Joy of Gantt charts: documenting a Summer Writing School as a project

 

gantt-summer-school

Gantt chart of tasks for the Summer Writing School project, 2018

Why did I get such delight out of creating my very first Gantt chart — let alone admit that I’m proud of it?

  • If you use Gantt charts (made by someone else), it’s a big “ho hum” from you.
  • If you make them, I see an indulgent head-shake, because you know this is the simplest Gantt chart in the world, using a template from Someka.net (bless them).
  • If you don’t use them, I caught you rolling your eyes.

A Summer Writing School: analysing the project

About my summer writing school, January 2018, in Wellington

I wanted to break down the jobs involved in running a summer writing school in accordance with the principles of project management. The thinking took most of the time required to construct the Gantt chart, of course. After I succeeded, I spent the next week in a glow of self-satisfaction. And I think that’s fair enough.

  1. I found a template that worked — what an achievement.
  2. It’s something I have admired for years.
  3. I don’t have an IT department to help me.
  4. It took a week: long enough to require perseverance, short enough to avoid frustration.
  5. It certainly helped me to analyse what I need to do to make the summer writing school a success.
  6. It also showed me what a massive project this is going to be.
  7. Mastering a new skill is a pleasure: end of story.

Now I just have to do all those jobs, untouched since I created the Gantt chart! The danger is, half of me now believes that I am ready, all those tasks done and dusted. Not so fast, lady…

 

 

4 thoughts on “Joy of Gantt charts: documenting a Summer Writing School as a project

  1. cedar51 says:

    sounds like you are very efficient lady …

    1. I do feel frightfully efficient today.

  2. Aunt Beulah says:

    Your enthusiasm for new projects, new learning, new efforts is wonderful, Rachel. I’m sure you are an excellent workshop teacher. I hope you’ll keep us informed about your progress and the workshop itself

    1. Well, I guess by boasting about the chart I must now get going! And you will keep me honest.

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