I don’t know about you, but I often work best under pressure. However, I’m also terrible about setting (and sticking to) writing deadlines. 

Let’s fix that!

Why use Deadlines?

They may seem arbitrary, but deadlines help you focus, organize, and find the motivation to push through. They can also boost your creativity and productivity, help you allocate resources, and plan the most efficient route to success. 

And we writers can use all of that and more!

Setting Deadlines

The first thing to remember is that your deadlines need to be realistic. You know your weaknesses, but you also know what you’re capable of. 

They should also be simple. You don’t want a complicated, multi-step deadline that will take more time to complete. Instead, take all those steps and give them their own deadlines. 

Finally, they need to be measurable. If you can’t see your progress, you may lose the focus you need to meet those deadlines. 

Actually, setting deadlines is much like setting goals- in that you need to be SMART about it. 

For example, here are the main goals I’ve set for my upcoming poetry collection:

• Complete 60 poems by December 17th, 2023
• Edit and publish by December 23rd, 2023

They’re simple, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-sensitive- you know, SMART! 

Another example is the deadlines I set for my website. They look like this:

• Monday- informative article on a writing topic- deadline Sunday night.
• Wednesday- Podcast episode on PresentPoetry.com- Deadline Tuesday night.
• Friday- a creative work (poetry or flash fiction)- Deadline Thursday night.

It doesn’t always work, as you can see from my blog history, but having these deadlines reminds me to write something every week- no matter how small- and keep this blog alive! 

The Downside

Unfortunately, deadlines don’t meet themselves. Instead, they require commitment, discipline, and motivation. 

They also need you to stay away from distractions (which are a problem for me), avoid procrastination (but NOT resting-rest is important), and limit your interruptions. 

If you can handle that, you can meet your deadlines with ease!

Missing Deadlines

When it happens- and it will happen- the first thing is to keep calm. Then, take these steps to make it as smooth a transition as possible. 

• Inform the relevant people (if any)
• Apologize for the inconvenience
• Propose a new deadline or plan of action
• Learn from your mistake

Remember- a missed deadline isn’t the end of the world. It’s frustrating, yes, but don’t toss the project before its time. Instead, take a breath and reorganize your efforts. 

Final Thoughts

Thankfully, writing is one of the more lenient careers. You can set and change writing deadlines as needed, and missing a deadline isn’t the end of the world. 

Still, any deadline you set is an unspoken contract between yourself and your writing, and it takes strength, discipline, and commitment to make it work. 

That brings me to my question: How do you set deadlines for your writing? Do you use the SMART method or something else? I’d love to know!