Monday, January 31, 2011

How to Meet a Deadline



The countdown is on! I officially have one month until book #2 is due to my editor. It is my first time to write a book on a deadline. It's exhilarating and scary.

Here's what I've learned so far about how to meet a deadline.

1. Banish self doubt. There isn't time to constantly second guess every decision. If an editor had faith that you could deliver, have that same amount of confidence in your own abilities.

2. Have a great critique partner. When I couldn't make a chapter in my book work, I sent it to my critique partner and got some great advice. (Thanks, Sue!) On a tight deadline, it helps to have a fresh set of eyes on your project.

3. Focus on the big picture changes first. I have a tendency to tinker with my scenes. Change a small sentence here. Reword a phrase there. That is not progress. Save the tinkering for your final run through of the book.

4. Leave enough time for surprises. I just received my galley proofs for Canyon Walls. Yea! It means I'm going to have to step away from book #2 to proof the galleys of book #1. If I had left myself only enough time to finish book #2, it would have changed the arrival of the galley from an exciting development to a stressful one.

How about you? Do you work better on a deadline? If you're unpublished, do you impose your own deadlines for your writing?

18 comments:

  1. This sounds exciting and scary all at the same time! I hope if I ever get to that place, I will do as well as you are!

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  2. Go Julie! Getting a critique partner can really be difficult.

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  3. Thanks, Terri. You'll be stressing out about deadlines before you know it. :)

    I agree, Kathy. I've had some great critique partners in the past, and then I've gone periods without having a crit parnter at all. I met my current critique partner through a blog, and it has worked out for both of us.

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  4. Oooo! I'm all about the deadline. I set them for myself way ahead of the contract deadline, because as you've found out, life happens. Writing life happens. I've been on deadline in the past and received content, copy, AND galley edits all in the same week! EEEEK!

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  5. I think I'd write better on a deadline. I like feeling outside pressure to accomplish something.

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  6. Erica - Galley, content, and copy edits. That makes me nervous just thinking about it! You're a rockstar.

    Katie - In college, I was always the one who crammed all night for a test. So, yes. I think the outside pressure helps. :)

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  7. Julie, I wish you well as you juggle your projects and endeavor to complete your work before deadline.

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  8. Ah that is so exciting, Julie! I have to set deadlines for myself as an unpublished writer because I know I would never finish my MS otherwise.

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  9. great advice. Thanks for posting. Deadlines often bring out the best in me. The worst is the writing without knowing where it's going to go or if it will ever go anywhere!

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  10. I give myself deadlines all the time. I can be pretty tough on myself and like you, I'm guilty of doing what you do in #3 a lot.
    ~ Wendy

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  11. Good for you, Julie! I just went through that first "real" deadline, and I think your advice is right on.

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  12. OOH I'm sooo excited for you! How I loooooong for a deadline! I can't wait to be in your awesome, exciting shoes. Go Julie, go!!!

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  13. Hi Julie!
    I work best with a deadline, but only if it's not too tight. Otherwise, I simply freak out. LOL

    May God give you great grace to accomplish your daily goals and finish your book on time!

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  14. I think I live in fear of real deadlines, so I don't impose them on myself - unless I'm aiming for a contest deadline like the Golden Heart.

    Think I'll start taking everyone's advice and make myself some goals and deadlines!

    Good luck with all your deadlines!

    Sue

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  15. How exciting for you! I do work better with deadlines. Right now, my goal is sending a short story out each month, the deadline being the last day of the month.

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  16. I'm not sure how I would do working under a deadline. I'd sure like to find out though!! :)

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  17. Hi Julie,
    I'm definitely Type A deadline-oriented. Even when I don't have a hard and fast deadline from an editor, I have my own list of goals to accomplish for the day or week (my list is sitting right next to me right now). You offer some great, concrete advice here -- thank you! And good luck on that editing project -- that's awesome!

    Thanks, too, for visiting my blog yesterday and offering your kind words. It's so lovely to meet you here!

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