Do you hate deadlines as much as I
do? I think part of the problem is the word. According to my dictionary, a
deadline is “a line drawn within or around a prison that a prisoner passes at
the risk of being shot.” What an
image! No wonder I don’t like deadlines.
In fact, I prefer not to use the word at all. Instead, I refer to them as due
dates. Using a term that frequently describes the projected birthdate of a
child seems much more appropriate. After all, what’s due on the date formerly
called a deadline is another form of creation, a manuscript.
Whether you call them deadlines or
due dates, they’re important parts of a writer’s life. Consistently meeting due
dates is the hallmark of a professional writer. Whether the due date is for the
entry of a manuscript into a contest or its delivery to an editor as part of a
contract, it’s important – I’d even say vital – that the date be met. I won’t
claim that it’s easy, but I offer four techniques that can improve the probability
of meeting your due dates.
1. Set a realistic date. If it’s already the end of March and you want
to enter a completed manuscript in a contest on April 15 but you haven’t
started writing, odds are that that particular date isn’t realistic. Don’t set
yourself up for failure. Instead, plan to enter the contest next year. Similarly,
if an editor calls to say she loves your proposal and wonders how soon you can
have the completed manuscript to her, take a deep breath before you answer. Even
better, tell her you need to work out the schedule and you’ll call her back. Then
figure out how long it will take, realizing that it’s impractical to think
you’ll work eight hours every day. When you’ve created what seems like an
achievable schedule, add in a couple weeks for contingencies. Trust me, you’ll
need them.
2. Create a picture of your goal. Mental images are great, but I’m
talking about a physical picture, one that’ll help motivate you. If your goal
is to enter a contest, create a picture of a blue ribbon or a statue with your
title on it. If your goal is to send a completed manuscript to your editor,
create a picture of a book cover with your name and title on it. Once the
picture is complete, make a number of copies. One goes on the refrigerator,
another one on the phone, still another on the TV remote. The purpose is to
remind you that your goal is your highest priority and that snacking, calling a
friend or watching a must-see TV show are keeping you from meeting that goal.
3. Divide and conquer. By that I mean, divide your project into small,
manageable tasks, ideally ones that require no longer than a day or two to
complete. By doing that, you’ll be able to determine whether or not you’re on
schedule. Like the picture, it’s important to have more than a mental plan. You
need a written schedule, showing when each chapter (or scene, if you break it
down to that level) must be finished. The critical point here is to know
whether or not you’re on schedule, and if you’re not, to take corrective action
immediately. That leads to the last point.
4. Just say ‘no.’ If you’re
going to meet your due date, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll need to make
some sacrifices. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: writing needs to
be your highest priority. That means that email, Facebook and all the other
things that take time away from writing need to be put in second place. And, if
your schedule has slipped, that afternoon at the mall may need to be postponed
until you’ve met your due date.
There’s no doubt about it. Meeting
due dates is hard work. It requires determination and discipline. But you can
do it. I know you can, because you’re a writer, and that’s what writers do.
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