Ah, guilt. Anyone familiar with social media occasionally comes down with a crushing case of it, and I'm no exception. You may or may not have noticed I haven't been around blogs, Facebook, or Twitter much this summer, and my children have definitely noticed I'm spending more time than usual in my office.
I'm striving to meet a personal deadline.
No, I don't have a contract with a set date on when my manuscript needs to be finished. I don't have a boss. I don't even have another obligation coming up to spur my current progress. But I do have a set of writing rules I live by. The most important?
Act like a published writer.
Published writers are given deadlines from their editors. They have to organize their projects to fit into this time frame. Three years ago, I decided I would do the same. When I start a new project, I decide on a finish date and plan accordingly. My finish date for this project is the end of next week.
Trust me, there have been many, many times this summer in between shuttling my son to baseball tournaments and my daughter to tumbling sessions that I've yawned, rubbed my bleary eyes and thought I'll skip revising this afternoon. It's summer--we need to go to the beach.
If I didn't have a personal deadline shouting at me, I would have slacked off this month and set my project back until fall. Instead, we skipped the beach, headed to the pool for quick jaunts, and I squeezed in revising during hours I normally wouldn't. Do I regret it? No. Once I finish this book, we'll have almost three weeks to relax and enjoy the rest of summer.
It's important for me to know I can meet my deadlines. I don't want to stress about this when I do get a contract. When we get used to finishing our projects in the time we allotted, our confidence grows. By acting like published writers, we're assured we'll be able to handle the responsibilities a book contract brings.
Do you set personal deadlines? Do you think they're important? Why or why not?
I would love it if you would stop by MVRWA's blog today to read my post, "NFL and Publishing: Shaking It Up."
Have an amazing weekend!
Yes I set deadlines. I have to. Right now though if family is in town, they come first.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a smart thing to do, Jill! When you get that contract, you are going to have such an easier transition than writers who aren't acquainted with deadlines!
ReplyDeleteYes, I set deadlines, and I almost always meet them. You need to, if you want to seriously write. When I had a phone interview with my dream agent, the first questions she asked were when I found time to write (I have two small kids) and how long it would take me to write another novel.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I could answer without hesitation, because I have regular times I write everyday and I meet the deadlines I set.
And deadlines don't go away once you get that contract. :)
Way to go on being so close to meeting your deadline, Jill! I hope you make it.
Laura: I hear you. I create wiggle room in my deadlines so I don't have to neglect everything. My sister came to my parents' house over the fourth and I easily took 3 days to visit. Family is very important to me too!
ReplyDeleteKatie: I'm sure I'll be a spaz about all of the exciting developments a contract brings--and my family might have to hose me down occasionally, but I don't worry about it!
Naomi: Thanks for coming over from Twitter, Naomi! So awesome to have another Michigan gal here! And I had the same question asked about how long it takes me to write. I answered that one with complete confidence!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I just turned in my third contracted Heartsong. Now, I'm back on my self-made deadline. I agree that they are SO important!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I don't think you can take writing seriously without some deadlines, because (as you stated) if you want to be published, you'll have to stick to some, so might as well get prepared for it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I'm a big believer in personal goals and deadlines. In addition to training you to meet deadlines, it also trains your family in what to expect when those publishing deadlines come along.
ReplyDeleteI totally think deadlines are important. It's just training myself to take them seriously that keeps tripping me up. I'm working on it though. So proud of you for sticking to yours...even with the beach so close...good girl! :)
ReplyDeleteEssential. It's like a test drive in the industry. I'm hard on myself, but I also set realistic expectations and have learned how to release the pressure when things get overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. One all writers should read.
~ Wendy
Jill, it's so good to read about someone who has set goals and sacrifices thing like social media when it's time to work.
ReplyDeleteI've read blogs by writers- not authors- who haven't actually written a novel from first draft to completion and they give out advice day after day about how to write books.
If you talk to published authors most will tell you that it takes single-minedness to write something that will sell, something they are proud of. That doesn't mean giving up your family and kids, but everything else just gets in the way. If you want to be a good author it takes just what you've talked about.
Thank you for putting the truth out for aspiring authors to read. It's all work and no play for the few months it takes to complete a first draft.
I'm a deadliner! I work better that way. I set them for research, writing, and revising. Have to.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually do word count goals by day. I write in scenes. Easier for me, probably because I'm bad with numbers. lol I know I have a total word count of 89-100K and I move toward that main goal within the time frame I give myself.
