Writer's worst nightmare--the dreaded DEADLINE!

First things First!  The TWO WINNERs of Lisa Norato's wonderful book, Prize of my Heart,
are  Sheri Salatin and GreenDuckie13!!!   We had 46 entries, and I used Random.org to choose the winners. Thank you all for entering!!

http://phreelancewriters.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/missing-the-deadline/

I don't know about you, but I hate deadlines. There's a reason they call them dead-lines, you know. It's because they drain the life out of you, especially your creative genius.  I mean, how am I supposed to come up with a great story line, fantastic, deep, interesting characters, plot twists and turns, and suspense on every page when this dark grim-reaper is lurking in the corners of my office?  And the worst of it is, he's clicking his tongue, ticking away the seconds and minutes and hours until all my brain can hear is a clock! A deadly clock!

When that clock strikes midnight, and my book is not done, not only do I transform from a published author sitting in her big office chair and surrounded by her many published novels, into an weak-willed woman with the word LOSER stamped on her forehead, but my book, my precious manuscript turns into a pumpkin!

Okay, Okay. So, I've never missed a deadline yet, but with one looming on the horizon (May 1st, to be exact) I thought I'd share with you a little of the hysteria that only my poor husband gets to experience.

But what really happens if my deadline passes and I'm not done. Is it really so bad? Well, I suppose that depends on the publisher.  Most, with a pat on your back of understanding, will grant you another week or two, maybe even a month.  After that time, however, the pat on the back becomes a jab in the side in the form of money you now owe them for being late.  And believe me, we authors have usually already spent our advances a Long time ago!  If more time passes, you could lose your contract, which means the publisher no longer wants your book. Even worse, you are now branded in the industry as being a no-show on your manuscripts and no decent publisher will touch you with a ten foot pole!

So, you see why the hysteria?  In truth, I've never been good at deadlines. Even as a child in school, if I had homework due I always did it as soon as I got home. I wanted to get it done so I could play and not worry about it. I guess you could say I'm definitely NOT  a procrastinator. I do the same thing with my books. As soon as I sign the contract, I'm off and running...and running...and running...writing my little heart out. Six months may seem like a long time to write a book, but believe me, I need ALL of that time to write mine. There have been times that I've put the "The End" on my book the day before the due date. For someone like me, that's a complete nightmare.

http://lookingtobusiness.com/regular-mistakes/how-i-unwind-after-a-day-at-work

Then there's my husband, the perilous procrastinator.  He waits until the last minute to do anything. In fact, I doubt he could do anything without the added pressure of an impossible deadline. Whether it be an important paper or talk at work or fixing the leaking toilet, he waits and waits, enjoying life until the toilet is about to explode or his paper is due tomorrow and then he dives in and works!  I have no idea how he can stand living like this!  I would be in the funny farm.

http://www.flashcoo.com/animal/farm-animal/html/image17.html

Having said all that, I do believe I will be done with Forsaken Dreams, Book 1 in my Escape to Paradise series by May 1st.  Yes, of course I will be. MaryLu, miss a deadline? Impossible. But in the process, I've driven myself mad for 6 months, whereas if I was like my husband, I would have only driven myself mad for the last couple months and enjoyed life the months before.

So which way do you think is better? And which way are you? Do you work better under a tight deadline and put off what you can do tomorrow?  Or does a tight deadline completely freak you out and make you too numb to do anything?