Each time I take an assignment—whether a short magazine article or a book length project—I know the clock is ticking with a deadline to turn in the material. Writers are notoriously late with these deadlines but one of the hallmarks of my work has been to turn in excellent material on time. If you commit to this issue, you will distinguish yourself from many other writers. It may come as a surprise, but it’s true.
It sounds simple, but it's vital. When you agree to a deadline, keep it, no matter what. This means that you keep your deadline even if you're in the throes of a week-long migraine, your pet dog died, and your spouse asked for a divorce.
Your editors will LOVE you (and give you more work) if you meet your deadlines. Because most writers don't.
Need help meeting deadlines? Tell yourself:
* It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to get done;
* You can fix it when it's on the page;
* You're a better writer than you think you are;
* That you WILL get it done.
Important: set your own deadline three days before the 'real' deadline in the case of an article or any short project, three weeks before the deadline if you're writing a book. This allows for computer crashes and other disasters.
Editors will forgive you much if you're reliable.
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