Four Tips to Meet Deadlines

by Sarah Sundin, @sarahsundin

As a natural procrastinator, I struggle to meet deadlines. In college a late assignment only hurt myself. Not so in the publishing world. A late manuscript causes ripple effects in the publishing house from editing to marketing to sales, affecting our relationships and reputation—and our contracts! Even with smaller assignments, tardiness causes annoyance, inconvenience, and sometimes a loss of that opportunity.

Conversely, writers who meet deadlines gain respect, trust, and affection—and couldn’t we all use more of that?

Here are four keys to meet your deadlines and save your sanity.

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Writing With Chronic Pain

by Lynette Eason

I don’t know about y’all, but the older I get the more my body lets me know it’s not on board with the whole idea.

When I was younger, I didn’t worry about getting older. I still don’t worry about it per se, but since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, I’ve had to make a few lifestyle changes. However, in spite of all of my efforts to be healthy, there are still bad days and good days. And since I never know from day to day how I’m going to feel, I have to make the most of the good days.

So why bother with the writing? Why do something that causes me stress and pain?

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WRITING TO DEADLINE: Friend or Foe?

by Normandie Fischer

When I hear an aspiring author say he’s been working on a manuscript for ten (or fifteen or twenty) years, my first thought is that he’s a perfectionist. He’s learning his craft.

Great idea.

But then he says, “My problem is that I can’t find the time to finish it.”

Aha. Time.

His words beg the question: Do all published authors have hours of silence, hours with no demands, hours when they’re not expected to play some other role? Because if they don’t, how do they ever finish a manuscript?

Could it be that finding time to write is all about making time to write?

Many of my writer friends are under contract to produce a certain number of books per year, which means that much of their day is dedicated to writing the next book while marketing the ones already released—if they’re not busy plotting or writing the next book while they wait for edits of a recently submitted manuscript. Traditionally published authors have two main jobs—writing and marketing—both of which take an inordinate amount of time.

And what about indie authors? These folk are acting as their own small publisher—writing and rewriting, then hiring editors (both developmental and copy) and proofreaders and cover designers and formatters. They decide on release schedules and get hopping on that marketing of the old and the new. If they want to create an audiobook, they have to research the narrator and oversee the production. The onus is on them for every aspect of every book, all of which takes an inordinate amount of time.

Which brings us back to: “I can’t find the time.” If there are only a limited number of hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month, and months in a year, how do some manage to publish while others can’t find the time even to finish a draft?

I see the hands waving and suggestions flying that some are called and some are not. Fine. Agreed.

And yet, isn’t it possible that some absolutely brilliant writers remain brilliantly hidden because they haven’t made the time to write, hiding behind the idea that they can’t find the time?

I am a new convert to the idea that, whether traditionally published or indie published, we all need deadlines. A few months ago, I would have scoffed at the notion of an indie needing a deadline. I did the traditional dance with my first two books and then skipped happily into indie land. (And, yes, it was probably about control. Sigh.)

One of the elements I was certain would work well with my personality and work ethic was the freedom to set my own pace.

Until that pace stalled. And this always-on-time-if-not-early person found herself flailing in maybe-later land.

The only way I got back into production was to set a goal—x number of words a month—and a deadline—a send-to-editor-by date. Sure, the deadline was arbitrary. If the date came and went minus a checkmark for task completed, no agent or publisher's editor would flail me with a verbal whip. But I’d know. And I might miss my own editor's window.

The process worked. The Christmas book released. And here I am, ready to do it again on my next manuscript.

So, what's your time-management story? Have you blamed lack of time when you failed to complete a writing task? Has setting a goal helped?

TWEETABLES

Writing to Deadline: Friend or Foe? by Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)

Dare to Deadline or Finish that Novel ~ Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)

The only way I got back into production was to set a goal ~ Normandie Fischer (Click to Tweet)


Normandie Fischer studied sculpture in Italy before receiving her BA, summa cum laude with special honors in English. She and her husband spent a number of years on board their 50-foot ketch, Sea Venture, sailing in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. They now live in coastal North Carolina, where she takes care of her aging mother. She is the author of six novels. Read more on her website, Facebook, and Amazon.

