A Key List for Authors? 🔑

 Lists… Love them or hate them, they can be a game changer. But there’s one list that seems to fly under the radar: the Later List.

It’s easy to get excited about a new idea, and before the excitement has even had a chance to cool off, it’s put into action.

I do this sometimes , and I’ve seen this happen a lot, especially when working with authors. There’s an initial burst of enthusiasm, but sometimes that leads to taking on too much too quickly.

So let’s talk about the Later List!

It’s the perfect place to store those brilliant ideas that are a little too shiny to ignore, but not quite right for Right Now.

… So the focus stays on the more immediate priorities for the month or quarter.

Starting a Later List

Next time a new idea strikes, instead of jumping straight into it, try storing it somewhere easy to access later.

This could be a Notion page, a Google Doc, or even just a notebook. It doesn’t matter where—just pick one place and stick with it, otherwise you won’t trust your system. I recommend a digital option (available on your phone).

How Often to Review the Later List

It’s a good idea to check in with the Later List at least once a quarter. When those quarterly planning sessions roll around, it’s the perfect time to go through those ideas and see which ones are ready to move forward. It’s a way to revisit old ideas and determine if they’re worth implementing or if they should stay on the shelf for a while longer.

The Big Question: Does a Later List Make Sense?

I think that having a Later List can help avoid the overwhelm of trying to juggle everything at once, while still keeping track of ideas for the future.

If the Later List sounds like a helpful tool, it might be worth giving it a try. There’s something satisfying about knowing that all those ideas won’t get lost in the shuffle, even if they’re not quite ready for the spotlight yet.

Do you have a Later List or something that holds your Not-Now ideas?