Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Cloudy days and Tuesdays don’t bring my productivity down

09.22.2009 by David Murray // 3 Comments

It's one shade of gray outside, my buddy Steve is at "grape camp," and I'm not in a good enough mood to sneak out for golf even if I could afford the time, which I don't.

I wrote once that a key to being a productive writer and editor is being aware of one's moods and organized enough to find useful activities that suit each.

KEEP-CALM-POSTER-LOW_medium

When manic, write.

When regular, edit what you wrote when manic. 

When grouchy, do the rest of the shit—invoicing, cleaning desk, clearing out old e-mails,  and crossing items off the list.

I find some kinds of social media work can be done on a cloudy day. Like going on Facebook and trying to Friend powerful people in your field—as editor of Vital Speeches of the Day, I'm trying to connect with every top speechwriter and political reporter in Washington—and then when they Friend you back, sift through their friends to find even more powerful people to Friend.

What do you do on cloudy days and Tuesdays?

(Thanks to McMurry mood mate Amy Wimmer for supplying the poster, from Britain, 1939.)

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // managing moods, productivity, writers and editors

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    September 22, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    When the cloudy Tuesday also includes 90% humidity, I take the drugs [legal ones, mind you!] that will beat back the sinus vicious headache that said humidity inevitably visits upon me.
    I’m sure you’re sorry you asked, but, you did ask!

    Reply
  2. Mike says

    September 23, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    It still creeps me out that you’re friends with G. Gordon Liddy. I don’t much truck with shaking hands with the devil… even electronically.

    Reply
  3. David Murray says

    September 23, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    You know what I say, Mike: Hold your friends closer and friend your enemies ….

    Reply

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