Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a focused space in which to write your book or finish your project? You often yearn for that far-off creative zone, an idyllic escape where you can focus on your work without daily distractions, tempting dates with friends and other seductive projects.
A mountain getaway would surely help you stay focused on one project. You may even replace Julie Andrews with an image of yourself, singing blissfully to the sky because you’re so tuned into the creative flow!
Sigh. Maybe you can’t escape your daily grind, but you can create what I call The Deadline Zone. This is less a place than a practice – and your ability to shut off distractions to complete projects is a key factor in your success.
Hole up in a phone booth in Paris - if you can find one!
Something about the word ‘deadline’ strikes fear in the hearts of many. Most people understand the urgency and focus of a deadline.
Design your deadline zone
Let’s make it easy. Three simple things can help you focus: a proclamation, a letter and a question.
Start with the proclamation: “I’m on deadline.”
‘I’m on deadline’ helps you remember your focus and commitment to the project. The Deadline Zone helps you refuse to take on tempting new projects.
Next, craft a letter letting your people know about your focus. Once you’ve told your people what you are up to prevents you having to repeat yourself again and again, with every request a need to shore up the border of your deadline zone.
I’m on deadline’ helps friends understand why you can’t hang out. This phrase can also serve as an opportunity for them to offer to help you meet your deadline. Know what kind of support serves you: home cooked meals, walks in the park, exercise dates, then ask for it.
This will also help you clarify your deadline zone for yourself. Your letter may look like this:
Dear Shelly,
I want to let you know that I’m on deadline to complete my novel by April 30th and I really need to focus to pull this one off.
You can help me out. Know that I can’t meet during the day and that my writing days are Mondays and Fridays.
I won’t be taking on new projects, and you won’t see me on Facebook or Twitter as often.
My emails will be brief to save my time and yours; know that I will respond to you but it may not be immediately.
I’m excited about completing this project and commit to practices that will help me meet my deadline. Thanks for understanding and for cheering me on!
Writer, from the Deadline Zone
Your letter will be your own, and be sure to include anything that helps you meet your deadlines.
But it’s so tempting!
Alas, the world will not stop just because you’re on deadline. It seems like the minute I committed to the Deadline Zone, the many-armed temptress of opportunity arose.
Ask yourself: How will this help me meet my deadline?
I saw myself saying yes to teleclasses and interviews. Suddenly there were three pieces of business writing that need immediate revision and fun videos to make. Every day at least five new ideas spring up, trying to lure me away from the Deadline Zone.
When an opportunity arises, use this question to keep your focus: ‘How will this help me meet my deadline?’ Not ‘Will this help me achieve my deadline’ but ‘How will it help?’ This simple question makes it easy to know what role the lunch date, guest article or speaking engagement will contribute to you finishing the book.
Remember that this Deadline Zone is temporary. You’re not getting rid of the rest of your life, just prioritizing until you complete this project. Make a list of your ideas and future projects. Get skilled at prioritizing and planning projects out on your calendar.
I need to commit to the Deadline Zone on a daily basis. The Deadline Zone is less a space I’ve created and can ignore; it’s a practice of daily actions and dedication to my novel. If I remember my original impulse – get this novel into the world – it’s easier to stay steady on toward my destination.
Enjoy creating a greater sense of focus and structure with your own deadline. Say it with me: “I’m on deadline.”
Bottom line: Three steps:
- “I’m on deadline.”
- Tell your people about your deadline.
- Ask yourself: “How does this help me achieve my deadline?”
What helps you keep your Deadline Zone? Dish in a comment below.
You always knew deadlines could help, and now you know how to create a Deadline Zone that works for you. Just another atom in the creative ignorosphere.
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I’ve got steps # 1 & 2 down. Tell everyone I’m on deadline. I tell the kids “Okay, this week I’m on deadline. Here’s the plan….”
It’s STAYING in the DZ that I’m horrible at!! I am my own worst enemy. “This will only take a minute, and I need a break anyway….”
Surely, I am not alone in this.
Maybe I should devise a list of “approved activities” while in the DZ….
I can’t wait to see how others overcome this hurdle.
My secret for keeping a deadline is to set guidelines for family and friends about when I’m available. I work from home and my husband is retired, so to avoid hurt feelings about not being able to come to the studio or office I say “I’ll be working from 8 until 10, when I take a break, we can discuss the remainder of the day.” This helps me stay focused whether I’m painting or writing.
