I have found it extremely helpful to know what projects I will work on the next work day before the next work day begins. And to plan what projects I will work on after the current ones are in a finished state. This way I do not have to spend time considering what to do.

The process of progression with some of poets I have spoken with seems to often be lacking in such planning. They wonder how to proceed with the current poem, they have no idea what the next poem will be, they take breaks after completing a manuscript. Unfortunately, because poetry doesn’t pay, or pays very little, a poet’s time is always limited in some manner.

Some may argue that such concerns overvalue efficiency—that by acting in such a way we are following the capitalist paradigm. For myself I am always attempting to be as efficient as possible. Not because I am trying to generate as many poems as possible, but so that I can use every moment I can to writing—because that is what I value.