~~~
I have nothing against deadlines.
They are necessary for organization, to accomplish tasks on time, and to move forward.
I’m a fan of deadlines and don’t believe life works well without them.
I have nothing against writing. How could I? I’ve been jotting down poetry and prose since I was nine.
Writing and deadlines work well together.
Most of the time.
Writing and deadlines disconnect for me when I add in another factor… chronic illness.
It’s difficult to make plans and schedules when you have no idea what each day will hold. Will the pain level be tolerable? How much mobility will I have? Will my thinking be slowed due to brain fog?
So, I’ve stopped trying to make plans.
Now I make game plans and strategies.
If I can’t write, I can read. If I can’t read, I can edit. If I can’t edit, I can outline. If I can’t outline, I can search out art and images, check out new tools for writing and publishing, or work on my blogs.
I’ve taken my obstacles and made them challenges. No one likes to lose a challenge, but sometimes I do and a loss makes me push harder through the next challenge.
So while I still may not be able to say Sins of the Mother will release on April 3, 2019, I keep moving forward, closer to the time when I can publish dates.
Working through illness is my challenge. For others, it could be varying job obligations, multiple jobs, or having to travel frequently. I have several friends who are in school and try to set writing deadlines after midterms and exams. They’re still perfecting their systems.
But without a doubt, writers struggle most with meeting familial obligations, whether it’s spouses and children, elderly parents, or fur babies. It’s easy to get overwhelmed… and do nothing.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Make obstacles and disadvantages positive challenges and accomplishments and meeting deadlines will become less daunting and effortless.
~~~
Day 14 word count – 26,986
~~~
Felicia Denise, Author 