by @RamonaRichards

Of course, it would happen in the month that the new blog manager takes over here on the BRMCWC blog. And, of course, it would be in the month I’m trying to finalize my new book on editorial advice. And even though I have the deadlines for these blog posts on my work calendar, I almost missed this month entirely. I have lots of excuses I can pull out of the hat, but none sufficient to explain my lapse. Not really. 

Hello, my name is Ramona, and I have a problem with deadlines.

Douglas Adams said it best: “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”

A quote beloved by writers; detested by editors. After all, deadlines are our bread and butter to keep the pipeline of projects rolling. When you’re juggling 30-40 projects a year, everything is dovetailed, each project slipping into its windows for each production step. When an author is late, it doesn’t just throw that project off kilter, it affects all the projects around it. It sometimes means outsourcing a step because a copy editor can’t handle two projects at the same time, just because delivery on one of them has slipped. 

For an author to miss a deadline is a royal pain on this side of the desk.

So you’d think I’d be more respectful of them. And I am. Yet I still run late sometimes. So late, in fact, that I ruined a great relationship with a publisher and editor. While the door is still open, I will have to work hard to get back into their good graces, and so far that hasn’t happened. But I’m trying, and I haven’t given up hope. 

This is also why I try to be gracious with an author who I know is having issues delivering a manuscript. I know that life happens. I know the writer side of the desk. 

So how do I work on keeping up with my deadlines? Here are a few tips that have worked for me.

• Set your own deadline earlier than the contracted one. Sometimes this is a psychological trick that helps, like setting your clock a bit fast. Now, if you can just overcome that you know it’s set fast…
• If you’re running late, keep your editor informed (sorry, Heather!). If an editor knows a project is going to be late, it’s easier to make adjustments in the schedule than at the time delivery was supposed to happen. Forewarned is forearmed.
• Don’t try to deny it’s late, to either yourself or your editor. Don’t hide! I know there’s a certain shame with missing deadlines, but stay in communication. We all miss them on occasion, even editors.
• Give the editor an approximate delivery time. And stick to it. This allows for better planning. If you just have no idea, say that as well. I have been known to remove a project from a list entirely, then plug it into the next available slot when it does arrive. 
• Expect this to damage the relationship. Once or twice may be fine. Editors understand that life happens. Chronic lateness becomes a reputation. 
• Remember that you’re not alone. I once worked with a NYTimes best-selling author who couldn’t make a deadline to save his life. We just contracted his books and waited for him. When he delivered, finally, we plugged him into a slot. But remember too that unless you are a NYTimes best-selling author, you won’t get this kind of grace. 

Bottom line: if you miss a deadline, forgive yourself, stay in touch with your editor, and work as hard as you can to get back on track. So that maybe, someday, you will be that NYTimes best-selling author. But you do have to turn in the project first.

Keep writing!

Ramona Richards is the author of 11 books and is the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media, the parent company of New Hope Publishers, Iron Stream Kidz, and Ascender Books. She recently received the Joann Sloan National Award for the Encouragement of Writing, a mentoring, editing, and coaching award. She speaks frequently for women’s and writers’ groups, and has presented at numerous conferences across the country. Her latest book, Murder in the Family, is available now at https://shoplpc.com/murder-in-the-family/

Website: Ramonarichards.com
Facebook: ramonapope.richards
Twitter: @RamonaRichards
Instagram: ramonapoperichards