How Do You Handle Deadlines?

>Last Monday I got edits requested by my editor. She asked that I have them back in a week. Luckily, there weren't a lot of changes needed, so I thought, "No, problem." Until I got to some changes needed in a fight scene. Whoa! There was my problem. I'm not great with fight scenes. I can see them in my head, but getting it on paper is a different story. The largest portion of my time was spent trying to get it right. But I kept at it until I did what I needed to do.

This got me to thinking about the way I handle my writing. I wonder if I kept at it because there was a deadline involved? Usually, when I get stuck, I close the laptop and do something else until a way out comes to me. I didn't have that luxury this time.

How do you handle working on a deadline? Are they helpful, or do they stress you out?

Comments

  1. I love deadlines. I live for deadlines. I still find time to 'sluff-off' as my DH says, but I love them. Think it comes from my years in TV - hard and fast deadlines make my brain happy.

    What I've found that helps is to set little goals throughout the deadline space so you can work through those little nuggets that get messed up.

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  2. What Kristi said, except for the years in TV. I thrive under deadlines.
    Congrats, by the way!

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  3. I love them, too, but they also terrify me. However, I love revisions, too, so we know I'm a little out there. Are you happy with the finished product?

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  4. Dag,Kristi! I didn't know you liked them that much. Thanks for the congrats, D'Ann. Liz, I'm happy with the finished product. I had to watch a fight scene and slow-mo it. Then I had my daughter read it an imagine it as written. Worked out well.

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  5. If I have a self-imposted deadline, I procrastinate it, but if its someone else relying on me, I kick it into high gear and get it done.

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  6. Margie, that's me all the way . I don't pay attention to self imposed deadlines. I could never punish myself.

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  7. Margie, that's me all the way . I don't pay attention to self imposed deadlines. I could never punish myself.

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  8. I'm pretty good with deadlines, as long as I know they're hard and fast but if given too much time inside the deadline, I WILL procrastinate till the very end and then rush around to finish on time. (Don't tell my Editor, ok?)

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  9. Veronica, don't worry. Your secret's safe with me!

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