by Connilyn Cossette, @ConniCossette
I am a classic procrastinator. I was that student who wrote term papers at 3 am the night before but somehow usually managed to pull through and get good grades anyhow. Having continued this pattern of last-minute-tire-squealing-finishes into adulthood I had some challenges to overcome as a professional writer.
Although I am still the Queen of Procrastination (Exhibit A: my usual sink full of dishes and perpetually unfolded laundry) I have gradually instituted some techniques that have served me well in meeting my publisher’s deadlines and have even produced the occasional shockingly-early turn in!
Dilly-dallying around and writing whenever the muse strikes sound fun in theory but it does not produce timely manuscripts and often ends up as an excuse for over-perfectionism, which will keep any artist from delivering consistent work. Even if you don’t have a contract yet, it’s best to start training now by instituting a solid deadline for yourself.
Here are some things you can do to make deadlines work for you, whether you are a traditionally published author, an indie author, or are working towards a writing career:
1. Be realistic. Give yourself a word count that is obtainable. Writing thousands of words a day sounds fantastic but keeping up that sort of pace long term will result in burnout. If you are just starting out, pick a lower word count and then gradually increase as your “writing muscles” get stronger.
2. Bite size portions. A 90,000-word goal can seem overwhelming, but you’ve heard the old adage about how to eat an elephant (one bite at a time), you’ll need to apply that to your manuscript and take it one bite at a time. Consistency is the name of the game, so pull out your calendar and do some math. Make a daily goal, a weekly goal, and a monthly goal and then stick to them!
3. Build in padding. Life happens. Sickness, technical problems, children—it is inevitable that your goals will need to be adjusted when unforeseen issues pop up. When you divide up your word count make sure and build in some wiggle room, just in case.
4. Take a break. We all need rest and you will do your best work if you give yourself a mental break. I take an entire month off writing between books, which means instead of dividing my word-count goal by nine months, I only do eight months with six weeks devoted to editing. This way I come to the new book refreshed. Taking one day a week off is imperative as well. Use your Sabbath day to recharge those creative batteries.
5. Reward yourself. Hit your daily goal? Watch your favorite TV show. Knock out that weekly goal? Go someplace fun with your family. Master the deadline? Head to the beach for the weekend. Even accomplishing hourly goals can be easy if you bribe yourself with a few M&M’s (although your waistline will thank you if you pace yourself). Pick something that motivates you, dangle that carrot, then celebrate your victories!
Are you a procrastinator like me? What techniques work best for you in managing deadlines?
~*~
Connilyn Cossette is the CBA Best-Selling author of the Out from Egypt Series with Bethany House Publishing. Her debut novel, Counted with the Stars, was a finalist for both an INSPY Award and a Christian Retailing’s Best Award. There’s not much she likes better than digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible, uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus, and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives in a little town near Dallas, Texas with her husband of twenty years and two awesome kids, who fill her days with laughter, joy, and inspiration. Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.