My organizational nightmare is over. Don’t you love it when you tackle a complex, complicated, seemingly overwhelming project and see it successfully to fruition?
I’ve been on such a cycle. I’ve been gathering material for my upcoming book revision/update, interviewing authors and organizing their contributions so that they actually fit into the sections of the book for which they are intended. Working with others on a project—counting on them to contribute what you need in a timely manner—often means a lot of communicating back and forth, prodding, begging, pleading… If you’ve ever headed up a committee, you know what I mean. Not everyone has the same goals in mind, is on the same time schedule, cares about the same deadlines.
But the worst is over and I have relaxed a little. The great news is, it took less time than I expected. If the few stragglers left make it in on time and the rest of the project goes well, I think I’m actually going to beat my deadline. My current clients will be happy to have me back on task with their projects. I have to thank them for being understanding of my need to break away from the intensity of their projects so I could concentrate on my book for the month.
So this week I am still working on gathering material and organizing my book-marketing book. I wrote the bulk of the SPAWN Market Update over the weekend—just have to fill in here and there before turning it in. I got the bright idea to check in with some publishers to find out how things have changed/are changing within their companies and the industry within the last 5-10 years. So I’m waiting for them to respond to my questions. I also plan a walk on the beach this week if the fog lifts. (The Market Update is the newsletter I write for the member area of the SPAWN website every month. SPAWN is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network. http://www.spawn.org)
So how does a writer meet those self-imposed or publisher-driven deadlines? Maybe this will help:
• Commit to a deadline that you know you can meet.
• Assess the project to determine how much time you need to complete it. And then add several weeks (or days, depending on the scope of the project).
• Start working on the project long before it is due—give yourself at least two weeks more than you think you will need. I always give myself a closer deadline than the one the publisher gives me.
• If you will be relying on others to get information to you, contact them weeks before you need the material and then lie to them about your deadline. If you need it by the 20th, tell them it has to be in by the 15th.
• Follow-up with contributors. Sometimes they forget, set your project aside, procrastinate, lower the priority status of it…
• If you’re working with several contributors, keep excellent records of when you contacted them, what you asked of them, what they promised you, etc.
• While waiting for others to come through, work on those parts of the project that you can do on your own.
• If you’re working with a publisher or magazine editor on this project, always get written (or typed) permission from participants and make copies for the publisher or editor.
• Relax. You’ll complete the project in the same amount of time whether you stress over it or not. In fact, you’ll probably move through it more swiftly if you are calm and collected instead of frantic and worried.
• Remember that deadlines are not sacred. If something interferes with the forward motion of the project—there’s a family emergency or a key contributor/participant needs more time, for example—ask if the deadline can be extended by a week or so (a day or so on a shorter project). While you want to do your absolute best to meet (or even beat) your deadline, life happens and publishers understand—especially if you have always come through on time with excellent projects in the past. If it is your first experience with this publisher or magazine editor, definitely do everything you can to impress him/her.
Visit Patricia Fry at her websites:
Book showroom: http://www.matilijapress.com
Editorial/mentoring services offered: http://www.patriciafry.com