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Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

by Lisa Jordan

I don’t make resolutions. Since 2009, I’ve chosen one word as a way of focusing on my prayers, lists, calendar, and commitments. I’ve found making resolutions causes too much pressure and guilt when I’m unable to achieve them. However, I do set goals that help me to plan ahead.

Fitzhugh Dodson said, “Without goals, and plans to read them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”

With that in mind, I’ve learned about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Specific—your goal needs to be specific. Think about what you want to accomplish. Why does your goal matter? What’s at stake? Who is involved in helping you achieve this goal? Where do you need to be for the goal to be achieved? What’s holding you back?

In 2017, I’d like to write a novella collection in addition to my Love Inspired novels. It matters because the additional income helps to meet our household and my writing budgets. If I don’t write, then I have less income for writers conferences, etc. My writing team is involved in the process. And in order to meet this goal, my fingers need to be on the keyboard. So to make my goal more specific, I could say my goal is to write 1500 words a day, six days a week.

So how will I measure my goal?

Measurable—your specific goal needs to be measurable, meaning you need a way to track your progress. If you’re setting a writing goal, you can track word count progress on a spreadsheet, even going as far as showing the number of words written against the number of words still needed for the rough draft. If you achieve your daily word count, you know you’re on track to meeting your goal.

Attainable—your goal needs to be attainable, meaning it needs to fit within your abilities and lifestyle. When setting goals, it’s great to stretch yourself, but know your limits. With my demanding day job and other obligations, I couldn’t commit to writing more than 2 Love Inspired novels a year if I want to write novellas as well. If your overall goal feels intimidating, set mini goals for yourself. If having a completed manuscript by the end of 2017 feels overwhelming, consider something more attainable like two chapters a month.

Realistic—your goal needs to be realistic. Writing a book a month isn’t realistic to me, even though I can dream about having the skills to make it happen. Writing one book in three months is more realistic and manageable for me. As I continue to hone my craft and improve as a writer, I’ll be able to produce stronger fast drafts, which will enable me to complete novels sooner rather than later. Writing 1500 words a day is a realistic goal and doesn’t feel overwhelming for me to achieve. Keep your expectations in check so you’re not setting yourself up for failure.

Timely—your goals need to be timely. Without a commitment to meet your goal, then you could lose focus and motivation. Plus, learning to write with deadlines prepares you for the publishing world. Set a timetable with a start date and an ending date. You can even break your timetable into smaller increments to help you succeed rather than stress.

Life happens. Be flexible. Take stock of your goals periodically throughout the year and see if you need to adjust your goals...and your attitude. Keep expectations in check. Be willing to ask for help and to accept help from others. Delegate tasks in order to give yourself more time to work toward meeting your goals. By maintaining S.M.A.R.T. goals, you can reward yourself when you reach them by your deadline.  

TWEETABLES

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals by Lisa Jordan (Click to Tweet)

S.M.A.R.T. goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely~ Lisa Jordan (Click to Tweet)

You can reward yourself when you reach them by your deadline~ Lisa Jordan (Click to Tweet)

Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. She is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa also serves on the My Book Therapy leadership team. Happily married to her own real-life hero for almost thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn't writing, Lisa enjoys family time, kayaking, good books, crafting with friends and binging on Netflix. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com.

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Time Management and the Dreaded Deadline

By Normandie Fischer

Time slithers through my fingers like noodles slide off chopsticks. I try to make both work, but life gets in the way of time and those chopsticks get in the way of a full stomach.

And if time shrinks (or slides on by when we’re not looking), what happens to our dreaded deadlines? What do you do when one looms while you’re tackling life issues?

Of course, the super-organized among us will tut-tut and suggest that we ought to have taken delays into account and been ahead of the game. Once upon a time, I was that person: researching early to finish the paper before its due date or studying early to ace the test. When a task loomed, my motto was “Get up, get it done, and relax later.”

Then I took my perfectionism into the writing life, but I left my organizational skills on the floor of my editing job. It was easy—it is easy—for me to edit, pare, revise, and organize others’ tomes or even my own fully realized story. It is painstakingly difficult for me to plot my way through a first draft in a way that doesn’t require cut and paste and flip and toss during the rewrite phase.

Take the novella I started last summer while Two from Isaac’s House was in the hands of its editor. I only needed to write 100+ pages. That’s nothing, right?

It’s nothing for some, perhaps for the gifted writer of short prose.

