52 Novels

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1. I’m facing deadlines these days. I’ve got a lot of ’em at my day job right now. My freelance and business projects are heating up, too.

   Don’t get me wrong because I’m not complaining. I’d rather be busy like this than the other way around.

   What I hate about deadlines is that I’m terrible at keeping them when they only affect me. If you’re my employer or client and we set a deadline, then it’s no sweat.

   But when it’s just me, I tend to get a little iffy.

   Like a lot of people, I have one of those planner books. I write stuff in it every day of things I need to get done. I cross ’em off when I do them.

   Sounds good so far. But what is it about the flexibility to transfer my own deadlines that makes the keeping up with what I want to do—what I love to do—unravel?

   For example, last week I set a deadline to be finished with a first draft of a short story I’m working on. I’m now four days past that deadline—well into my scheduled polish phase—and I haven’t finished said draft.

   Heck, this post is another example. I want to get the weekly “Six on the brain” out into the wild by noon on Tuesday—if no other reason than to make sure I do it. It’s Friday and, well, here it is.

   Granted, some of these other projects have diverted my attention, so I don’t want to beat myself up.

   I’m curious here… what do you all do to make sure that you stay on top of your own self–imposed deadlines? How do you keep from doing the deadline shuffle?

2. Speaking of deadlines and projects, I’m coming to the end of one I’ve been working on for Konrath.

3. Congratulations to Urban Meyer for coaching Ron Zook’s players to a national championship!

   Seriously, that was quite a whompin the Gators laid on Ohio State.

4. It looks like we’re not gonna get the snow that was promised. But it sure is cold… damn cold!

   That can stop any time now.

5. Getting back to the gym on a more regular basis has been good. And, yes, I’m knocking on wood right now.

   Trust me, this isn’t a resolutions thing. This is a “I’m not hurting like I was before” thing.

6. Here’s hoping that Ben at A Modest Construct adds me to his “Others participating” list this year.

Tags: deadlines, On writing, Six on the brain, Writing

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