A huge part of burnout is deadlines. It seems we live our lives by them. Self-imposed or sent down by an arbitrary external force, we hit them, we miss them, we obsess about them. Procrastinating Writers has a great post about deadlines that I thought was interesting.
So I ask you this: How do you feel about deadlines? When you miss them? Do you prefer self-imposed ones or external ones? Concrete or flexible ones?
I don't do deadlines. Now.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if If I had an agent, or an editor, or a publisher that imposed them on me, I would be the type of person to meet or exceed it. I can't have stuff like that hanging over my head. I'm also always fifteen minutes early for everything.
I'm okay with deadlines right now, they make me write. But maybe because they are self imposed! hehe
ReplyDeleteI am a mess when I miss them so I try not to, I set goals for myself rather than deadlines because sometimes they can be restricting however if I set one 98% of the time I follow through and I'm able to finish however I also know how I work!!! Eek how will it work with an agent?!
ReplyDeleteSo far I haven't had any writing deadlines to have to live by ...except for when I participated in Nano. I'm better under pressure, but I don't know about a full on novel or anything.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I haven't had to deal with any deadlines either, but just the thought terrifies me! I mean, what happens when life interupts and you can't get it done?!?! That's what happends to my current wip's so wouldn't the same be said for deadlines? Agh! I'm stressing myself out just thinking about it. Breathe....
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~JD
In school, I was the stark opposite of a procrastinator. If something was due in four weeks, I'd get it done in two. I'm not as good anymore, but I still hate to wait to the last minute. I can't give my best effort when rushed.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines, perhaps, are most ominous for journalists. The paper must go out. There is a pressure there that can be invigorating and productive.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines are the procrastinators friend.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines are by far the best thing to get me motivated. I have to set them for myself all the time and 90% of the time they work to get me excited. That 10% though is where procrastination decides to try to infiltrate & sometimes succeeds. But all in all I like deadlines.
ReplyDeleteVisit My Kingdom Anytime
I'm TOTALLY with M. Gray on this one. I do not do good work under pressure. Strangely this has been the key to my success as a magazine editor--I try always to beat deadlines by days or even weeks so I have wiggle-room to cope with disasters.
ReplyDeleteSo far, my crit group meetings have been a huge help in generating external deadlines for my writing. I think when push comes to shove, internal deadlines aren't that motivating to me. Fear of disappointing other people (or being perceived as a lame-o slacker), well, THAT motivates me. LOL.
I LURVE deadlines! I thrive on deadlines! I need deadlines to actually get any work done. Otherwise I faff (phaff?) around doing a bit here, a bit there, and generally driving myself mad.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines are wicked beasts. But honestly they help me get more work done, because I just tend to float if I don't have them thinking I'll get to it later when I have time. Yeah, when's that?
ReplyDeleteI have the luxury of not needing deadlines, but if I did, I'd rally. In fact, I'd probably be more prolific.
ReplyDeleteI work very well under pressure, and I like to have external deadlines, they help hold my feet to the fire. Like Laurel mentioned, crit. groups can be motivating, as they are indeed an external deadline. When I have a deadline, I like to get done early, so I have time to tinker with it, perfect it.
ReplyDeleteI never procrastinate when I have a deadline.
Without one, I can talk myself into procrastinating quite well.
I abhor them b/c I'm compulsive and need to beat the deadline as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines for boring & practical things work well for me. But they do NOT work in any way for my writing. They really derail the whole process for me - sending me down the wrong paths for way too long until I finally write myself into a corner.
ReplyDeleteMy writing is much better when I let ideas simmer & present themselves naturally. I do, however, have to discipline myself to write for a certain amount of time every day. If I just sit back & wait for inspiration to hit, that's a whole other issue.
I need deadlines. Preferably written in stone or blood. Self-imposed simply not enough.
ReplyDeleteProcrastination is a familiar friend.
Deadlines stress me out - I prefer to live in a bubble of denial. Sadly, the world isn't very accommodating. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love deadlines, mainly because I have real trouble motivating myself without them.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your kind comments on my Eleventy One entry at Laurel's Leaves. And now I'm a happy new follower of your lovely blog!
Gotta have them or I get lost!
ReplyDeleteI generally work well on a deadline, but it has to be set in stone, and there have to be repercussions for not meeting the deadline. Otherwise, I'll give myself an extension. :)
ReplyDeleteIf I have a deadline for someone else I always meet it. I just can't let anyone down. But if the deadline is one I give myself I can be a procrastinator, darn it. Does that mean I let myself down? Um, I think it does. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteMy deadlines are usually external, work imposed and I absolutely cannot miss those--so I don't. the same was true of missing school deadlines. I didn't miss them.
ReplyDeleteOn my own, though, internal? I have no discipline at all. As such, I don't even try to impose them.
Deadlines are essential! External ones work best, of course. That's why I like contests, they give you a theme, a word count, and a deadline. I never miss an external deadline. Internal deadlines. They can work, but not always.
ReplyDeleteI'm awful with deadlines! ...that's pretty much why I stopped setting them. All I ever did was break them, and then I felt like crap. Of course, I don't really have any decorum, either, (he, he) so I'm not the best example. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! April 15 - tax day. Perfect day for a post on deadlines. :)
ReplyDeleteI HATE missing deadlines. and I work better under pressure. So If I don't have an external deadline, I have to impose one. Most productive scenario: external deadline, no flexibility.
I always impose deadlines upon myself. I probably shouldn't because I feel like I'm forcing creativity and I don't enjoy writing as much as I should.
ReplyDeleteI'm really hard on myself when I miss deadlines as well. *sigh* I need to give myself a break!
I find deadlines are absolutely necessary for me. I can so easily coast along and then suddenly realize--OH! A decade has passed!
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