I write poetry. Short; concise; full of meaning, sound, and fury—or delight. Shouldn’t a poet be good at short?

Obviously, this poet wasn’t. Or at least I wasn’t good at it without a lot of work over a long time. Without a kick from one of my critique partners. A rewrite. A missed deadline—happily, though, merely a self-imposed one. (If I’d been under the chopping block, my old habits would have reasserted themselves, surely, and kept me up nights or roused me at daybreak.)

Thus a story that was supposed to be released in December of last year will move into the hands of my editor soon. It is now March.

I’m going to blame time. Busyness. Life. And I do have excuses: a new grandbaby and time dedicated to him, his mother, and his sister. Travel, illness, chores. Stuff. But I could have written during the evenings or early mornings or any time at all that wasn’t offered up to the pleasure of being with my babies.

I am without excuse. The noodles fall off, life intervenes, but I had choices in each case. A fork, for instance. Or time management.

The push that propelled that novella into completion had nothing to do with a deadline and everything to do with the tug of another book. The characters of my next story whispered their worries in my thoughts and in my dreams. But I couldn’t allow myself to return to them until this one had The End typed on its final page.

What about you? What do you do with the deadlines in your life? Do you outline your day, your month, your writing? Do you use a flow chart? Are you faithful in following through with expectations, either self- or other-imposed? And what propels you to finish something that’s no longer fun?

I’d love to know how you work, and what tricks you use to keep focused.

TWEETABLE:
Time Management & the Dreaded #Writing Deadline - @WritingOnBoard on @NovelRocket http://bit.ly/1TOfntl  (Click to Tweet)

Normandie studied sculpture in Italy before receiving her BA, summa cum laude with special honors in English. Known for her women’s fiction—Becalmed (2013), Sailing out of Darkness (2013), and Heavy Weather(2015)—she ventured into the realm of romantic suspense with the release of Two from Isaac’s House. In early 2016, a novella, From Fire into Fire, will continue the Isaac House saga. Normandie and her husband spent a number of years on board their 50-foot ketch, Sea Venture, sailing in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. They now live in coastal North Carolina, where she takes care of her aging mother.

Normandie's Website
Facebook
Amazon

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Deadline! Friend or Foe?

Posted by Michelle Griep                 Guest Post by Rita Kroon

“Are you ready?” “Is it finished yet?” “Don’t forget! The deadline is coming up fast.”

The term ‘deadline’ can strike dread, even fear, in a writer’s soul. Her heart beats fast. His palms sweat. She’d rather go fishing with leeches. He gasps for air.

Or, a writer may meet the challenge with anticipation – like meeting a close friend for lunch. She puts on her favorite sweater. He washes his car. She checks her watch. He splashes on aftershave.

Deadline – dreaded like April 15th tax time or anticipated like a birthday celebration? Are you motivated or do you procrastinate? It is like the Biblical character, Joshua, who came face to face with an angel with sword drawn. Joshua asked, “Are you friend or foe?” The angel replied, “I am a commander in the Lord’s army.”

Do you remember the children’s story “Poky Little Puppy?” The adult version is called “Procrastinating Little Author.”

There were five little authors who went to a writers’ conference – through the traffic and to the airport they traveled. When they got inside the big, big room, they counted themselves, one, two, three, four. One little author was not there. Where in the world is that procrastinating little author, they wondered.

While the four little authors met other writers and started a network, the procrastinating little author strolled by store windows gazing at all the lovely merchandise. The four little authors returned to their hotel so happy. It was like eating rice pudding for dessert.

By the time the procrastinating little author arrived at the conference, everyone had gone.

The next day, the five little authors went to the conference. When they got inside they counted themselves, one, two, three, four. One little author was not there. Where in the world is that procrastinating little author, they wondered.

While the four little authors met agents and publishers with their manuscripts in hand, the procrastinating little author stared at a beautiful bracelet. When I get my book published, I will buy that bracelet, she thought. The four little authors returned to their hotel so happy. It was like eating chocolate custard for dessert.

By the time the procrastinating little author arrived at the conference, the lights were turned off.

The next day, the five little authors went to the conference. When they got inside they counted themselves, one, two, three, four. One little author was not there. Where in the world is that procrastinating little author, they wondered.

