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How to Handle Pressure

How to Handle Pressure: Writing Under a Deadline

by Liz Schulte

I am lazy. It’s true. I am. However, I am a productive writer. How? Deadlines.

I love deadlines. They honestly keep me going and motivated all of the time. Before the start of each new year I make my writing schedule for the following year. Planning ahead allows me to prebook my editors, which puts extra importance on meeting my deadlines, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Deadlines are often difficult to meet and with them comes stress—lots of stress.

First thing I want to point out is that to me writing is a job, not a hobby, so excuses aren’t going to cut it. If you find yourself making excuses, stop it. The more you allow yourself to excuse not making your deadlines the less likely you are to make them. Life happens to all of us. You have to work through the hurdles.

Second, set reasonable deadlines for yourself. Don’t procrastinate until you have to stay up all night to have any hope of making the deadline.

Third, write every day. Writing is easier with practice. The more you do it, the less you will struggle. I am not saying it will be easy to write every day, but once you have that muscle memory it will become a lot easier to muscle your way through the difficult days.

Fourth, don’t forget to relax and have fun. If you push yourself too hard you will burn out. So remember when making deadlines that you also need time for yourself too.

Fifth, set a routine. I know that routine perhaps goes against every artistic instinct you might have, but for me it makes my life so much easier. My routine makes it easy to sit down and write because it is th designated time I always write.

That’s my advice for how to handle the pressure of making a deadline. Good luck and thank you for having me on your blog today.