Plan Blog Posts and Book Chapters With Tasks
“How do you manage writing a novel while maintaining a weekly blog?” This is the question I get most often from other writers. The answer's not about writing faster—it's about having a simple, reliable system for planning and tracking your writing projects. Here's the exact method I used to write an 80,000-word novel while publishing weekly blog posts, using nothing but TinyOrange's minimalist task manager.
The Problem with Traditional Writing Project Management
Before developing this system, I tried everything: Scrivener for the novel, Notion for blog posts, Trello for deadlines, and various note-taking apps for ideas. The result? I spent more time switching between tools than actually writing.
Common Writing Management Pitfalls
- Multiple tools create scattered focus and lost ideas
- Complex systems require too much maintenance
- No clear separation between planning and writing modes
- Difficult to balance multiple writing projects
“The moment I simplified my writing management to a single, color-coded system in TinyOrange, my weekly word count increased by 47%. The key was eliminating the cognitive load of juggling multiple tools.”
My Color-Coded Writing System
The power of this system lies in its simplicity. I use TinyOrange's color-coding feature to create clear boundaries between different types of writing tasks:
Red: Immediate Writing Tasks
Blog posts due this week, urgent revisions, and time-sensitive writing commitments. Red creates healthy pressure without anxiety.
Blue: Novel Chapters
Current chapter drafts and planned scenes. Blue promotes deep focus and creative flow for longer writing sessions.
Green: Blog Content Pipeline
Future blog post ideas, outlines, and drafts. Green represents growth and continuous content development.
Purple: Research & Planning
Story research, character development, and blog post research tasks. Purple stimulates analytical thinking.
My Daily Writing Workflow
1. Morning Planning (15 minutes)
Quick review of red tasks (immediate deadlines), assign 2-3 main writing goals for the day. No complex planning—just clear priorities.
2. Novel Writing (2 hours)
Focus on blue tasks (novel chapters). Each chapter is broken into small, manageable scenes. Complete one scene before moving to the next.
3. Blog Management (1 hour)
Work on green tasks (blog content). Maintain a 4-week content buffer by developing one new post idea while editing another.
4. Research & Development (varies)
Purple tasks are handled in between writing sessions or during designated research days. Keep research separate from writing time.
Real Results: My 6-Month Writing Journey
Novel Progress
- • Completed 80,000 words in 6 months
- • Averaged 3,333 words per week
- • Maintained consistent chapter quality
- • Zero missed writing sessions
Blog Achievement
- • Published 26 blog posts
- • Built 4-week content buffer
- • Increased blog traffic by 215%
- • Maintained weekly schedule
“The most surprising outcome wasn't just the productivity—it was how much more enjoyable writing became when I wasn't constantly context-switching between different tools and systems.”
Implementation Tips for Writers
Want to adopt this system for your own writing projects? Here's how to get started:
- Start with current projects: Don't migrate your entire backlog. Focus on active writing projects and immediate deadlines.
- Use the color system: Begin with red (deadlines) and blue (main project). Add green and purple as needed.
- Keep tasks small: Break chapters and posts into manageable chunks. Each task should be completable in one sitting.
- Separate planning from writing: Use TinyOrange for task management only. Keep your actual writing in your preferred writing software.
- Review weekly: Spend 30 minutes each Sunday planning the week ahead. This prevents daily decision fatigue.
Your Writing System Starts Here
The best writing system isn't the most complex—it's the one you'll actually use. TinyOrange's simple, color-coded approach provides just enough structure to keep you organized without getting in the way of your writing flow.
Ready to streamline your writing workflow?
Try TinyOrange free for 14 days and experience how a simple task management system can transform your writing productivity.