Deadlines are my life lines and other musings
Hello! I’m a bit giddy since I just hit SEND on two big projects for two different publishers. For some strange reason that I have not figured out, I usually work on more than one manuscript at a time. This is fun and scary and somewhere mid-through I stop and have a mini-panic attack and think “I will never make these deadlines”. But I always do, somehow. Chocolate helps. Caffeine definitely helps. And lots of prayers surely keep me going.
But then, deadlines are my life lines. I can’t imagine NOT writing every day. It’s been a part of my life since grammar school when I realized I wanted to write stories for the rest of my days. It took a long time to reach the point of being a published writer, but I still love doing it. To the point that sometimes I almost (almost) over extend myself. But as busy as I become, I have a rule that I won’t work on holidays. I stick to that rule for the most part. Sometimes, that means I spend long days at my desk, or I get up early or stay up late. But that feeling of getting to THE END is always a reward in itself.
For months, I’ve been working on a challenging Military K9 LIS suspense that involves eight different writers and a main thread throughout. Yep, that one was a double chocolate, double latte kind of project. Meantime, I was also working on several small projects–a short story for a collection to raise money for my local RWA chapter back in Louisiana, a novella for an Indie Christmas collection, and a short sweet romance for Tule Publishing. So make that four projects in about six months. That’s close to 128,500 words. My words. On the page. Did I mention how much I love this job!!!
But then, life is all about deadlines, right? We have schedules we keep to get us where we need to be, projects to do that require being finished at some point, things we want to accomplish in a certain amount of time. Deadlines. They work as long as we don’t flat-line. So far, I haven’t. I’ve come close but I always hit the brakes and take a different route when that starts happening. But … I never have writer’s block. Moving from project to project keeps me on my toes and keeps my fingers on the keys. I once wrote several projects while my husband renovated our townhome all around me. I sure hammered out those stories! Ha!
The point is–If you love what you do, the times flies. Sometimes, too fast. But I made these latest deadlines literally down to the minute. Yesterday, I needed to be finished with the short sweet romance by 11:30 A.M and I needed 47,000 words. I hit that mark at 11:24 A.M. and let out a whoop of happiness. And I liked the story. That meant I got to finally have my hair done so I didn’t scare little children who might come treat-or-treating. Today, I have a celebratory lunch planned with two writer friends and I’m going to relax and watch football all weekend. Then come Monday, I’ll be right back at it on a suspense set in Texas and the next book in the short, sweet romance series.
Today is All Saints Day and I have to say, the Saints were watching over me this summer while I worked on all these projects. I’ll be thinking of those who have gone on before me today and remembering them fondly. I might have a piece of sweet potato pie, too. Tell me, do you like having deadlines in your life? Or are you more of a one project at a time person? I’d love to know!
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You are blessed to love what you do. I don’t know that I could work under the pressure of a deadline. I’m afraid my brain would just shut down as the deadline gets closer. I’m thankful for you, and other authors that have the gift of storytelling.
Thank you, Andrea. I’m not very disciplined but this job has taught me to be that way. Writing is a business, especially commercial fiction. It’s like dominoes. If one gets out of place, they all fall. So I don’t want to be the one out of place. I love what I do so somehow it all works out.
Congratulations to you, Lenora! It’s amazing to me that you can have so many writing projects going at once. I can often read two books at one time, but can’t imagine writing two or more. That’s why I’m not an author, but am so thankful for those of you who do.
Thank you, Betty. I read two books at once, too!
Lenora, when I grow up, I want to be like you. Ha! Seriously, I HAVE to have deadlines to get things done. I learned the importance of them when I took journalism in college. However, I also tend to see how close to deadline I can get, for some masochistic reason, and I laughed at your finishing your piece just minutes before your deadline! Yes, I also crammed for tests in school. Working on multiple projects? I wish I could, but that stresses me out. Meanwhile, I have many voices in my head clamoring for attention, wanting to know when I’ll get around to telling their stories!
I understand, Marilyn. I did the same in school and I think I learned working under pressure can bring about results. Not always good ones, however. I do edit as I go. I can’t write straight through. I have to edit and then edit more and then move on. I think that helps when I hit crunch time! I’ll see you Saturday at the Niceville library!!!!
Excited to read those projects of yours.
I feel like I am more productive with deadlines but that being said in retirement working on 1 Deadline at a time provides enough incentive to keep me going.
Jen, you are so right!!!!
Congrats, Lenora! My mother was great at working under deadlines. I didn’t inherit that talent. I get too stressed and then can’t get anything done. Luckily, I’m a reader instead of a writer.
Winnie, I know about that stress. I get a bit cranky during deadline week. I’m glad you are a reader!!!
Hi Lenora. I’m afraid I’m a one project at a time person. For example I only pull out one library book at a time. Yep! That’s me. Unless I’m part of a book study at church. Than I’m a two book at a time person.