Write2Ignite

It’s finally happened! You landed the writing assignment you’ve been waiting for. Now the stress is on. Not only do you want to produce a piece that is amazing and memorable (to be a good steward of the talent God has blessed you with and in case there is other work with this client in the future), but now you need to make sure you get everything done based on the client’s deadline. Yikes! Here are some helpful tips when working with deadlines.

Assess the Situation

To be honest, I’m not much of a pen to paper planner. I usually keep things in the back of my mind and work from there. However, that doesn’t help at all when it comes to deadlines. I need to make sure my work is done ON TIME! This is a professional job, so I need to be professional. My work needs to be done when it’s supposed to. So, I assess each situation.

Depending on the assignment, I need to see what steps will be involved. If it’s a short story, I need to give my mind time to be creative, to think through the story line, and to see how everything is going to fit together. Then I need to give myself writing time. If it’s a nonfiction piece, I need to allow time to research, time to organize that research, and then time to write. Depending on the publisher, you may need to also make time to write up your bibliography and add footnotes. One publisher asked me to send them copies of my research if it wasn’t accessible online. This took time, too.

Also, allow time for communication with the client. A publisher may not return your emails as quickly as you’d like.

Mark Your Dates

If the assignment is due, for example, in two weeks, I give myself about five days to be creative and to do research and about five days to write. Yes, that’s ten days out of fourteen, but in my mind, my goal is to turn it in BEFORE the client’s deadline. This gives me a little breathing room in case something happens to slow my progress down. This could include equipment failure, family emergencies, or not realizing the library was closed on the day you want to do research. And, I write the dates down on a calendar so I know what I need to do when.

Set Milestones

Although this can be included in setting dates, you need to give yourself milestones along the way. For example, if you are writing a chapter book, you need to set each chapter as a milestone. This will give you mini-goals to complete. Mini-goals are important because sometimes it mentally helps when you compartmentalize a project instead of looking at something as one lump sum. It’s definitely less stressful that way.

Reward Yourself

Keeping up with deadlines is hard work, besides all the work you are already doing by researching and writing. Make sure you are rewarding yourself along the way. Some examples can be to allow yourself time to do something fun like watch a movie or treat yourself to a yummy snack or dessert. Also, make sure you are giving yourself some writing breaks. Take a walk around the block, or sit in your yard and watch the butterflies flitting about. This will help clear the mind and unloosen some of that tension you may have built up sitting in front of your computer.

Deadlines are a major part of our writing process. We can’t avoid them. Taking these simple tips to heart will help you keep track of the work you need to do, be less stressed, and keep you creative. Happy writing!!

What are your deadline tips?

Unsplash photo credits: Markus Winkler, Marten Bjork, Towfiqu Barbhuiya, and George Bakos.

Catherine L. Osornio has written inspirational articles for a women’s ministry newsletter, over 200 leveled reader stories for a school’s reading program, fiction and nonfiction articles for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, Thunder Comes a Rumblin’, Mosquitoes Infect!, plus various work-for-hire projects. A former elementary school librarian, Catherine is passionate about sharing the love of reading. She enjoys cartooning, illustration, and reading kids’ books. Email her at CLOsornio@verizon.net or visit her at www.catherineosornio.com.