It's worked so far!! Great job and getting your deadline met and a few weeks to play! We start back to school next week! UGH.
I do set goals. I get SO much more done that way!
ReplyDeleteI like to adhere to this way of thinking, Jill...God first, family next, me last because I think that's scriptural. But sometimes I let other "things" shove the me part to the backburner.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Thinking as a pubbed author is important right NOW. And my personal goal besides writing is to catch up on some much-needed sleep to get rid of these dark circles!
You ARE awesome! :)
Julie: Congratulations!! Your third contract!! Woo-hoo! Enjoy the new project!
ReplyDeleteBrett: Yep! I always feel better when I'm prepared!
Erica: Good point. New responsibilities mean an adjustment to our families. Better to get them on board now!
Lacie: I know! Like I said, the beach, the zoo, all of these lovely things tempt me to slack off, but I try hard not to let them. Thanks for the sweet words!
Wendy: By releasing pressure, do you mean inhaling M&M's and tossing back a few cold ones? If yes, then let's get together tonight, okay? :)
Dannie: What a thoughtful comment. And I agree with you. When I wrote my first three books, I followed one blog (Camy Tang's Story Sensei) and had next to no interaction online. Then, by the time I started working on my craft, using critiques, and entering contests, I was more active online. Now? The whole fiction platform could take my whole day! But I keep my top priorities in my face, and my top priorities will always be my WIP and my family. Thanks for chiming in!
Jessica: I think your goal of writing scenes is fantastic! It makes more sense to write a complete scene anyhow! And school next week already?? Uggh! I'm sorry!
Katie D.: Same here! I don't think I would get anything done if I didn't set goals. Well, maybe I'd be up to date on my mag. subscriptions!
Cynthia: I am so similar, Cynthia. But remember that writing is your job. Even women in the Bible (the Proverbs wife especially) alotted time for their own work. The Proverbs wife of noble character didn't just wash dishes, she considered a field and bought it, and out of the earnings planted a vineyard. Her children watched her contribute to society and to their family and they called her blessed. We can devote hours to our writing and not feel guilty.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I totally think personal deadlines are SO IMPORTANT. Whenever I don't set deadlines, I find that I don't get nearly as much done. And then I feel guilty for not spending my time wisely, and that guilt is WAY worse than the guilt brought on by missed goals that I really worked hard to meet!
ReplyDeletePeggy: Same here! I also track the hours I spend on each task. It helps for me to see in black and white how hard I'm working. Motivation!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
I work well with deadlines. In fact, I tend to produce some of my best work when I'm facing a deadline. I think that's because I have to put my perfectionism aside and "just do it."
ReplyDeleteSound advice Jill. But I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
ReplyDeleteIn my career, one of my best mentors always told me to act like I already had the job if I wanted to eventually get it. He said, "If the people in charge see you walk like a duck, quack like a duck, and swim like a duck, they're going to figure that you must be a duck and put you in the ducky job." He had a way with words. LOL. It was great advice, and it helped me tremendously in my career.
So if you walk like a writer, quack like a writer, and swim like a writer, they (agents/publishers) will figure out that you must be a writer.
Great post Jill.
Keli: Deadlines can be powerful motivators, and you're right, we don't have time to be perfectionists. :)
ReplyDeleteKerry: I share this philosophy, and I love how he compared it to a duck! I feel like waddling now. :) Great advice!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I set personal goals and deadlines, and I feel they are both VERY important. I keep a list, and crossing through them in a timely fashion feels like soaking in abath, drinking wine, and eating chocolate. In other words - pure satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely set personal deadlines. A deadline or a goal gives you something concrete to work toward and imbues the task with that much more important. I do believe in CHANGING deadlines or goals when life interferes to set something more attainable so that you continue to have that sense of accomplishment rather than be overwhelmed by a feeling of failure, but it definitely doesn't slow down my work ethic! Great post!
ReplyDeleteTiffany: Oh, love that thought! Meeting a deadline gives a great feeling--just like you mentioned!
ReplyDeleteKait: Yes, deadlines add importance to our tasks--I'm so glad you mentioned that! And yes, life intervenes. We can work around our deadlines AND our lives!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I worked for an accountant for many, many years. Deadlines ruled. So even though I'm not working on IRS deadlines any more, I'm still working as though I am.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, good for you! I do the same. Easier to meet goals if you make them in the first place. ;o)
ReplyDelete