Comments on: Deadlines–Big & Small

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:53:57 +0000

Carol, Don’t we always hate things that give us character?! I think I need more of that competitive streak–maybe I’ll try and pull it up out of me in 2009!

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:46:35 +0000

That’s another good reason to have other writers around us, Andra. And supportive husbands!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:37:46 +0000

Deadlines are necessary evils. I think they help provide structure. Meeting them gives us character. Of course we hate them.

I find that if I’m not given a deadline, I create my own. It is a game we play with ourselves — part of our competitive nature.

I also find that working under pressure is much more productive, and often times produces a better result.

By: Andra M.

Andra M. — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:49:02 +0000

Working for an engineering firm, I face deadlines daily. Gotta have them. I also thrive on them. In fact, when a client approaches me with a project and says, “No hurry. You can get it to me whenever.”

I say every time, “Nope. I need a deadline otherwise it’ll never get done. I don’t care if it’s in a week or a month, you need to give me a date.”

They usually come up with one.

I’m not a self-motivator (surprising for a writer?), so someone else needs to hold me accountable for my personal deadlines. That person is usually my husband or a fellow writer.

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:39:22 +0000

Sonya–great! Yeah, let’s win this thing!

By: Sonya

Sonya — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:26:22 +0000

This is a good post. I’ve certainly gained some excellent advice on setting my own deadlines. I agree it is a mindgame! I hope to win this game.

From a non-fiction writer,
Sonya

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:09:36 +0000

Jana, it is good to reach high. Life does get in the way. Don’t forget, you HAVE a book (a really good book!) published–so you have reached. And you’ll do it again.

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:07:51 +0000

Gottawrite Girl. Other people’s deadlines, even the ones that are VERY real, I guess seem random to me–and often, like free2cr8 says, too far away. I do better setting little chunks of doable work for myself.

Although, if someone were to pop up and give me a deadline for my fiction, I’d welcome THAT problem with open arms!

By: beckylevine

beckylevine — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:06:17 +0000

Free2cr8, Yes–the long deadlines are the ones that get me. They both frighten me & don’t quite motivate me enough. That’s why the smaller deadlines, seem to work for me. Plus the rewards! Today has been a great, relaxing day.

By: Jana McBurney-Lin

Jana McBurney-Lin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:59:33 +0000

I once figured out that–although we say “a year of school,” those darlings are only really gone for 37 weeks. So, yes, I’m a planner too. Unfortunately, I find that I always think I’ll get more done than I do. I had planned to be done with my second book by the end of the year. I’m only a third of the way through. I guess something could be said for aiming high. But I’d like to learn to reach…someday.