How to Quickly Finish Page Spreads

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines—they encroach on your work whether you want them to or not. Part of the problem is that page spreads can be challenging to complete, and students may struggle to meet the demands of time and space. Students start the page spread, get distracted or move on to something else, postponing its completion. Memories begin to fade, quotes are forgotten, people interviewed may forget the specifics of the event, files might get misplaced, and then it all becomes like a garage of unfinished projects. As the adviser, you must do all you can to not let this happen. Start and finish page spreads as soon as possible. Here are some strategies to help you.

The 5-hour Spread.

To preface, not every spread can be completed within one day. But, once staff become laser-focused, they can surprisingly accomplish much. These particular spreads can be finished quickly: assembly, Halloween, Christmas or other holiday pages.

Divide the class into 2-3 teams. Organize each team with 3-4 photographers, 1-2 interviewers, 1 layout person, and 1 team manager. Each team creates a page spread within 5 hours. Start by selecting the day for the competition. Assign the tasks to the teams. After school, everyone comes together with their completed assignments and the teams get to work! They have 2 hours to complete the rest. The blitz work enables them, equips them, and they feel empowered! Working together in a tight team is worth the extra effort! When you come against the extra-long spreads, try the FedEx Friday method.

FedEx Friday

This unique technique evolved from employees enacting innovative ideas under pressure and a hard deadline. Follow these steps: 1) gather on a Friday morning, 2) assign each staff member their work, 3) ask students to present their work after lunch. They understand they will be graded on their work. The first will be a rough draft. The second is the final draft. The intense effort of the shorter deadline results in superb quantity and quality of work.

Parkinson’s Law:

How can a shorter deadline be beneficial? Parkinson's Law is an example of how short deadlines produce positive results. The law states: "Work expands to fill the time available for its completion." The work you expend on a task will contract or expand depending on the time you have to finish. If you have five weeks, it will take you five weeks, or if you have five hours, it will take five hours. There isn't a guarantee that the five-week deadline, or an extension of the deadline, will give better results. It may lead to losing things or forgetting important information. Contract the time vs elongating the time!

CLOSE THE DEAL! Review the page spreads and ONLY select those spreads that require a remake! Put your teams in groups, assign their tasks, and get the spread done. DON'T DWELL, MOVE ON!

BE QUICK THINKING! It may be necessary to invent new spreads, even at this late date! Think quickly and sharply! Brainstorm but remember: be consistent with the yearbook theme; keep the new spread ideas focused on getting more and different faces in the book; keep a sense of humor and positive attitude when adjustments must be made. Pivots and adaptations are inevitable and part of real-life experience.

PROVIDE TIME & FOOD! Make it fun by providing food and snacks for those late Friday nights, Saturday workdays, and maybe overnighters. Obtain the appropriate permissions from the administration and parents/guardians with chaperones. Remember that parents are wonderful and supportive sources of food.

BE PREPARED TO PERSONALLY PUT IN THE TIME! Work alongside your staff, and offer your professional support. You will need to put in your time to meet these deadlines and undergird their knowledge and efforts with yours. Not every task as a teacher ends at 4 pm. Explain that the responsibility of creating a yearbook includes extra effort from them and the adviser. 

CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE!! Celebrate once the final spreads have been sent to the publisher! Have a party and honor their diligent efforts. Cover all the bases - recognize each one's talents and input sincere appreciation and gratitude. Make every effort to express an understanding of everyone's ability and capacity for work, and their invaluable effort in the project.

As you race to the finish line, we are here to help relieve part of the stress you are facing. Our website, www.unitedyearbook.net , and our newsletter, podcast, and blog, are tools available to you as you move forward to complete the book. Schedule your yearbook 1-on-1 consult here.

Copyright © 2025. TSE Worldwide Press. All Rights Reserved.

---

Contributor: Lucy McHugh comes to United Yearbook Printing from a 39-year career in public and private school education. She was a former visual art teacher and yearbook adviser. She received a Bachelors of Science in Art from Columbia College in Columbia, SC, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska in 2000, and in 2014 earned a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Loyola Marymount University. Lucy enjoys her family, making art and gardening.

Editor: Donna Ladner obtained a B.A. in Education and a minor in English from California Baptist University, and a M.S. in ESL from USC, Los Angeles. After she married Daniel, their family moved to Indonesia with a non-profit organization and lived cross-culturally for 15 years before returning to the U.S in 2012. Donna has been working as an editor and proofreader for TSE Worldwide Press and its subsidiary, United Yearbook since 2015.