Missing Deadlines
As previously discussed in December, thus far all my writing deadlines have been self-imposed (editing deadlines not so much--there I've been told by the publishers when to have the manuscript ready and returned). This, however, doesn't keep the deadline from assuming significance in my mind and causing me pain when I realize there is now way that I'll meet said deadline unless someone manages to create a wrinkle in the time-space continuum. Anyone? Anyone? No? Okay.
This brings me to missing deadlines. I don't like missing them. It makes me feel that I've failed, even though my writing instructor, Stratis, once told me that deadlines are guidelines and are supposed to serve as motivation, not punishment. I'm sure he's right. I just have a very hard time accepting that.
This brings me to the fact that I'm going to miss a deadline. Big time. I had hoped to have half the manuscript for book two edited by the time I leave for vacation in two weeks. Um...er...huh. That was ambitious of me! At the time I made that deadline I was, to be fair, cranking along at a good pace. I was also less busy with book promotion and other things.
So I'm not going to make it. Right now I'm 1/8 done with the manuscript. In two weeks' time I might be able to make it to 1/4. Might.
The trick now is remembering that speed does not equal quality and that, in two weeks, I will be on a beach, staring at an ocean, and missing deadlines will seem a much smaller thing.