Tag Archives: writing deadlines

Night of the Living Deadline: Binge-Writer Zombie Apocalypse

Nothing like a caffeine fueled all-nighter spent pounding the keyboard under dire deadline pressure to make you feel like a zombie the next day. There might be some thrilling, adrenaline charged, rushes experienced along the way, but by dawn, the … Continue reading

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Did Dirty Harry actually say “Make my day, punk. Write something now!”?

Many blocked writers  have told me that they can only write when there is a gun to their head. The gun is typically a deadline that generates abject fear and unspeakable dread. I find it interesting that word ‘deadline’ has … Continue reading

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Many a blocked writer languishes on the “Procrastination Wheel of Suffering”

Above is a visual depiction from my book of the process of procrastination. It is a summary of the patterns I frequently see in blocked writers, and based loosely on the Buddhist “Wheel of Samsara,” which depicts the cyclic, self-perpetuating nature of human suffering. … Continue reading

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A Tom Wolfe in blocked writer’s clothing

“I now know what writer’s block is. It’s the fear you cannot do what you’ve announced to someone else you can do, or else the fear that it isn’t worth doing. That’s the rarer form.” (Tom Wolfe in an interview … Continue reading

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THE END IS NEAR!! It might be a good idea to write every day until then…

Some people say the ancient Mayan calendar predicts a 2012 end to the world. That’s not so far off anymore. I’m fairly certain you don’t want to be caught at the apocalypse with your novel, screenplay, poetry collection or memoir … Continue reading

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Time and scheduling challenges for writers

Are any of the following issues familiar? • An inability or reluctance to make future plans about writing  • An inability or reluctance to schedule your day • An inability or reluctance to stick with a schedule you have made … Continue reading

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When the PhD dissertation goes on forever………..

Dissertation writing is often the most challenging part of the Ph.D. program for many reasons. Granted, it’s supposed to be hard, because you are exploring new areas of research, and this is demanding on many levels. Dissertations are often several-year … Continue reading

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“No one tells me what to do! Not even myself!”

Anyone who has read even a few letters to the editor in the newspaper knows that anger can stimulate the flow of written words. A touch of outrage is powerful energy that can motivate one to march, fight and write. … Continue reading

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The Procrastination Wheel of Suffering

In my book I discuss “The Procrastination Wheel of Suffering” a diagram loosely based on the Buddhist “Wheel of Samsara,” which depicts the cyclic, self-perpetuating nature of human suffering. While everyone’s style of procrastination is unique, several common features are included in this wheel. … Continue reading

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Taxes too taxing, I continued relaxing

My accountant requires that I get my tax info to him by March 18. I was impressed at how much resistance I felt as I considered this rather straightforward task. I decided to study my thoughts, feelings and behavior toward … Continue reading

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