By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Deadlines tend to have a bad reputation among writers. Editors require writers to submit contracted work on a specific day. Let me re-phrase that: Editors require creative, out of the box thinkers to submit a writing protect on a specific date. Not a week or months later.
Deadlines are a good thing for editors! This allows them to stay on schedule with the publishing house as they work through all areas of ensuring the project is perfected for readers.
Deadlines are a good thing for writers! Writing is a business. That means we plan our work time, evaluate the past, move forward to the future, and submit our work on time.
The downside of not making a deadline for the editor. While the editor is working with other projects that are submitted in a timely manner, extra work is involved to deal with late ones. Frustration and irritation can hit their emotions.
The downside of not making a deadline for the writer. When a writer’s contract is completed, the publishing house might not be enthusiastic about contracting again.
So we writers plan and ensure our manuscripts are turned in on or before the due date. Here is a five-step process to help you make that happen:
- As soon as a writer has a deadline, she studies her calendar. How many writing days, not weekends or holidays or traveling days, are available before the due date?
- Now back up the deadline two months. How many writing days are available two months before the due date?
- Divide the word count by the number of days reached in #2. That’s how many words need to be written every day.
- With 2 months to spare, let the manuscript rest for two weeks. Then edit hard.
- Turn in the manuscript on time.
With he above simple process, a writer is labeled as easy to work with and a true asset to the publishing house. Every writer’s dream!
How do you meet your deadlines?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her 
titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
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