Home Columns

Organization Blues!
by Katie Gustafsson

The Ailment: I need to get organised! There's just too much paper on my desk. Do you have any suggestions for software that can keep track of my writing life?

The Cure: I suggest the software that I use myself. It is from a group called Sandbaggers and it keeps track of my submissions/queries and alerts me when I need to chase things up.

Unfortunately it takes quite a while to set up because it works by using lists of markets and manuscripts. You need to input these and this can seem like a never-ending task. However, once you enter the information for each piece into the database, you wont need to do it again - this is especially great for the markets (although you can update it easily when changes occur).

I would advise you to start with the markets you have submissions with currently because these are the ones that you need to keep track of, and then I'd advise that you enter the manuscripts that are currently submitted to these markets. From this you will see how the system works. You enter where you submit the manuscript, and enter a date to chase it up if you haven't heard. On that date, when you access the software, you will immediately be given an automatic alert to do so. Once you have your current submissions taken care, you can input markets that you want to try, and manuscripts that you want to submit - or already have published (Tip: put what rights you sold into the info box so that when you submit for reprint, you know exactly what status the manuscript has!) but will want to send out again.

Another neat feature of this system is that when you submit a manuscript as a reprint, and it's accepted, you enter the fee you receive, and the software gives you a total that the manuscript has made to date.

Probably the best feature about this system for financially-struggling writers, apart from the fact it's easy to use, is that it is FREE! You can download it at the following URL --

http://www.sandbaggers.8m.com

I hope that you find this as useful a writer's tool as I have since I started using it last year.

Copyright © 2001 Katie Gustafsson

Kick start your imagination, ignite your creativity, and begin your journey towards becoming an outstanding writer. Grab a copy of WEEKLY WRITES: 52 Weeks of Writing Bliss! from Amazon.com and receive 2 free e-books to encourage and nurture the writer in you. You'll also receive Write Memories, a journaling workbook available for free only to WEEKLY WRITES book owners. And finally, as a WEEKLY WRITES book owner, you'll have free access to e-mail courses such as JOYFUL WRITES: Celebrate Your Life through Writing For excerpts, reviews and what you need to do to receive the 2 free e-books, Write Memories and sign up for free e-mail courses, just head on to the Weekly Writes Book Official Site. (Clicking on the link will open a new window.)