As a writing/marketing coach, I am often told by writers that they struggle with marketing because they consider themselves to be right-brained individuals. In response, I think, "What?" The concept of a "left-brained" (analytical, methodical, logical) versus a "right-brained" (creative, emotional, artistic) individual emerged in the 1960s from groundbreaking neuroscience research. However, new studies have since shown that the human brain is far more complex and constantly evolving than these oversimplified labels suggest.
Each hemisphere of the brain controls a distinct set of functions throughout the body, and both work together in perfect harmony to help us reach our full potential for growth and learning. As someone who is not a scientist, my observations have led me to believe that writers often struggle with switching between marketing and writing because they lack organization. To combat this issue, I make copious notes and keep detailed lists. Everything is stored in my Google Drive in carefully labeled folders for easy access from anywhere.
For example, I have specific folders for my marketing plan and writing ideas. Within those folders, I break down tasks into even smaller categories such as "tasks" or "characters." Thanks to the convenience of Google Drive, I can do this in a coffee shop, while waiting at a doctor's office, or during any free moments throughout my day.
Of course, this approach may not work for everyone. For instance, my husband, Paul Slansky, thrives on precision and structure. As an amateur baker, he follows recipes meticulously and needs dedicated hours to write and market effectively. On the other hand, I consider myself more of a cook — improvising with ingredients and trusting my instincts for taste balance.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I advise trying both methods and seeing what works best for you. Let me know your thoughts and experiences!
And now a fiction break:
Soap Opera Withdrawal
Ever since childhood, Annie had dedicated her afternoons to watching General Hospital. Mary, her beloved housekeeper, had introduced her to “her stories.” They would sit on the couch, Mary's frail hand clutching a bowl of popcorn while she fidgeted nervously with the antenna on the portable television.
In high school, she would rush home just in time to join Mary for their daily ritual. Mary never missed an episode and Annie was determined not to either. Even in college, she strategically planned her schedule around the show. She didn't care if people thought it was weird — college was for doing weird things.
After graduation, she found a job as a hostess at a restaurant in Grand Central Station. One day, she saw Luke Spencer walking in with another man. She couldn't believe it — her favorite character on General Hospital! But when they sat down at a nearby table, she realized that the actors were not as interesting as the characters they portrayed. She silently hoped she would never encounter anyone from her beloved show again.
As she lay in bed that night, the lines between fiction and reality blurred as she remembered the characters and storylines of her favorite soap opera. She’d eventually stopped watching when life got busy. Now, alone in her empty house, she couldn't resist turning on the TV, where everything was now streaming, to catch up on her old friends from Port Charles.
The next day, she called in sick to work and spent the whole day binge-watching past episodes and researching the actors' lives outside the show. She even made herself a nostalgic grilled cheese sandwich with pickles, just like she used to eat while watching the show.
But then came the pandemic and Annie was furloughed from her job. The HR woman tried to explain what it meant, but she could hear the fear in her voice as she explained they didn't know when things would go back to normal. Despite the uncertainty and chaos in the world, Annie found solace in the familiar faces and stories of General Hospital. It was a small escape for her from the harsh realities of life.
However, she saw that even her beloved soap opera was changing in response to current events. No longer did they have "ripped from the headlines" plots; instead, they focused on reminiscing about past events, phone conversations between characters, and talking to unseen characters in comas. Yet, Annie continued to tune in every day, finding comfort in the familiarity of her old favorite show amidst all the unknowns of the world around her.
I know I should be commenting on the organizing principles, but I am instead going for a reply to the lower hanging fruit. re: General Hospital. Yaaaas! When i was a HS freshman i was at Windows on the World with family for some fancy brunch. walking into the ladies room, i found myself surrounded by benches and mirrors in a wide circle. it was magnificent and only one other woman sat in the room: Genie Francis from GH. As an uber fan, i recognized her immediately and stopped short. She caught me gawking and started a lovely chat. When she learned my name was Laura she said "this was meant to be!" She was so sweet and kind and the butterflies in my stomach fluttered rapidly. Love that memory. (Not to mention the location...RIP)
I like the description of your setup on Google Drive for folders. I have many folders but have not really understood how to use Google Drive effectively. My son has said he would help me, and we plan to do a screen sharing lesson sometime.