Comments on: Writing On a Deadline? http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:18:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Dean Rieck http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-47232 Dean Rieck Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:11:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-47232 You summed it up when you said that there is more reality to writing on a deadline. I'd make this analogy: When I was in High School, I wanted to play the drums. I had been practicing for a while, but only when I put myself in front of people in various school and dance bands did I start focusing and learning to play. Deadlines creates pressure. Pressure brings focus. Focus raises performance. This doesn't work for everyone. Some fold under any pressure. But those with ability tend to rise to the occasion. You summed it up when you said that there is more reality to writing on a deadline. I’d make this analogy: When I was in High School, I wanted to play the drums. I had been practicing for a while, but only when I put myself in front of people in various school and dance bands did I start focusing and learning to play.

Deadlines creates pressure. Pressure brings focus. Focus raises performance.

This doesn’t work for everyone. Some fold under any pressure. But those with ability tend to rise to the occasion.

]]> By: Graham Strong http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-46404 Graham Strong Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:48:36 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-46404 I always ask for a deadline from a client; it's like the wind in my sails. I need to focus on a destination, plan on how to get there with all my other "ships" on the go, and most of all, to give me a sense of duty and responsibility to guide that ship into port. Without a deadline, I am dead in the water. ~Graham I always ask for a deadline from a client; it’s like the wind in my sails. I need to focus on a destination, plan on how to get there with all my other “ships” on the go, and most of all, to give me a sense of duty and responsibility to guide that ship into port. Without a deadline, I am dead in the water.

~Graham

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-44068 Michael Stelzner Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:41:19 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-44068 Whitney - Are you inside my head? You are SO right! Thanks! :) - Mike Whitney - Are you inside my head? You are SO right! Thanks! :) - Mike

]]> By: Whitney http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43990 Whitney Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:19:44 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43990 Why do people decide to undertake major housecleaning a couple of days before they go on vacation? They don't want to come home to a messy house (especially if they're spending a week in immaculate hotel rooms), are afraid they won't have the energy to tackle the cleaning when they get home, and just don't know what life is going to throw at them. In your case, your subconscious knows from experience what the next eight weeks (in particular) are going to have in store for you. An exhausted woman sore from giving birth. A completely dependent infant who won't be sleeping through the night. Older children who need attention so they won't feel ignored because of the baby. Relatives and friends calling and wanting to come by to see the baby. Somehow, in all this racket, you're supposed to keep the business going. Your brain will be too tired to be creative. So it's chucking out ideas and finished product now, in the hopes that you'll have the sense to write things down while the iron's hot. Even if you only outline the ideas now, filling the outlines in later to create blog posts and whatnot will be decidedly easier than trying to come up with material out of thin air. Why do people decide to undertake major housecleaning a couple of days before they go on vacation? They don’t want to come home to a messy house (especially if they’re spending a week in immaculate hotel rooms), are afraid they won’t have the energy to tackle the cleaning when they get home, and just don’t know what life is going to throw at them.

In your case, your subconscious knows from experience what the next eight weeks (in particular) are going to have in store for you. An exhausted woman sore from giving birth. A completely dependent infant who won’t be sleeping through the night. Older children who need attention so they won’t feel ignored because of the baby. Relatives and friends calling and wanting to come by to see the baby.

Somehow, in all this racket, you’re supposed to keep the business going.

Your brain will be too tired to be creative. So it’s chucking out ideas and finished product now, in the hopes that you’ll have the sense to write things down while the iron’s hot. Even if you only outline the ideas now, filling the outlines in later to create blog posts and whatnot will be decidedly easier than trying to come up with material out of thin air.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43798 Michael Stelzner Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:25:40 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43798 Matthew and Stephan - Thanks for your thoughts! - Mike Matthew and Stephan - Thanks for your thoughts! - Mike

]]> By: Stephan Miller http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43735 Stephan Miller Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:12:19 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-43735 I find its the change. The rut gives no inspiration. Life throwing me for a loop or me making a conscious effort to change something in my life causes a flood of things to write about. New connections built in the brain are buzzing. I find its the change. The rut gives no inspiration. Life throwing me for a loop or me making a conscious effort to change something in my life causes a flood of things to write about. New connections built in the brain are buzzing.

]]> By: Matthew Anton http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42396 Matthew Anton Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:20:56 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42396 hehe Great question...I guess people like procrastinating or it's built into our DNA to put things off or not do them to our best ability unless we have to focus on it. I heard a good quote "It's not the goal of success that drives us but rather the idea of failure that motivates us". I started writing a bunch of articles and when I'm focused I can pump out a couple quality ones per day. It's hard to get motivated though so ride the wave while your hyped up ;) hehe Great question…I guess people like procrastinating or it’s built into our DNA to put things off or not do them to our best ability unless we have to focus on it. I heard a good quote “It’s not the goal of success that drives us but rather the idea of failure that motivates us”. I started writing a bunch of articles and when I’m focused I can pump out a couple quality ones per day. It’s hard to get motivated though so ride the wave while your hyped up ;)

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42153 Michael Stelzner Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:05:48 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42153 Hi Wayne and Justin; Thanks for your comments! I think that self imposed deadlines are harder to keep than those coming from outside of you. Justin, in your case, you are motivated by the dollar it sounds. Nothing wrong with that. Mike Hi Wayne and Justin;

Thanks for your comments!

I think that self imposed deadlines are harder to keep than those coming from outside of you.

Justin, in your case, you are motivated by the dollar it sounds. Nothing wrong with that.

Mike

]]> By: Justin Kuepper http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42109 Justin Kuepper Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:16:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42109 Deadlines themselves do not necessarily motivate me, but rather future obligations. A company that sets a deadline for me carries very little weight, but if I am in a cash crunch and need money I'll work diligently until I make enough to cover the money I need. I guess for me it is a question of personal versus business pressures and only one motivates me. Deadlines themselves do not necessarily motivate me, but rather future obligations. A company that sets a deadline for me carries very little weight, but if I am in a cash crunch and need money I’ll work diligently until I make enough to cover the money I need. I guess for me it is a question of personal versus business pressures and only one motivates me.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42085 Wayne Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:05:29 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/11/12/the-deadline/#comment-42085 I'm not a fan of "why". I'd rather answer what about deadlines improve performance. I have always been deadline driven. Even for my blog posts I have a self imposed deadline of midnight. A deadline has some closure to it. Whether internal or external a deadline gives you a nice time to step away for a bit then go back to look at what you've written. The flip side is that I'm sure independent of your deadlines you've developed the daily habit of sitting down to write. Without applying the discipline to develop your "chops" it doesn't matter that deadlines are flying you won't have gotten all the "junk" out so that you can focus and get in the groove. Not to mention the eustress aspect or personality type that lends itself to working well under pressure. Thanks for the thoughts. It has inspired more internal deadlines! ;) I’m not a fan of “why”. I’d rather answer what about deadlines improve performance.

I have always been deadline driven. Even for my blog posts I have a self imposed deadline of midnight. A deadline has some closure to it. Whether internal or external a deadline gives you a nice time to step away for a bit then go back to look at what you’ve written.

The flip side is that I’m sure independent of your deadlines you’ve developed the daily habit of sitting down to write. Without applying the discipline to develop your “chops” it doesn’t matter that deadlines are flying you won’t have gotten all the “junk” out so that you can focus and get in the groove.

Not to mention the eustress aspect or personality type that lends itself to working well under pressure.

Thanks for the thoughts. It has inspired more internal deadlines! ;)

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