Sunday, August 29, 2010

Deadline look, food and drawing for Oct. book!!!

Technorati Tags: ,,

I’m on deadline.  And it’s not pretty.

dlinecat

I’ve told my husband it’s like when men go hunting and they don’t shower or change clothes for days because they’re focused on bagging the prize.  It’s the same for me during deadline.  I’m focused on bagging the prize.  The prize is the end of a good book and the ability to get it off my desk and to my editor. deer_antlers

My writing process is dilly-dallying for the first half of the book because it doesn’t feel perfect.   Sometimes it feels like crap.  I’m actually not even sure I’m going to finish the book until I reach 100 pages and there have been plenty of times I haven’t backed up until that point.  Yes, I know that’s living dangerously, but… I can be a bully to myself about my writing.

None of this changes the fact that I need to turn in my book.  So, as I draw closer to this date, I must give up my pathetic disbelief in myself, buck up and write the daggone book whether I feel like I suck or not.

But I digress.  Along the way of writing over 55 books, I do some things to get through.  1. Wear yoga pants.  The great thing about yoga pants is you can wear them to the mailbox, and when truly desperate to the grocery store, and no one will know that you wore them to bed last night (and maybe the night before). They are also black and won’t show what you spilled on them.  If you don’t remember to wash your yoga pants, you could end up wearing these… britches 001  but don’t wear them to the grocery store.:)   2. A shower is a reward for pages written, but deodorant is compulsory.  3. Dry shampoo covers a multitude of… well, it sorta covers, but if you use too much, you’ll look like a freak.  4. Iced tea (or coffee for people who don’t understand the necessity of iced tea) is the nectar of life.  5. Boiled eggs for breakfast.  Avoid the contaminated ones, and yes, I know boiled eggs sound gross, but eat too many carbs and you’ll be snoozing in front of your computer screen.  6. Speaking of carbs, low-fat Cheez-it crackers are great for nervous munching.cheezit   (Warning:  Don’t give these to your dog or she will expect one EVERY time you touch the box.)  7. Chocolate.  I generally confine my chocolate consumption to a couple of pieces or a couple of chips ahoy chocolate chip cookies.  But don’t get between me and the chocolate, and don’t eat the last cookie without replacing the bag unless you want to wake up with scissors in your head... Just kidding.  Maybe.  8.  Make-up?  What’s that? During deadline, I embrace the fact that I am the BEFORE picture.  9. Dinner?  Casseroles and take-out.  If it doesn’t last more than one night, then I’m not cooking it this week.  10. Ear plugs and noise-reducing headphones.  Bose brand is not necessary, although I gave my husband the good ones as a gift.  These are important so you don’t start throwing sharp objects at your neighbor who begins mowing his yard right when you’ve gotten into your Zen zone … or your family members can’t stop asking you questions.

Everyone has a version of a deadline or can remember exam week during school or college.  When you’ve got to make a big push, what do you do to get through?  What are your guerilla tactics to achieve, succeed and FINISH? 

rhb

I just received author copies of my October Silhouette Special Edition, ROYAL HOLIDAY BABY.  I really like this one and I don’t always say that.  It’s nice that RT liked it too and gave it a 4 ½ review.  This book is NOT on the shelves and I will give ONE responder a copy!  www.leannebanks.com

35 comments:

Laney4 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laney4 said...

Hi Leanne!
I'm looking forward to reading all about Zach's "dark secret". Usually it is the hero who is royal, so this is a nice treat.
Many thanks.
As for your question (which I forgot to answer above), my tactics have included lots of Pepsi consumption (I don't drink coffee), wearing my granny nighty while I work (as I too work on the computer for a living) or if I have a little time I wear track pants and snap plaid shirts, locking my doors (as one neighbour likes to knock and walk right in), checking my call display before possibly answering the phone (if it's a customer, fine, I'll answer it, but if it's a friend/relative, I'll call them back later and they can leave a message in the meantime), closing my office door if there's anyone else in the house to drown out their noises, if I'm alone I'll eat half a box of Kraft Dinner as my lunch treat while I read newspaper backlogs, forget the makeup as I rarely wear it anyway, but it depends on the day if I even brush my hair or teeth (as I often type right through the night and wait until I'm done around lunchtime for a good long bath afterward).
Speaking of which, I have a deadline later today and better hop to it! Thanks for the push!

Keri Ford said...

Congrats on the review!

ugh, I hate having to push through. I start sucking on the caffene later in the evening than I would usually allow myself. after the family goes to bed, I'll get in for a few hours.

write/die is a life savior sometimes.

I do chat writing challenges with sprints that help. Setting small goals help. "I'll edit ONE chapter and then I can get up for a potty break"<---nothing will make you get something done like that will.

when I get heavy eyes, I'll stretch out on the floor (no pillow) and relax for about 20minutes. I usually feel good when I get back up.

Keri Ford said...

err, that is, caffeine. Last night was a late get-some-writing-done night. I should not be held responsible for typos and/or messy sentences.

:)

Michele Hauf said...

Yay, for the great review!

I have those black yoga pants too. They're stretchy. Very important.

Getting in the car to drive is a necessary deadline assist for me. My mind just goes to all the right places when I'm driving, and it's always story.

Charlene Sands said...

Hey Leanne - Good luck on the deadline. I'm there with you now, writing the last scenes in my WIP. It's always a little harder and takes me more time and thought,because I have to tie everything together in pretty bows. I'm glad to see our eating and yoga pants (mine are more sweat pants) wriitng is in line. Breakfast and lunch at the computer!

