The Insecure Writer's Support Book is out! Look for my contribution, "The Art of Not Writing."
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond – Available Now!
Just in time for IWSG post week and Christmas - The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond is available for downloading. Thanks to everyone who contributed – it is packed with information! Please help us spread the word about this awesome book.
Tapping into the expertise of over a hundred talented authors from around the globe, The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond contains something for every writer. Whether you are starting out and need tips on the craft of writing, looking for encouragement as an already established author, taking the plunge into self-publishing, or seeking innovative ways to market and promote your work, this guide is a useful tool. Compiled into three key areas of writing, publishing, and marketing, this valuable resource offers inspirational articles, helpful anecdotes, and excellent advice on dos and don'ts that we all wish we knew when we first started out on this writing journey.
ISBN 9781939844088
235 pages, FREE
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads.
ISBN 9781939844088
235 pages, FREE
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads.
Now back to my regular insecure writer's post:
It seems like there are two kinds of people in this world:
those who thrive on deadlines and those who are driven crazy by them.
My husband is the first. He isn’t very productive without a
deadline, but give him a deadline and he’ll pull several all-nighters to make
it.
I, on the other hand, hate deadlines. They make me nervous.
They disrupt my creativity. I freeze with deadlines and have a hard time
working.
Having a deadline for my
magazine pieces caused me weeks of stress and hampered my creativity.
In November I had my first deadline for a manuscript. I had
to turn in a full by the end of a November for the Darci Pattison Whole Novel Revision retreat I’m attending
early next year.
As much as I’m excited for this retreat, the whole idea of
finishing a novel by a certain date did not make me more productive. It made
me more stressed.
When I’m drafting I need two things—very little input from
readers. (Otherwise I get discouraged and give up.) And time. I need time to
take the leisurely road, to ponder things, if I can.
But I didn’t have the luxury of doing that this time. I did finish my draft, but the only
way I made it through was by telling myself to keep going. It didn’t have to be
perfect. After all, it is a revision
retreat. And now I’m dealing with the fact that I sent off a manuscript that
was finished, but less than my own ideal. If only I’d had more time to tinker. . .
So, instead of giving advice this time, I have a
question. How do you deal with deadlines? How do you put that date out of your
head so you can still be creative and write well? 
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Sorry it stresses you out so bad. I'm one of those that needs deadlines or I'd never get anything done. Knowing I have to complete a task, it's like something flips inside my brain, and I just make it happen.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Alex! I think in the end it did help me a little. There were a few times when I just wanted to take a break, but I couldn't. So, it was good to push through, but I do love it when I can just write and take my time.
DeleteI'm not much of a fan of deadlines either. Anxiety!! And I also hate feeling like I'm putting out something less than my best, so I feel your pain! I actually have a deadline today, which is 2K. And I've yet to write a word... =)
ReplyDeleteYes! I think the only deadlines that work for me are low-anxiety ones, when I set the bar so low I can't help but reach it. I used to have my goal be 500 words a day for that reason. I could always reach it, and it was a great day if I could surpass it.
DeleteI work best under deadlines, but not self-made ones or 'unimportant' (like NaNoWriMo). I have to know that things are on the line, and then it works best.
ReplyDeleteI so agree. Self-made ones don't work for me either.
DeleteOh ... I definitely need a deadline. Structure is my way of life. Take that from me and I'm useless.
ReplyDeleteI need structure too, but deadlines don't always work. I guess I just need to keep working at it.
DeleteI have to laugh, because I think I'm the opposite. Deadlines DO work for me - as long as they're reasonable. If they're not, then I'm right there sweating and worrying and freezing up with you :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, I think it was just this one came on so suddenly and I wasn't prepared. I don't like feeling rushed, but at the same time, we don't always have the luxury of taking our time.
DeleteWe all approach writing differently. I'm an indie author so I have self-imposed deadlines. Write so many words per week to be done by a certain time, then a month for self edits, then two months for editors, then another month for more self-edits and another month for the proofreader. I give myself a do-able deadline so I don't stress but still get a lot of work done.
ReplyDeleteI love that you give yourself a do-able deadline. I think that's key. And it's nice that you get to choose the deadline--it's not imposed by someone else. Thanks for sharing your perspective, Gwen!
DeleteThis is such a great question, because deadlines seem to be every writer's nemesis.
ReplyDeleteI've found that part of the reason I struggle with them is because, being new at this, I don't have a good handle on how long various aspects of novel creation take.
What I've been doing is setting a timer (something with a gentle alarm like a meditation timer) to focus on whatever it is that I am working on and then see how well I did after that amount of time. This helps me feel I've accomplished something (Look! I worked on my novel for three whole hours!) and it helps me gauge how long this particular task might take me so that I can set a realistic deadline to finish it.
Great job finishing that draft!
That's such a great idea, Kirsten! I know what you mean. I've been doing this for awhile, but I still feel like I'm learning how long everything takes me. Sometimes it depends on the time of year. I'm less busy in the summer, and can accomplish more then. I think I may just have to try your timer idea--what a great way to motivate yourself!
DeleteI love deadlines. I do the whole time management thing and get bunches of stuff done. Without them, I just waste so much time. It's chronic and sad :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Shout with Emaginette
That's great! :) I usually do okay with my own deadlines (if I make them small), but it's the outside deadlines that make me freeze.
DeleteI've only ever written for one deadline, and I was so close to being done before that deadline that it wasn't awful, and I knew that even after the deadline I'd have time to change things...so I liked the deadline and how it pushed me. Yeah, I guess I'm a deadline person :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the perfect kind of deadline! I actually finished a little bit before mine, so I had a little bit of time to revise. But not as much as I had hoped for, of course.
Delete