RETURN TO WRITING STRATEGIES

The Writer’s Edge
Tips for the Freelance Writer - By Terri Mrosko

Never Miss a Deadline

Being a writer means having deadlines. That is part of your job. Some of the deadlines come from editors, and some deadlines are self-imposed.

Deadlines are good. They allow you to schedule your time and present you with a goal to finish a project. Deadlines can be stretched, but they can never be broken.

One sure sign of a professional writer is he or she never misses a deadline. Missing a deadline is the kiss of death to a writer’s career, or at least to that particular relationship with the publication you just disappointed.

What can you do to avoid missing a deadline? Here are a few suggestions:

• Make sure when you accept the assignment or promise the editor that you can deliver the piece on a specific date, you are absolutely certain you can follow through.
• Look at your calendar and determine a realistic target to submit your manuscript, and then build in a small amount of contingency time.
• Negotiate with the editor when he or she asks for an unreason - able length of time to complete the writing assignment. Often -times, he is more than willing to cut you some slack, especially when you have delivered as previously promised.
• Let the editor know as soon as you are aware of a possibility of not getting done on time. Sometimes securing that interview or resource can be tricky—let the editor determine if it’s worth waiting for.
• Manage your time. If up against a tight deadline, cut out all non-essential meetings and focus on the task at hand.