Helen Brenna said...

Leanne, I feel like this constantly these days. Next year, I swear, if I sell more books I'm giving myself extra time!

Good luck, sweetie!

Cindy Gerard said...

You go Leanne. I'm right there with you, girlfriend. Deadline is looming and I'm getting cranky.
Love all your 'coping' techinques and so glad to hear someone else works in their jammies - I'm still in mine right now. Yikes.

Cindy Gerard said...

Oh - and YEA!!! on the GREAT review!!

Terry Odell said...

Hi, Leanne!

Ah, a dilemma I wish I had. So far, I'm with publishers who use the 'finish the book, then submit it, and we'll see if we want it' system, so I haven't faced those kinds of dilemmas, but I'm keeping your tips handy. Right now, I'm "on deadline" for copy edits for my next release, but it's totally do-able, albeit a bit hard on the eyes.
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

Unknown said...

Congrats on the review!

Coping, coping, let's see. Well, there's often a lot of eating over the computer, turning my back to the windows so I won't be tempted to go out (unless it's winter...winter provides its own motivation to stay inside) and if I'm really in a bind, I make a bet with Hauf to see who can write the most sucky pages the fastest. I highly recommend her for getting pages done.

Kathleen Eagle said...

So glad I'm not alone. This is the worst time to be on deadline--so much to be done on the real life side.

Walking the dog helps when I get stuck.

Good luck, everybody!

georganna said...

Good luck!

When I have a project to finish up, it involves late nights and lots of caffeine (coffee and iced tea). I also try to spread things out in a 'living' area so that I am forced to finish just to get those things out of the way of hubby and children!

chey said...

When I have something that needs to be done, I get up early (which I usually avoid) and drink lots of coffee.

Leanne said...

Laney4! Hair! I had forgotten. Eternal pony tail for me.:) And I look at the caller ID too! Thanks for sharing your secrets. Good to know I'm not the only one! xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

keri, I do the same thing with caffiene! I usually cut it off at the latest by 4pm, but during deadline, I go late. I've heard about write or die. THAT SCARES ME! I don't want anything eating my words at this point!!!:) xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Michele, I used to have a part time job where I drove to different drug stores and that was GREAT for thinking about my book! These days I don't need to get out as much so.....

Leanne said...

Charlene, thanks for popping in! Yes, so true breakfast and lunch at the computer. And YES the ending seems to take a little longer than expected because of all the tying up! xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Helen, I hate to say this, but I think we use as much time as we have.:/

Leanne said...

Cindy, haha... working in pjs? That's why I like yoga pants. They cover both bases. Good luck on YOUR deadline too! xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Terry, eyes! That's another thing about deadline. I get a lot more eyestrain and that (dah!) makes me sleepy which I don't need! Good luck with your ces! xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Lois, I like the bet with Hauf! Because like Nora says... "I can fix a bad page... but I can't fix an empty page." Hope you're enjoying your pony.<3 xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Kathleen, I think Christmas is a much worse time to be on deadline. Yikes! Talk about too much to do. Since my kids are older, I don't have to deal with the back to school stuff. I just have to deal with my own concentration issues! Ack!:) xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Georganna, I like the idea of spreading out... except I might be tempted to leave out the mess!:) Thanks for joining in! xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Chey, you get up early? How do you stay awake?!!!:) Thanks for commenting! xo, Leanne

Maureen said...

Congratulations on your new book. When something has to get done then cleaning the house is the first thing that gets put aside since I hate doing it to begin with.

Keri Ford said...

LOL Leanne, I turn the eating words feature off! I couldn't do that!

The screen gradually changes from pink to red and then it yells at me if I stop typing. there is no eating of words here!

Leanne said...

Thanks Maureen. You and I are of like minds, and isn't a deadline a perfect reason not to clean?:) xo, Leanne

Leanne said...

Keri, I'm curious. What does it say when it's screaming? I'm a little tempted ... because I'm always on the edge of desperation!!!:) xo, Leanne

Laurie G said...

I have my German stubbornness get me through tough spots. I'm super sensitive to caffeine so I can't have coffee or chocolate. I do drink a lot of ice cold water. It revives me! I also splash my face with cold water and repeatedly take a cold, wet cloth and wipe around my eyes.
If I have to write a paper I must sit on an uncomfortable straight back kitchen chair, no couches or I'll fall asleep.
If I need a break I take a quick walk around the house and do a few jumping jacks, deep knee bends to get my circulation going.

Stephenia said...

I get by with a little help from my friends - caffeine, peppermint (freshen your breath) and a suitable carb item (chips, crackers, bagels. Turning off my email on my computer helps me stay on track when I'm typing a lesson plan (part time nursing teacher)peppy background music keeps me typing faster (just nothing to catchy that I want to sing along, lol). quilter892ataoldotcom

Leanne said...

Laurie, you are tough! Ice water in the face and uncomfortable chair. I may have to take some of those suggestions, though. I often write on a futon and it's sooooo easy to slink down to take a quick snooze... zzzzz.:)

Leanne said...

Stephenia, I hadn't thought of the minty chewing gum. Good idea. Also ... turning off the internet period! YES!:) Thanks for joining in!:)

Darlene said...

A Dunkin Donuts Large Caramel Iced Latte does it for me. I am positive it has a billion calories, though!

Leanne said...

Ohhhhh Darlene, Dunkin' Donuts... I'll take a chocolate bavarian creme filled donut with powdered sugar. I'm gonna be thinking about that allllll night.:)