even hanging the laundry outside to dry.
Also, checklists work great with anxiety: item 1 – item 2 – item 3 – break. And repeat. Small 3-item checklists that keep me going even with anxiety biting at my soul (sometimes even with medication). They work like magic.
Great post, Cathy. 🙂 I’m going to take a look at your freebies. I love printables.
Much love,
Luana
Hi. Luana. So good to see you here. And with such nice words, you can drop by any time. 🙂 So glad to meet a fellow list aficionado. Like I said, they center me and I love how they get my focus back on track. It sounds like you found a good process that works well for you, Luana. I’ve been on a long campaign to update my freebies. It’s a long journey. Maybe I need to make a list. 😀
Thanks for stopping by, Luana.
Hi Cathy,
I bought a bunch of sticky notes from Wal-mart. Soon enough, they littered my second monitor, my wall and what little desk space I have. My color schemes were inconsistent. But the worst part is, they kept falling! If you keep stickies so long that they dry out (or lose their grip), something is wrong.
My solution was to look for an open-source freebie. I settled on https://globonote.info/
Now, my second monitor is littered with notes. LOL But I can see them all and my desire to have a clutter-free experience means that I will be more diligent about deleting them.
Cheers,
Mitch
Thanks for giving such a great visual, Mitch. 😀 Also, thanks for the glolbonote recommendation. I use sticky notes but on the printed documents I have inside the paper folders, labeled with my project. I am so old school. Or maybe just old. 😀 I keep my recycling bin full. Thanks for sharing your method, Mitch.