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When it comes to writing a book, I have a love/hate relationship with deadlines. On one hand I love them because they mean that some publisher out there liked my idea enough to contract the book before it was written and that they trust me enough as an author to believe I’ll write a book good enough to be published. Pretty much, that I won’t turn in crap. *g* I’ll admit, it’s a heady feeling to sign a contract for something that’s still swirling around in my head.
But deadlines also mean that well…the book HAS to be done by a specific date. It doesn’t matter if the muse decides it would rather work on some shiny new idea, or if a bunch of other stuff for other commitments pop up, sucking up my time. I still need to find a way to get the contracted book finished by its deadline.
Even though the muse loves having the freedom to work on whatever and whenever she wants, deadlines also snap my butt in shape. As the date looms ever closer, I buckle down even harder. It gets easier to resist the lure to linger over scenes and edit them until my internal editor is content (and it takes a lot to please that picky b!tch). My focus is fully on the book and I can crank out pages at a nice little clip.
So why this little discussion about deadlines today? Because one is currently breathing down my damn neck. I also write m/f sensual regency romance under another name (it’s that Evangeline chick up in the menu bar), and I’ve got a single title due at the end of the year. I’ve been working on it for months, hence why I didn’t have any Ava releases in the second half of this year. Rest assured though, as soon as I turn this puppy in, I’ll start work on a new m/m (Oliver and Vincent are currently bugging me to do their final book next) and I also plan to co-write a regency m/m with Shawn Lane.
Anyway, I’ve got to get back to the ms. What's tattooed on the hottie's lower back...yeah I don't have it (freedom) right now. That deadline is starting to feel like it’s tomorrow and not a month and a half away. Hope you all are having a great Sunday!
But deadlines also mean that well…the book HAS to be done by a specific date. It doesn’t matter if the muse decides it would rather work on some shiny new idea, or if a bunch of other stuff for other commitments pop up, sucking up my time. I still need to find a way to get the contracted book finished by its deadline.
Even though the muse loves having the freedom to work on whatever and whenever she wants, deadlines also snap my butt in shape. As the date looms ever closer, I buckle down even harder. It gets easier to resist the lure to linger over scenes and edit them until my internal editor is content (and it takes a lot to please that picky b!tch). My focus is fully on the book and I can crank out pages at a nice little clip.
So why this little discussion about deadlines today? Because one is currently breathing down my damn neck. I also write m/f sensual regency romance under another name (it’s that Evangeline chick up in the menu bar), and I’ve got a single title due at the end of the year. I’ve been working on it for months, hence why I didn’t have any Ava releases in the second half of this year. Rest assured though, as soon as I turn this puppy in, I’ll start work on a new m/m (Oliver and Vincent are currently bugging me to do their final book next) and I also plan to co-write a regency m/m with Shawn Lane.
Anyway, I’ve got to get back to the ms. What's tattooed on the hottie's lower back...yeah I don't have it (freedom) right now. That deadline is starting to feel like it’s tomorrow and not a month and a half away. Hope you all are having a great Sunday!
We get more Oliver and Vincent?? *big grin* I just read their stories last week :)
ReplyDeleteI hope the rest of your deadline goes smoothly. Must be even worse with the holidays...not too make you even more stressed :) Have a drink. That is always my answer ;)
I'm sure deadlines are stressful. I know that the ones I have at work can really get to me. I just keep telling myself that it'll get done. It just has to.
ReplyDeleteBTW, awesome picture in this post.
(((hugs))) Good Luck Ava, you can do it! Before you know it, you'll have turned everything in and start wondering what you should write next ;)
ReplyDeleteBTW, nice bunns ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Mandi! Yes, it's looking like Oliver and Vincent will be up next. :) And actually the holidays should be a bit less stressful, as far as writing goes, because the EDJ calms down around the holidays. So I'm thinking it shouldn't be too bad (crosses fingers).
ReplyDeleteHey Eyre! I tell myself the same thing, and it works pretty good, too. :)
Hi Barbara!! Thanks for the hugs! And glad you liked today's bunns ;)
Hey babe! As you know, deadline of my own kept me from catching up on blogger until now. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been on a roll lately, knock on wood that your muse stays in the groove! You'll have this knocked out in time and in great fashion.
Plus, you have a lovely treat awaiting you when you're done...time to write whatever (and whomever) pleases you! :)
I see you've been stalking Beautiful again for more lovely back shots. Very nice!