Don't let deadlines mess with quality
And some book recommendations
Yes, that was me encouraging you to work with deadlines a few weeks ago. But what I’m about to say only builds on my previous points. So let’s talk it out…
Context: I spent the last two weeks of August compiling a poetry manuscript for a chapbook contest. Selecting 27 poems to arrange in three sections was easy. The editing of the first section was a dream, but I hit a roadblock in the second section. I quickly realized that I needed to rebuild the narrative arc, change the order of the last half, write a new poem to replace the one on page 14… but the deadline was days away.
Having worked in advertising for 20+ years, I was ready to push through and get it done. But it didn’t feel right.
I left advertising precisely because I felt as if the mad rush to get something done usually came at the expense of making something good. As someone who has spent the last almost-three years cultivating a creative practice, learning patience with that practice and faffing, I couldn’t see myself reverting back to a fast-food model of creative work.
Every time I have forced the process to meet a deadline or fulfill someone else’s expectations, the writing has never been good. It’s been good enough, but always skimming the surface, never moving beyond the first degree to offer readers something more toothsome than 'sometimes you miss your grandmother’.
So I came up with new (kinder and more responsible) options:
Set a new deadline
If you’re doing NaNoWriMo, for example, commit to the process. The tools and community are there to support you. But should you get close to month’s end and you’re short on word count, there’s no shame in setting a new deadline. Don’t lose the momentum. Rather take a little breather and aim to have it done by December 31 instead. Remember to get yourself an accountability buddy also.
Be proud of the work already done
If you miss a deadline, absolutely take the time to see where the slow-downs occurred and why, or maybe even revisit your work environment. But it’s also very beneficial to look at how many words you did write and be proud of the progress already made. A shot of pride may fuel the motivation to keep going.
Set a new goal
In the end, I decided to forego contest entry, work on the manuscript at my own pace and contact a designer friend about a concept for self-publication. Why should my precious words sit in an inbox for months, waiting for a long-shot yes from strangers, when I can make a small investment and have readers enjoy the words now? Also there are other presses offering contests. This wasn’t my last and only chance. Once the pressure was off, the writing began to flow again and I’m excited about it again.
Go do something else
If you do want to make that deadline, try to find inspiration elsewhere. Instead of forcing yourself to sit in front of the screen, do cross-stitch or weed the garden. Dance it out in your bedroom or take a pilates class. Staring at a cursor won’t bring in good ideas, but if you move your body and look at new things, even just get some fresh air, something is bound to give.
What would you have done in my place? Does your creativity flourish under pressure? Or is taking a step back the better bet?
Perfect late summer reads for the front porch and the park, I say. What are you reading these days?
