Don't Let the Deadline Zone Kill You

Among the many strategies to help get creative projects done, deadlines rule. I love setting deadlines to complete my books and projects.
And, I nearly always miss my deadlines. But that doesn’t mean they’re not working – I’m just using them differently.
Deadlines aren’t just about meeting a goal by a certain date. Deadlines are a chastity belt for your wandering creative lust – keeping you focused.

But sometimes our deadlines can turn against us, applying too much pressure and choking our creativity instead of serving it. If you find yourself feeling too much pressure or avoiding the work, your deadline may be killing you.
Use your deadline as a way to focus rather than a whipping stick. Let your due date help you make choices that guide you toward completion. If the deadline’s choking you, back off on the pressure. Don’t decrease your workload or focus and don’t extend the date. Just keep going.
When you miss the deadline, just set another. Don’t make up stories about your integrity or your ability to write. Learn from it, and keep going.
How about you? How do you use deadlines? Do you always meet them and if not, what do you do when you don’t?
You know missing a deadline doesn’t mean you’re a dullard. Just another atom in the creative ignorosphere. This is part of my Creative Ignorosphere series, published here on the Original Impulse blog. Spread the word and help your friends out of the ignorosphere! #creativeignorosphere