I’ve always been a procrastinator. I know that about myself… I work best under pressure, with the clock ticking and someone waiting on me to finish “the thing”. As an student, this meant staying up late writing papers the night before they were due, or studying up to the last minute. As an engineer, it meant putting the finishing touches on my presentation minutes before walking into the meeting or getting the data to the customer hours before they needed it.
As an author, I have deadlines too. Like the one for this blog post… which may or may not be rapidly approaching as I type it up on Sunday afternoon. Because the InspyRomance admins are gracious and wonderful (and did I mention gorgeous?), they’d probably forgive me if I was a bit late on my deadline… Actually, I know they would, because I’ve done it before 😳, but it is still a deadline I would rather not miss!
Sometimes, friends and readers ask me (usually when I mention an upcoming deadline) how deadlines work for an author–especially one who is independently publishing like myself. The truth is essentially that I set my own schedule… but most of the time, that will include some deadlines. I book a copy editor for all my books and getting into her schedule means I need to agree ahead of time when my book will be available to her. Sometimes, I also have a story editor. Missing these deadlines may mean losing my spot, paying penalties, or even finding myself with a frustrated editor who doesn’t want to work with me anymore!
I also choose to put my books up for pre-order. Right now, I have a book on pre-order that releases on November 15th. The deadline for me to upload that book is November 12th…. If I don’t hit that deadline? Eeep. Big consequences from Amazon. If you miss your deadline, they cancel the pre-order, refund all those orders, AND you lose the ability to put in a preorder for a whole year! Yikes. They take that pretty seriously.
So technically, I do make my own schedule. But in making that schedule, I create my own deadlines (which are then enforced by other people!) It’s actually a pretty good system for me, because that deadline gives me the push I need to really be productive. If I waited until I was *ready* for an editor to book one, or until I had the book done to schedule the release? I’m not sure I’d ever finish a book! Plus, I wouldn’t be able to share the release date ahead of time with readers.
So, as I’m staring down the barrel of an editing deadline (tonight, so she can start work on it tomorrow 😱), and an upload deadline for the preorder (just over 2 weeks from now)… I can whine about being stressed, too far behind, and vigorously trying to finish it all… But in the end, I know these are circumstances of my own making. So, I just try to do my best to not make my family pay for my own tendency to procrastinate. I wake up early when I’m behind, or stay up late. Sometimes, I take a Saturday morning to work also, but I try to make up for it by making sure we do something as a family later in the day.
I have another confession, too. I’m super far behind on these upcoming deadlines, but I actually ALREADY missed them. The One Who Promised Forever was *supposed* to come out on October 15th… but when I scheduled that date, I forgot I was going to have my Redemption Ridge book releasing less than 2 weeks earlier. So, I pushed back the pre-order date the 30 days that Amazon grants you. It’s the little bit of grace period they give you for each title… and I’ve already used mine up so I better get back to working on it so it can come out in November, because I don’t want to disappoint Amazon (or even more importantly, all the readers eager for the sweet story of a broken marriage being redeemed!)
Are you a procrastinator? Or do you get things done earlier than required? Let me know in the comments!
Anke says
I am grateful for minimalism. It helps with so, so many areas of life, including due dates.
Preparation time is never wasted, is what I heard a preacher say many years ago. He was right, still is right. How wonderful it is to be prepared. To be ready. To have a moment or two to breathe and “arrive”.
Another preacher, I think Joyce Meyer, has been heard saying, “Being on time is being late.” It’s all about prioritizing, and making sound, Spirit-led, decisions – which is where minimalism is so awesome. #joshuabecker
We have 3 of Joshua Becker’s devotionals in the Bible App, so helpful for not procrastinating, and focusing on the benefits of being super-intentional in more and more aspects of our daily lives. For His Glory. Not just on this beautiful Reformation Day where we celebrate the Grace of God, thankful for former Catholic Monk Martin Luther who shared “by grace alone” 506 years ago today.
Have a great Reformation Day!
Shalom, shalom from Germany.
Milla Holt says
I could have written this post!!! I felt every word. Yes, I’m a notorious procrastinator. Trying to get better.
Hugs and prayers for you as you push to meet those dealines. You’ve got this!
