Deadlines - Laura Drewry

A looming deadline can really put things into perspective for a writer. Sometimes, though, that perspective takes it own sweet time in showing itself. Case in point – I have a deadline that is closer than just simply looming; it’s moved right on into the ‘bearing-down’ stage and the labor pains are getting closer together.

I’ve known for months this deadline was coming and though I always stress a little about them, this one in particular has always been niggling at my brain since Day 1. You see, even though I’ve never been a plotter, I always start a new story with two things firmly planted in my brain: the first scene and the last. But with this story, I didn’t have the first stinkin’ clue how it was going to end.

Because of this, I was spending a great deal of time writing, deleting, rewriting, editing, deleting, writing, deleting, rewriting, editing. . . well, you get the picture. New ideas would come, I’d try them out, and they’d fizzle. The more time passed, the more stressful this was becoming, and the more stressful it became, the more time passed.

And then, about two weeks ago, it hit me: that wonderful ‘light bulb’ moment that finally made the story crystal clear to me. It’s what I’d been waiting for, it’s what I needed, and it’s always one of my favourite parts about writing a new book. And now, after long last, the light was on, the pennies were dropping, and I was good to go.

Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? Absolutely!

However. . . this same light bulb also shone its glaring yellow light on everything that was wrong with the book thus far. And it wasn’t pretty.

Much of what I’ve already written needs to be rewritten, edited, or deleted all together. And it needs to be done soon.

Sooner than soon.

My editor has been very understanding about the whole thing, and has offered me an extension, but I’m determined to make the original deadline. It’s going to mean the kids and the DH will eat a lot more Kraft Dinner and Cheerios, and someone else might need to sort the laundry, but I’ve convinced them that they might just survive.

So I’m going to sign off here and disappear behind my monitor again. By this time next month, the book will be finished, the family will be reintroduced to produce and protein, and I’ll be moving on to the next project. I love this business!!