1. Recently, I had to meet a deadline for my new MFA program. Several hindrances occurred along the way. The biggest one was spending time trying to figure out the FinAid issues. My first packet, which the school calls the group of writings sent to your advisor, was due right after the long holiday. I needed to finish three books, write about them and write a “personal” letter to the teacher. I was setting my own deadlines for the project. I was lucky that I had stories I had been working on to meet the requirements. For me I like deadlines when I am working with others, they seem to be more difficult for me when it is just me. I need to do better.
2. I was rolling into this; yeah, deadlines generally suck but are needed. Now that I have what seems like extra time in my day, which I use POORLY, I recognize that it needs to change. Deadlines in the past have been a way to motivate to the end goal; presently, that has changed. I drag my feet when I know what I should be doing. Being a sloth is not good. My experiences with deadlines run the gambit from my teaching/coaching days when there were many deadlines; I was also drinking in those days. Then, as a chef or grunt worker in the kitchens, items needed to be prepared quickly and efficiently. I also realized at one point that some parts of cooking and game day were the dopamine rush that sports gave me. I learned that deadlines were important. It might be an age thing now, but I find deadlines are needed and bothersome too.
3. Hmm, I need to ponder this one more.
4. In certain areas, a deadline that “forces” work might be needed. It does apply pressure to those involved. I remember that at one time in my life, deadlines were those things, mostly in school, that didn’t count until about 24 or fewer hours before the projects were required to be submitted. In other areas of my professional life the deadlines were required to get paid and progress in the positions. I don’t think it hurt but today I realize that they may have been stifling in someways. Coming into my world today deadlines seem to have disappeared in many ways and that can cause me a little stress. For example, my part-time job has no set time. I can show up anytime from 1230 to 2 pm to start the job. My volunteer work doesn’t have anything strict and I think that hurts us from getting the best done, but I am not in charge. The result of this is that while deadlines may get us unstuck when stuck, they tend to help. At least me.
5. I will get back to you on this, because I think I need to look at the book, novella I am trying to write and see how that all fits. OK ?
Hi Dennis - that all sounds more than ok. You're making a big life transition as a writer which requires you to find a new rhythm to your day. You're being thoughtful and honest about what works for you and doesn't.
1. Recently, I had to meet a deadline for my new MFA program. Several hindrances occurred along the way. The biggest one was spending time trying to figure out the FinAid issues. My first packet, which the school calls the group of writings sent to your advisor, was due right after the long holiday. I needed to finish three books, write about them and write a “personal” letter to the teacher. I was setting my own deadlines for the project. I was lucky that I had stories I had been working on to meet the requirements. For me I like deadlines when I am working with others, they seem to be more difficult for me when it is just me. I need to do better.
2. I was rolling into this; yeah, deadlines generally suck but are needed. Now that I have what seems like extra time in my day, which I use POORLY, I recognize that it needs to change. Deadlines in the past have been a way to motivate to the end goal; presently, that has changed. I drag my feet when I know what I should be doing. Being a sloth is not good. My experiences with deadlines run the gambit from my teaching/coaching days when there were many deadlines; I was also drinking in those days. Then, as a chef or grunt worker in the kitchens, items needed to be prepared quickly and efficiently. I also realized at one point that some parts of cooking and game day were the dopamine rush that sports gave me. I learned that deadlines were important. It might be an age thing now, but I find deadlines are needed and bothersome too.
3. Hmm, I need to ponder this one more.
4. In certain areas, a deadline that “forces” work might be needed. It does apply pressure to those involved. I remember that at one time in my life, deadlines were those things, mostly in school, that didn’t count until about 24 or fewer hours before the projects were required to be submitted. In other areas of my professional life the deadlines were required to get paid and progress in the positions. I don’t think it hurt but today I realize that they may have been stifling in someways. Coming into my world today deadlines seem to have disappeared in many ways and that can cause me a little stress. For example, my part-time job has no set time. I can show up anytime from 1230 to 2 pm to start the job. My volunteer work doesn’t have anything strict and I think that hurts us from getting the best done, but I am not in charge. The result of this is that while deadlines may get us unstuck when stuck, they tend to help. At least me.
5. I will get back to you on this, because I think I need to look at the book, novella I am trying to write and see how that all fits. OK ?
Hi Dennis - that all sounds more than ok. You're making a big life transition as a writer which requires you to find a new rhythm to your day. You're being thoughtful and honest about what works for you and doesn't.
These are hard things to remember at times. Thanks for the other perspective.