I am a total newbie to the whole getting things done bandwagon–I made it a pre-new year’s resolution to get more organized. Today is really my first working day following the precepts laid down by the gtd gurus.

One of the main things I got from all my research into gtd was that you should keep everything in one place. I have tried a few different gadgets but I settled on two things: a moleskine date book, and Yahoo web mail.

I cart the moleskine around with me to keep track of ephemera–things that I will move to the trash or to a list. The list are stored in Yahoo! web mail using the notepad application.

I like using Yahoo for my online pda because there are so many tools available. I have my e-mail, calendar, todo lists, and address book at a click. Plus, Yahoo lets you search any of the applications individually. And if I ever decide to go high-tech again, I could sync it all up with a Palm or some other mobile device.

It is 3:15 and I have hit a milestone that makes me think I am on the right track. My desk is clean. I am actually thinking about going in search of more work–not really.

One of my…ahh hell…my only resolution this year is to write a blankty-blank novel. But, as you can tell from my previous post, I don’t often follow through with those resolution thingys.

While I was researching the effect that an electric dog collar would have on a writer who wanted to use such a device to keep himself tethered to his desk, I stumbled across the Peace Corps Writers web site. I read the introduction, and the first few days, and it seems like the sort of thing I need–motivation–besides that dog collar leaves a mark.

The web site says that on day one, you are supposed to make a promise to yourself that you will do it. Make a commitment that you will sit down everyday and write. Easy! I have made that promise many times, seven hundred exactly. But I realized a long time ago that until you hear the buckles of the straight-jacket latched behind you–there is no commitment. I need to do something to show myself that I am committed.

I figured that if I just write for two hours per day then I would be doing great. But where do I get the two hours? It can’t be after work–my wife thinks that I should spend that time sitting within earshot of her. The only time I could steal was before work. I have to be at work at eight. To make it I need to get up and shower before seven. So if I set my alarm clock for five o’clock I could squeeze in two hours of writing before I have to leave for work.

But I am a night owl and not a morning person. I hate getting up almost as much as I hate going to sleep. I woke up this morning with my hand laying in a bleating pile of plastic bits. It was seven thirty.
How to write a novel in 100 days or less.