My husband and I run a law firm. One practice we’ve implemented is to have well thought out systems in place for our business. Checklists and consistent procedures make our practice much more successful than most two-lawyer firms. As I learn about professional writing, I’m applying these same concepts to my writing practices.

Here’s what I mean. As I’ve worked to improve my writing craft, I’ve learned about plotting and essential scenes and character development, among other things. When I sit down at my computer it can be overwhelming to remember everything, however. Flipping through workbooks or going back to blog posts takes time and interrupts the writing flow. So, over the last couple of years, I’ve made myself some cheat sheets.

My cheat sheets aren’t exactly checklists like we use in the firm, but rather bits of information that I find helpful on specific writing topics. Like what the first chapter needs to include, or what the big picture looks like in plotting, or the nine areas that help me develop a character. I may make a computer diagram with the info I find helpful or I may simply type up a bullet pointed list with short bits of explanation. I include whatever helps me focus and write more efficiently.

As I distil information on a specific topic, I limit it to one page only. Rarely, I will use the front and back of one page. I never use more than one page for any topic. My goal with my cheat sheet is to trigger recall about writing structure and story development, not recreate teaching materials I’ve accumulated. Once I’ve boiled information down to what works for me, I print and laminate several copies. I keep some on my desk at home and at my office. I also have a set I can take when traveling if I’m working on a project away from home.

The key to such tools being helpful is to learn the craft well and only use these cheat sheets as prompts and memory joggers. I’ve created less than ten such writing helps for myself. I’m traveling as I write this post and chose three particular sheets to jog my memory as I worked on plotting and starting a new book while away from home. Could I have done my work without them? Probably. But by having them with me, I had a few of those, “Oh, yes I need to include this,” moments. My plotting and drafting efforts were, therefore, more complete. I’ll save time later when I’m reviewing and editing.

For me, writing cheat sheets have been a great help. We are all busy and trying to do three things at once these days. Any tool we can create that makes the writing process easier makes sense and allows for more joy in the doing of our work. What kind of cheat sheet might help you in your writing efforts?

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Donna is represented by Sue Brower of the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. She’s a licensed minister, conference speaker, and estate planning attorney. She also works with GenderSave, a nonprofit seeking to empower women and girls at risk from gendercide practices in India. Contact Donna at donnakrice.com.