Blogging Circle: Tick Tock Goes the Clock (Even for the Doctor)

This month's blogging circle's topic is Deadlines.  Dun dun duuuuuunnnnnn.  *ahem*  And the first thing that I thought of was Doctor Who.  Good job, brain, go for the fandom parts.  Now, for the questions.

We've all have deadlines to face - whether it be yearly like WriYe, monthly like NaNo, or weekly like LWS (Last WriYer Standing).  How do you face your deadlines?  Any advice to help meet them?  Any advice on what to do when you miss them?

What I like to do, when faced with a deadline, is try to have a plan on how I'm going to reach my goal.  For example, with NaNo, I try to plot out as much of the novel as I can and how much I want to write for each chapter.  That gets me to the goal of wanting to write 50K.  It also helps with getting as much done of the novel as I can in one month.  For the deadlines that go month to month, I'm a bit of hit and miss on them.  Sometimes I'm right on the money and have something done and ready to go.  But that's because I plan out everything ahead of time.  So, plan plan plan down the details as much as you can.  Also, try to get your schedule planned out ahead of time as well.

You're probably asking: What if I hit a snag?  Oh noes!  Well, go back to planning.  There might be something that you're missing and you've just tripped over it.  Look at what you've tripped over and make a plan of attack to fix it.  Sometimes a half hour of sketching a chapter makes the world of difference to hit your deadline on time.  Also, you might find a subplot you wouldn't have realized if you hadn't gone back and looked it over!  I know I have from time to time.

Now, I have missed deadlines, waving to them as they pass by.  The best thing to do, when you miss a deadline, is try to finish the project anyways.  For example - it wasn't until 2008 that I finished NaNo for the first time ever but I first signed up in 2003.  With the 2003 to 2007 projects, I kept at them.  Some of them I finished and some of them are locked away in a drawer to never be spoken about again.  So, finish the project and try to do it within a month of the old deadline.  You might end up liking the project anyways or you might lock the project away to never see the light of day again.  But the important thing is that you did finish.  Yes, it is late and yes, deadlines are important, but sometimes a finished project is the best ephoria for a writer.

So, recap of suggestions:

• Plan your heart out: Outline, character sketch, world build, and everything else.  Get your plotting out of the way first and then your project should move smoothly to hit the deadline.
• Don't be afraid to go back to planning when you hit a snag: Sometimes the best plot ideas come from going back and outlining the chapter.
• Schedule your time: Realize when you're going to work the best and try to use that time to it's maximum potential.
• If you miss your deadline: Get the project done and do not blame yourself (much).

And those are my secrets.  Go forth and smack those deadlines head on!