Friday, April 21, 2017

My Deadline Has Waved Goodbye To Me

I had set a strict deadline to finish a book, so that I could revise and edit it in time to participate in a twitter pitch party. The deadline came and went, waving a mocking goodbye to me, and I realized that I was not even halfway through the project, though I managed to write a few pitches for it.


I postponed the deadline by two months. As this particular deadline is looming large, I realize that I still have a long, long way to go. If I do a rushed up job, I know I’ll be doing injustice to the project, as well as to myself.


This has made me push the deadline by a few more weeks. I am not sure that I’ll meet that deadline too.



I feel bad that I won’t be able to complete my book for that particular pitch party. I’ll have to wait a few more months for it to come again. By then I’m sure the book will be more than ready. I’m very angry with myself for this slow writing. But summer always has that effect on me. It makes me sluggish and grumpy and very lazy.




But luckily for me I have another book that I may be able to polish for that particular pitch contest. This idea has cheered me up quite a bit. Fingers crossed so that I am able to achieve this particular goal.



How are you all at handling deadlines? Are you able to meet them? Or like me do you keep postponing them?

10 comments:

  1. I think it's better to wait till the project is really out rather than really push it. And yes, I've gotten frustrated with myself trying to complete something for a contest but not being able to meet my goal.

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  2. I would feel worse if I did a rush job on the project then it didn't do well in the contest, etc. Take your time, get it in the best shape possible then go for it! :)

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  3. I think it's better to postpone than give a botched up work. It happens, I feel. I revived my novel and been quite late with 15 pages done for three months which is so less. I need to set some self deadline of 1000 words, thrice a week and try to finish first draft by September.

    Cheerz
    https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/

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  4. I prefer to think of them as goals rather than deadlines. Then I don't get as hung up on the calendar and instead allow creativity to flow naturally, or something like that.

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  5. Sorry you missed the deadline, but rushing wouldn't have been good for the story.
    The IWSG's Twitter pitch isn't for another three months - maybe that would be enough time?

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  6. I agree with the others that rushing a project through is not a good idea. I work well with deadlines sometimes, and sometimes I don't. It really depends on the project. I turned out a short story for an anthology on time, but the story was cooperative. I have another project that is taking years to come to fruition, and no amount of deadlines has been able to change that. It's taking its time. Good luck in pitching your alternative project. I think the key is to have more than one project. Have a great day.

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  7. I work better with a firm deadline, preferably one set by an editor or publisher. It seems my self-assigned deadlines are often ignored. :D

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  8. With my authors and books, those deadlines I can't miss. My own writing - I gave up on deadlines a couple years ago.

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  9. Hello Rachna,
    Long time.. How are you doing?
    On deadlines, they help us prioritize our tasks.
    But more important than that, is the willpower to not postpone them, as you have mentioned.
    I do postpone some of them, if some more important task has taken greater priority.

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