I mentioned word count goals a while back, the advantages and disadvantages of working with them. Now I’ll do the same with another go-to progress and motivation method: deadlines.

Deadlines Are Great

Deadlines can help you break down a huge, impossible-seeming goal- like novel-writing- into manageable chunks, and provide a timeframe for getting it done. They also give you that kick in the rear you need to stop procrastinating and start writing.

We tend to prioritize tasks with due dates and deadlines over tasks that can be done “whenever.” Deadlines are a commitment toward taking your writing seriously.

It’s surprising what you get done while holding yourself accountable to a deadline, versus writing when you feel like it, without any time limit at all.

Deadlines can also help you move past sections where you’re spinning your wheels and getting nowhere. Maybe you just can’t get a scene right, or you’re obsessing over details. No worries! Move on and come back to it later, when you’ll have a fresh outlook that will hopefully help you get un-stuck.

Deadlines Suck

Poorly wielded, deadlines can suck all the fun out of writing. What was once your happy leisure activity may as well be a chore or work project. High achievers may find themselves stressing out over these deadlines as much as any other deadlines they face.

Like the word count goal, there’s also the temptation to sacrifice quality. It’s easier, and “looks” better, to leave bad scenes as they are, rather than fix them and potentially miss the deadline.

The importance attached to writing deadlines may make you neglect other hobbies or chores that need to be done, in service of meeting the deadline.

How To Use A Deadline

In the right hands, with the right mindset, a deadline can be really useful- but first, it’s crucial to figure out:

• What a realistic deadline is for you. How much can you get done in the given time frame, without ignoring all the other things you need to do to maintain a healthy existence? For instance, during rewrites, I try to finish two chapters per week. That said, don’t worry about what I or other people use for deadlines. Go at your own pace, then challenge yourself to increase it later if you want.
• What you’ll do when you miss a deadline, because it WILL happen. This week’s chapters are huge, you’re not feeling well, life throws surprises at you… whatever the reason, it’s generally best to forgive yourself, set a new deadline, and move on. Stressing out or beating yourself up is not recommended.
• Whether you have a hard date that the entire project must be finished by. I’d recommend not setting one, so you have even less reason to worry if your schedule slips.

Do you use deadlines? How do you make them work for you? Let me know in the comments!