While the four little authors signed contracts, the procrastinating little author looked for an outfit to wear with the bracelet she would buy. The four little authors returned to their hotel, delighted. It was like eating strawberry shortcake for dessert.

By the time the procrastinating little author arrived at the conference, the door was locked, and she had to return to the hotel with nothing in her hand.

To some, deadlines are a necessary evil. A deadline can be your worst enemy, but, if you look at it like a favorite friend who has your best interests at heart, you will learn to meet each deadline with anticipation and a smile in order to git R done.

The reward of meeting a deadline is better than rice pudding, greater than chocolate custard, and surpasses strawberry shortcake. It is feeling the satisfaction of getting a job done well. Or, maybe even a signed contract!

So, which is it for you? Friend or foe?

Author Rita Kroon

Meet Rita Kroon

Rita Kroon was born in Minneapolis, but raised in St. Paul, MN. She is an author, blogger, speaker, and women’s Bible study leader. Kroon has written wildlife magazine articles, children’s short stories, devotionals, poetry, and a humorous newspaper column “Rita Raps it Up.” Her books include:
· Letters from the Past (historical Christian fiction)
· You Have Cancer —a Journey Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death (her personal story of faith during her battle with cancer)
· Praying the Scriptures (a collection of prayers based on Scripture)
· Womanhood—Becoming a Woman of Virtue (two-in-one Bible study—in-depth and condensed)
· 40 Days in the Wilderness (devotional)
· 40 Days of God’s Assurance (devotional)
· 40 Days of Encouragement (devotional)
· Kiss Your Mommy Goodbye (Christian novel)

Available at AMAZON

Kiss Your Mommy Goodbye

Mike DiSanto and his wife, Lisa, are sinking in quicksand—unwilling and unable to reach out to one another, powerless to reverse the inevitable. Their four-year marriage ends in a courtroom, with full custody of their two-year old daughter, Maddy, awarded to Lisa. Mike is devastated, but Lisa stands tall like a princess, though she lost her kingdom.

In his desperate quest to provide love and stability as a part-time father to Maddy, Mike does the unthinkable. His actions net far more disastrous and heart-wrenching results than he could have ever imagined. He took a risk and lost, and the very one he tried to protect would suffer the repercussions of his poor decisions.

In this riveting tale based on true events, a man learns that every choice has consequences as he struggles to reconcile and rebuild broken relationships with those he loves. It is a story of hope for forgiveness, healing, and peace with God and one another.

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A Little Peek Inside the Crazy

This is me on deadline! 

By Rachel Hauck

Last Saturday I was tired. Punchy. And feeling a little bit ornery.

I'd been working 13 days straight, of various numbers of hours, but the last five were pretty intense, twelve hour days.

A book I'd written in the winter needed some serious attention, above all, an ENDING. 

Yea, it was one of those books that just didn't work for me initially and I struggled to nail the concept. 

So I vented to myself in a Photo Booth video. Ha! 

I shared it on my YouTube Channel. You can watch it here.

But be aware. I'm weird here. 

My mom, being a mom, posted it on her Facebook profile and one of her friends commented, "What a waste of time, What is the point? Writer-no!"

I'm not sure she got the point of the video. I'm not sure I got the point of her comment, but a peek inside the writer's life can be frightening. Confusing.

We're all different. Are we not? I loved Jim Rubart's post about a novel that didn't work for him or his editor.

That's when we buck up, roll up our sleeves and get to work.

The excuses only go so far. 

I had several reasons why my book didn't hit a home run the first time out. Valid ones. Physical health issue that is now mostly resolved! Praise God.  And a story concept I struggled to land. Just what is the story of How To Catch A Prince?

And a deadline.

I some times wonder if I should've been one of those novelist who takes two years to write a book. I can't make money or gain readers that way but it takes me a long time to mull over and bore down to the core of a story.

Deadlines makes us all crazy. Writing deadlines. Work deadlines. Family deadlines.

For me, I want to write the best book I can. I want to thread all the layers, even the little ones, through. 

I had a thought yesterday that my heroine's dead brother needed a fiancé. Not a big deal right? Why bother? Because it adds motivation and a complicated layer to my heroine.

I want the reader to say, "Yea, I buy that. I'd react the same way."

Do I pause to thread it through? Won't take much. A few lines here or there. Did I mention I'm on deadline. The book is due today. ;) 

I'm going to shot for it. If I run out of time, I run out of time

Because I still need to shore up the ending. 

