Google Resources: Calendar

For my last entry on Google resources, I’ll like to show you some interesting ways to make their calendar work for you.

Google Calendar is a part of the suite—a simple calendar to add your appointments and due dates. It works on desktop and mobile devices. There’s even a widget (an auto-display for the app) on your phone (both Android and iPhone.) You can step up your game to add color-coded entries to categorize items. There are a dozen colors to choose from to differentiate your business appointments from family ones, etc. 

The calendar entries are more than events. You can add notes, locations, and repeatability. Notes lets you add the details for the event—what you need to bring or ask, etc. If you put the address in the location feature, clicking on it will link to Google Maps and display directions. Events can be marked repeatable. You can make them monthly, weekly, daily, yearly, or more. The feature is perfect for anything regularly scheduled. You add it once and be done.

Editing is also easy. Click on the event, then hit the pencil (desktop) or three dots (mobile). Change around the entry. If it is a recurring entry, the app will ask to change it in the future. The same goes for deleting entries. If you delete a repeated event, it will ask before deleting all future instances.

Reminders are an integral part of the app. You can set up email and app notification reminders for any event. You can even have multiple reminders for one event, so you don’t miss a thing. And don’t forget, you can add events and reminders with due dates through Google Keep. These add to your calendar automatically.

You can share events through the calendar and invite other users. Perhaps you have an in-person signing. Invite Google contacts through your calendar to ensure they get the date. Invites will add the date to their calendar if they choose.

My big recommendation for the Google Calendar for authors is the multiple calendar feature. You can create different calendars for yourself and mark them as work, family, writing, or whatever you need. You can share these calendars with others and make a group calendar. The feature will only share the info you choose. For example, it won’t send your dental appointment to your editor. (Although, you might want them to see that appointment as an excuse for your edits being late.) This is perfect for group projects—including multiple-author projects, editors, beta readers, and crit partners. You can also set visibility levels on events, even on shared calendars. That way your crit partner won’t know about the surprise birthday party or such things.

A shared calendar can keep everyone in your group/project up to date with changes in deadlines, new events, and release dates. Each person can set their own notifications for any event or due date. This gives everyone access to the information but keeps the user in control of how they use the data (like using the drive for files).

Google has many great resources for authors. I highly recommend exploring the features and choosing what works for you.