Ellene
That’s great, Ellene. Having those conversations ahead of time can really help. It’s one of the lessons in my course, Make Writing a Happy Habit – to know what you need and to communicate that to your homemates.
Glad you know what keeps you focused and on track! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Joy,
Ain’t it the truth! I feel the pull toward new stuff every day. It’s like a tidal force! But staying connected to my book, keeping an eye on the calendar, knowing I have a writing retreat in March to help, all keeps me focused on the book.
The mindmap I wrote about yesterday also helps. And I read a post by Charlie Gilkey where he talks about how we feel the need to tend to our creative ideas NOW and I am looking at how I can schedule things out into the future. That was helpful. http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/productivity-for-creatives/
I got an old fashioned land phone which has a ringer on/off button. In all these years, when people used to say, unplug the phone, I never did! Now I know the joys of that needed silence “on deadline.” I’m good at meeting deadlines, but not good at working while waiting for feedback. This is the time I just check my email frequently, read the papers online, & try to just will up a response on the screen! The NYT today had an article on how being kind towards yourself has a big effect on keeping track on what you what you want to accomplish.
By the way, if anyone is in need for an AMAZING manuscript consultant, see: http://www.closereaders.com
Thanks as always, Cynthia!
Indira
Indira,
Thanks for reminding us of another important way to hold deadlines – keeping the phone at bay.
About your feedback lull, what would you prefer to be doing during that phase? It sounds like you’re getting a good rest from focused work, but how would you want that time to look if not meandering around online?
I’m surprised the NYT would publish something so touchy-feely. I’ll go check the article out.
Thank you, and thanks for the MS consultancy recommendation!
Fantastic Cynthia. I am going into the Deadline Zone right NOW! One thing I do when I need to be focused is I keep the “Remember the Milk” (an online “to do list”) open on my laptop. Anything that pops into my head I need to do I just add it to the list, rather than thinking, “I’ll just send that email” or “just send that text”. I do it LATER, when I’m out of the writing zone.
Thanks for this. Each time someone tries to get me out for a drink in March I will say, “sorry, i’ve got a major deadline to meet”. Jx
Ooooh, Jenny – I like this idea. I do it with story ideas all the time. (Write it down before it gets away…) I should be able to easily adapt this……. IF I can stay DISCIPLINED enough! Lol
Jenny,
That’s a great idea with the list. I recommend that to clients and use it myself. It’s such a simple way to stay focused but capture all those other necessary thoughts that pop up randomly.
Enjoy your deadline zone! We’re in there together as are many others.
Hi Cynthia! Great post.
For me, eliminating as many distractions as I can is helpful, shutting down email and facebook.
Also when I step away from my work table…knowing I’m easily distracted, I ask myself, “is this part of my project?”, if it isn’t…then I get back to it. Asking the question helps me to refocus on the priority at hand. 🙂
tejae
Tejae,
Great question to ask yourself to stay on track. One simple inquiry or phrase like that can really make it easier.
I’ve been keeping email and Facebook shut while I write and that helps a lot. I’ve started keeping FB closed except for my 10 minutes in the am and 10 in the evening. (Thanks to Lisa Call for that!)
Thanks for sharing what works for you! I know that will help others, too!
I liked your stepwise motion to the goal. The letter would be the hardest part. I think I’d have to write one to me! And as I read your words, I realized that there are some rather mundane things that, once done, will help me get into another, much more creative Deadline Zone. Thanks, Cynthia!
Dana,
Do it – write a letter to yourself. See what it reveals.
I’m curious about your mundane steps but no need to share!
Glad this helps you stay focused on your projects – always a challenge for the curious!
Spot on. But what if you don’t have an external deadline or your deadline is wishy washy? How do you create a deadline for yourself and take it as seriously as the kind where your editor might say, “If I don’t have your MS tomorrow, you’re in breach of contract,” or, if you ask for extra time, “Sure, you can have one extra day.”
Hi Cynthia,
You know I do something similar to this actually, but one thing I always have trouble with is jumping to the next step after the deadline is complete. I have this little black moleskin and every night I try to write all the deadlines for my next day, but when I finish them- I usually have trouble writing more things the night after. It’s like the mind telling me to take a break and stop listing an infinite number of deadlines night per night..