I think books are never finished. They're just done. Time to turn them in. 

Here's a few tips to help you avoid or survive the crazies!

1. Do not wait until the last minute. Plan a schedule of some kind so you  know when you're writing and when you're not. Like Jim's tree crashing through his house and like me running into a surprise physical issue, life doesn't always wait until the book is turned in.

2. Communicate with your editor or agent. Let them know how you're doing. I know it's scary when you're first starting out. No one wants to tell their new editor, "I'm struggling," but it's better than waiting until the last minute. Trust me, they'll understand.

3. The weeks before deadline are just intense. At least they are for me. Warn your family and friends.

4. Carve out time for a quick walk around the block. Make room for prayer. Get enough sleep. 

5. Have fun! Seriously, find a way to have fun. Make a video. Post it on Facebook. 

Well, there you go. That's my blog and I'm sticking to it.

*** 

Rachel lives in sunny central Florida.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in uncomfortable chair to write full time eight years ago.

She’s the author of EPCA and CBA best sellers, RITA and Christy nominated books. She also co-authored the critically acclaimed Songbird Novels with platinum selling country music artist Sara Evans. Their novel Softly and Tenderly, was one of Booklists 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.

Rachel serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, a conference speaker and worship leader.

Rachel writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Her novel, Once Upon A Prince, was a 2014 Christy Award Finalist.

Here latest novel, Princess Ever After and novella A March Bride, released in February 2014. Find Princess Ever After on sale at Barnes & Noble online and in stores! 50% off!!

Visit her web site: www.rachelhauck.com.

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I Never Write in December--A Writing Myth I Tried to Prove True and Failed!

I know I’m dating myself, but do you remember that old Jell-O commercial where a woman chanted over and over, “Busy day, busy day, busy, busy, busy day?” That sounds a lot like my life these days, especially during December. And I imagine it’s the same for many of you. A lot of us have full plates any month of the year, but during the Christmas season we add a bazillion other demands on our time, not to mention a social calendar that seems to explode. What does a writer do if she has deadlines? Besides nearly having a meltdown, which I came close to doing the other night.

Years ago, I began my writing career by taking a correspondence writing class. Up to the first of December, I'd regularly completed my lessons and returned them to my instructor without interruption. But when December rolled around, I put everything to the side and focused on my Christmas activities. A few weeks into the month, I received a note from the instructor asking if I was okay. I told her I was fine, but during December I don’t write. She must have rolled her eyes at that one. She was kind in her response, but very straight forward as she explained there will be times in my writing life when I simply cannot put my writing to the side in December because deadlines are a fact of a writer’s life.

I really appreciate how my instructor treated a simple correspondence course the same way a publisher or agent would treat an established deadline. How else would a newbie writer learn the ways of doing things in the publishing industry?

It all came to bear last year when I had a real-life deadline for my novel that was published on April 1, 2013.

Initially, the plan was for my edits to be turned in before Christmas, but it didn’t happen that way. My editor was very apologetic for the delay, but to get the final manuscript to the printer in time, my edits had to be returned as soon as possible. Could I have them back to her right after New Year’s Day?

I didn’t have any grand plans for New Year’s weekend, but if I had, I would have rearranged them in whatever way it took to get the job done. I planted my you-know-what in my chair and worked the entire New Year’s weekend. And while I worked on those edits, I couldn’t help but think back to that correspondence course when I told my instructor that I never write in December.

This year I have deadlines again. More than one, actually.

We’d all like to tell editors and agents that we don’t write in December, but sometimes we have to. It’s our job. And, frankly, I wouldn't want any other job in the whole world!

What do you do with December deadlines? Give up sleep? Pack the kids off to Grandma for the day or weekend? How do you manage your time? I’m sure there are people reading this who need some tips. I know I do!

 A native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, author Pamela S. Meyers lives in suburban Chicago, an hour's drive away from her hometown which she visits often to dig into its historical legacy. Her novels include Thyme for Love, and Love Will Find a Way,  contemporary romantic mysteries and her 1933 historical romance, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva,Wisconsin, released in April, 2013. She can often be found speaking at events around Lake Geneva or nosing in microfilms and historical records about Wisconsin and other Midwestern spots for new story ideas.

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