Dianne K says
Wow, you do like to live on the edge. Someone once told me that we don’t do anything unless there is a pay off. When we discover the payoff there is usually no more need for procrastination. I used to skate in with things literally at the last minute but when I worked out my payoff I ended up more organised and now I always start every project within three days of receiving/creating it I find that breaking it down into more accomplishable chunks makes it easier for me to accomplish. If you keep procrastinating, why, what’s your payoff, what works for you because of it – in my experience some prayer helps me ascertain payoffs. Good luck, may God guide your fingers and toes and work with you to have your manuscripts ready by your deadlines! Thanks for the interesting post.
Trudy says
I’m more of a procrastinator now that when I was in school! In school, I always had my work done way ahead of time, especially reports. Now, there are very few deadlines in my work. I still do NOT wait until the last minute, but I try not to stress over getting things done super fast. I’m usually done two months before the deadline, so if something else comes up I still have time to do the additional stuff before the deadline. Once I start something, I really want to get it done, so I may procrastinate the actual starting, but then I just want to finish!
Renate says
Hi Tara! This retiree can relate. This retired high school German and English teacher loved to teach and make lesson plans, BUT procrastinated when grading essays. Always under pressure at the end of the marking period. I also procrastinate cleaning house when I have company. My mom (who would have been 103 today) always said that WE FIND TIME TO DO the THINGS WE LOVE (crafts, reading, gardening). That is why I advised my student to do homework for the subject they disliked first, since most students finish the work in the subjects they love. Even as a retiree I still procrastinate when I don’t enjoy the task. Having a prioritized TO DO LIST helped. Love reading the comments. Happy writing. Happy REFORMATION DAY! Embracing my German roots.
Renate says
Gut gesagt, Anke! Well stated, Anke. From an American German Blessings this Reformation Day. I enjoyed my two visits (1996 & 2009) to Wittenberg and seeing the church.
Lori Smanski says
before I got married I was an extreme procrastinator. I would finish things like you, the day before or the night before. After I got married, my husband introduced me to making a daily work schedule. What? Why would I need that? Well when the two kiddos came along, it became a great tool. By the time they were in school and had extra curricular activates during school year and summer, it was a very special and wonderful thing to have under my belt. Now I am retired and it still is good for certain things. I have found it super good for my hobbies. Instead of staying in our hobby room all day, I have a plan. LOL
Anke says
Awesome. My uncle and aunt live there, so I have visited a few times, @renate :-)
Alicia Haney says
Good afternoon, I am a procrastinator , alot of times I work better under pressure. For alot of things I o take my time and start early, it just depends on what it is. Have a great rest of the day and a great week. I really enjoyed reading your post .
RuthieH says
I’m not really a procrastinator, I get too stressed out if I leave things too long so I like to get things done if I can. Hope everything goes well with meeting your deadlines, looking forward to The One Who Promised Forever.
Bonnie Heringer says
I am definitely a procrastinator!! The best of the best. And, of course, my husband is a get-it-done now person. Makes for some tense moments.
Have a great week…And get to work! ❤❤
Debra Pruss says
Hi Tara,
I have to say this year has certainly pulled out the procrastinator in me. With my Mom’s death in January, I have struggled to push myself to do much but the minimum. It also does not help that I have chronic fatigue. I am trying to force myself to do more before things pile up. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Anke says
I’ll be praying for you, @Debra, to keep receiving the ministry of the Comforter.
As mentioned in my response, being able on (only) the things that matter, is very helpful.
May this Bible reading plan be a blessing to you:
https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/30398-things-that-matter
Shalom from Germany,
Anke
Ausjenny says
I am a procrastinator with good intentions. I always thought I will get the project finished early at school but no the morning it was due I would be up at 5am finishing it. (and sometimes not quite finishing it). We would do a composition and inteneded doing it earrly but may have started on time but again down to the wire. I normally get things done with time to spare and still have great intentions. I am now secretary of a group and this month did do the minutes the day after the meeting rather then a few days before the next one.
Milla Holt says
You have a lot on your plate, Debra. With your grieving process and chronic fatigue, you deserve a pass and can be excused for putting off all but the most essential things. You’re in my prayers.