Comments on: Writing To A Tight Deadline http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/ Helping freelance writers make more money with their writing by Anne Wayman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:46:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Hannah http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7475 Hannah Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:36:49 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7475 I haven't done anything yet with a real deadline but I'm sure if my book is published there will be changes which will have some. I graduated college in 2005 and left grad school recently to write, and homework deadlines helped me to get stuff done. To try and recapture that feeling, I set time limits on myself like "I'll get this done by such and such a time," or "I'll finish this much today." Since I work full-time, I often write or edit on my lunch hour, which also forces me to get something done because I have a time limit. That's all I have. I don't know if that will interest/help anyone. I haven’t done anything yet with a real deadline but I’m sure if my book is published there will be changes which will have some. I graduated college in 2005 and left grad school recently to write, and homework deadlines helped me to get stuff done. To try and recapture that feeling, I set time limits on myself like “I’ll get this done by such and such a time,” or “I’ll finish this much today.” Since I work full-time, I often write or edit on my lunch hour, which also forces me to get something done because I have a time limit.

That’s all I have. I don’t know if that will interest/help anyone.

]]> By: Jane http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7390 Jane Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:41:36 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7390 Writing groups can be a blessing. I use them as deadlines as well and it works great. Like any time you need to show something you've written (or show anything to prove that you've WRITTEN something) to other people. .-= Jane´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WritingMakesYouRich/~3/r145-rE5yTM/planning-for-future-and-links.html" rel="nofollow">Planning for the future and Links</a> =-. Writing groups can be a blessing. I use them as deadlines as well and it works great. Like any time you need to show something you’ve written (or show anything to prove that you’ve WRITTEN something) to other people.
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Planning for the future and Links =-.

]]> By: Anne http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7388 Anne Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:04 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7388 Writing challenges work for sure... actually, I'd forgotten but I made good use of a writing group that met every two weeks - used that as a deadline for at least a couple of years. Writing challenges work for sure… actually, I’d forgotten but I made good use of a writing group that met every two weeks – used that as a deadline for at least a couple of years.

]]> By: Anne http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7387 Anne Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:28:56 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7387 Yes, although I think of it as the process of yeast in bread, which is also fermenting... the bubbles are what makes the bread rise. Yes, although I think of it as the process of yeast in bread, which is also fermenting… the bubbles are what makes the bread rise.

]]> By: Anne http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7386 Anne Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:28:18 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7386 Hi Cathy, yes, I rarely take a tight deadline anymore... in addition to money I was also helping a friend... once and awhile it's okay... like every three or four years. ;) Hi Cathy, yes, I rarely take a tight deadline anymore… in addition to money I was also helping a friend… once and awhile it’s okay… like every three or four years. ;)

]]> By: Cathy Miller http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7373 Cathy Miller Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:18:11 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7373 One of the reasons I left Corporate America a year ago was to get control of my life. I spent 30+ years of working long hours, weekends and everything in between. My health and psyche was headed south. That is why my fingers now trip over themselves to exit an ad that reads "must be able to meet tight deadlines." :-) Since I started freelancing, I have only accepted one such position. They e-mailed me on a Friday at 3:30 PM for 3 articles with extensive technical research and a deadline of the following Monday. That was in June. I just received payment last week. I totally understand needing the money--just take a look at the journey captured on my personal blog--but it just isn't worth it to me any more. I admire those who can do it and hope they still find time for life. That was my lesson learned. I may take one of those tight timeframes in the future but the good news is no one makes that decision for me, except me. Continued success to all! .-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..<a href="http://blog.millercathy.com/2009/10/03/october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month-2.aspx?ref=rss" rel="nofollow">October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month</a> =-. One of the reasons I left Corporate America a year ago was to get control of my life. I spent 30+ years of working long hours, weekends and everything in between. My health and psyche was headed south.

That is why my fingers now trip over themselves to exit an ad that reads “must be able to meet tight deadlines.” :-) Since I started freelancing, I have only accepted one such position. They e-mailed me on a Friday at 3:30 PM for 3 articles with extensive technical research and a deadline of the following Monday. That was in June. I just received payment last week.

I totally understand needing the money–just take a look at the journey captured on my personal blog–but it just isn’t worth it to me any more. I admire those who can do it and hope they still find time for life. That was my lesson learned. I may take one of those tight timeframes in the future but the good news is no one makes that decision for me, except me.

Continued success to all!
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month =-.

]]> By: Charlene http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7367 Charlene Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:02:15 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7367 Anne...yeasting? as in fermenting? oh my, that's appropriate as I envision bubbles of ideas rising and popping as they get discarded in my pondering :) I'm pondering now actually. Am in the midst of creating web copy for a client and am almost ready to start writing. Anne…yeasting? as in fermenting? oh my, that’s appropriate as I envision bubbles of ideas rising and popping as they get discarded in my pondering :) I’m pondering now actually. Am in the midst of creating web copy for a client and am almost ready to start writing.

]]> By: Anne http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7366 Anne Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:33:59 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7366 Charlene... what you call pondering I call yeasting... I sure recognize what you're talking about. Charlene… what you call pondering I call yeasting… I sure recognize what you’re talking about.

]]> By: Jane http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7359 Jane Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:15:02 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7359 I can't seem to be able of writing without deadlines. Especially when the longer pieces of work are considered. And it can't be a self-imposed deadline either. That's probably the reason why I join so many writing challenges. But it's good for my writing and creativity, so yay deadlines :) .-= Jane´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WritingMakesYouRich/~3/r145-rE5yTM/planning-for-future-and-links.html" rel="nofollow">Planning for the future and Links</a> =-. I can’t seem to be able of writing without deadlines. Especially when the longer pieces of work are considered. And it can’t be a self-imposed deadline either. That’s probably the reason why I join so many writing challenges. But it’s good for my writing and creativity, so yay deadlines :)
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Planning for the future and Links =-.

]]> By: Charlene http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/writing-to-a-tight-deadline/comment-page-1/#comment-7358 Charlene Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:45:07 +0000 http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/?p=4895#comment-7358 Pace? For me its more like momentum. With or without a deadline, I always lean back in my office chair and ponder. Then I make a coffee run, pondering along the way. Sometimes I read other blogs while I ponder, or industry information while I ponder. Then, suddenly, I'm ready. I begin to write and go until I'm done. That could mean 30 minutes, it could mean 6 hours. Once I'm done, I stretch and walk away to attend to another project. I try to give myself at least an hour of time away from the recently written so I can review, rewrite, edit, etc. Depending on the project, I do this up to three times. Then my client receives the finished work. Yep, definitely a build up and the gaining of momentum for me. If my workload increases (which I do hope it will) then I will have to look at learning how to pace myself. Pace? For me its more like momentum. With or without a deadline, I always lean back in my office chair and ponder. Then I make a coffee run, pondering along the way. Sometimes I read other blogs while I ponder, or industry information while I ponder. Then, suddenly, I’m ready. I begin to write and go until I’m done. That could mean 30 minutes, it could mean 6 hours. Once I’m done, I stretch and walk away to attend to another project. I try to give myself at least an hour of time away from the recently written so I can review, rewrite, edit, etc. Depending on the project, I do this up to three times. Then my client receives the finished work. Yep, definitely a build up and the gaining of momentum for me. If my workload increases (which I do hope it will) then I will have to look at learning how to pace myself.

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