5 Tips For Writing on a Tight Deadline…Plus Book Release Celebration!

Missy Tippens

Did you ever miss out on a writing opportunity for fear of not meeting the deadline? Did you ever back out of a project because of panic?

I nearly did the same. But I joined in anyway, and then stuck with it (even when panic hit)…and now I have a new release to celebrate! First, the celebration. Then I’ll share how I managed to push through on this project to get to see the birth of a new story.

This is the new book baby. (Blurbs below.) Welcome to the world, Back to You! I'm thrilled to be part of this set with three wonderful writers: Kristen Ethridge, Jessica Keller, and one of our founding Seekers Cheryl Wyatt!

Back in August when I was invited to take part in this collection, I was in the midst of caregiving for two family members. I didn’t know how involved I would be months down the road and was afraid to commit. But I had a burning desire to write again. And I think that desire, and this opportunity, were both God-given. So I took a leap and agreed to join in this collection as well as two more (coming later this year).

I sat down with my calendar, wrote in all the deadlines and planned time in for critiquing as well as professional editing. Then, guess what. Caregiving responsibilities ate into that carefully planned schedule. I finished the story way later than planned. Critiquing had to be done quickly (BLESS YOU, JANET DEAN!). Then editing had to be done quickly. (BLESS YOU, BETH JAMISON!)

When I got the wonderful feedback from both ladies, I found out my ending didn’t make sense. I needed to do some re-writing. Thankfully, during that time, I found out we had a little extension on the deadline, so I was able to take my time with the re-write. But of course, life intervened once again, and I had to hurriedly send off the manuscript from my phone while at the hospital. Only to find out I had missed a message about formatting.

Time to panic? No. I managed to make a bit of time (using hired caregivers) to come home and work on my computer. I took an afternoon to format correctly, write a reader letter, do all the backmatter, etc. And I made my deadline!

If unexpected life events have rerouted your writing journey, I hope you’ll be encouraged today. You, too, can push through. I thought I’d share what helped me.

1. Use your calendar! Plan well, and build in lots of cushion. If you’re afraid to commit to something, look at your calendar and make an honest assessment. You might be surprised to find you actually do have time. Break the work down to a weekly or daily word count goal. You probably know how much you can reasonably manage. Be realistic yet don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. You can do this!

2. Use secondary characters. Back in August when I started my story, I decided to use a secondary character from another story (Victor from one of our Seeker boxed sets). I knew that would help speed up the process. I already had a town and a few basic characters. I just needed to redeem that bad boy, Victor!

3. Shake up your regular writing methods! I know, we all cling to our plotter/pantser tendencies and don’t like to mess with it. I usually spend almost as much time planning a story as I do writing it. But once I got behind on my schedule for this novella, I knew I needed to make some progress…any progress. So I just jumped in and started writing chapter one. I had so much fun doing that! If you’re a plotter/planner, as soon as you have some basic character planning, try jumping in and writing. If you’re a seat-of-the-pants writer, you probably already get to work quickly, however, you may run into road blocks. If that happens, try shaking things up a bit and plot/plan a few scenes ahead. You may find it helps you move along quicker.

4. Don’t let fear or panic stop you from attaining your goals. Ask for prayer support. Talk to writer friends who’ve been in your situation. They can probably help you calm down and get back to work. Also, ask for help from your local friends and family, or even hire help if you can. With assistance, you may be able to create more time to write.

5. Don’t forget to dream! Stretch and challenge yourself. Sure, life may throw a wrench in your carefully-planned schedule. But you can probably find a little bit of time to write, even if that means scratching down notes on a scrap of paper or making a note in your phone by talking to Siri. And start small if you need to. Short stories or novellas are a great place to jump back into writing.

Our wonderful boxed set is only 99 cents, so I hope you’ll all go buy a copy of Back to You today! I’ll also be giving away two copies to commenters. Please let me know if you’d like to be entered!

Have you ever let fear or panic keep you from a writing opportunity? What’s your advice for writing on a tight deadline?

Join some of today's best-selling Christian Romance authors as they introduce you to four new couples who reunite for a second-chance at romance. This inspirational romance collection from Love Inspired authors Cheryl Wyatt, Missy Tippens, Jessica Keller, and Kristen Ethridge will warm your heart and each quick, satisfying read will keep you in the spirit of Valentine's Day and holiday romance all year long with stories of true love and happily-ever-after.

Love Knots by Cheryl Wyatt

A bread-twisting bride and her runaway groom are reunited unexpectedly in an inadvertent business move that may not be accidental after all. Charming charter boat captain Carl Anders returns to his childhood home to devote his life to leading beachside adventures for families year round as well as tourists during Cupid Cove’s upcoming Valentine season. He runs into rough waters when he discovers he moved his business into the same nautically themed strip mall containing the bakery of the former best friend-turned-first-love that he jilted at the altar. 

Newly-famous pretzel maker Brindle Case tangles with a repeat rejection upon discovering her almost-husband doesn’t regret walking away from their wedding before the ring and vow exchange ten years ago. Can he convince her that silver shores sometimes require souls to sail through hard seasons and trust that God’s will is best lived in God’s time? She must become willing to abandon her bitterness at a different altar in order to walk away with a bigger blessing the second time around. Will she hold on to the hurt of their past, or embrace the second chance to retie their hearts together, this time forever?

Her Valentine Reunion by Missy Tippens

What happens on the very day Abbie Rogers makes a preemptive strike against Valentine’s Day funk by declaring herself content to be single? Why, Victor Wallis, the man who broke her heart, comes crashing back into her life, of course. Not only that, he declares himself a changed man, and he truly seems to be. She even finds herself falling for him again. But when he makes a move to take over her family’s business, Abbie’s not certain she’ll ever be able to trust the only man she’s ever loved.

Their Sweet Reunion by Jessica Keller

Wedding planner Lesley Marks is only three weeks away from the biggest event of her career. If Bridal Features Magazine decides to cover the wedding she’s put together for the senator’s daughter it could translate into years of success for her little company. But the bride-to-be is difficult to please. When vendors begin to back out at the last minute Brom Gilbert—Lesley’s ex-fiancé—comes to the rescue. But working alongside the man Lesley once loved proves harder than she anticipated, especially because the wedding falls on the four year anniversary of when she and Brom were supposed to be married. 

Dance with Me, Valentine by Kristen Ethridge

Clair Bell has struggled to put the past behind her since her boyfriend left without a trace years ago. She's built a life around helping others as the director of the Port Provident Retirement Community. As the annual retirement prom approaches on Valentine's Day, Clair is shocked to find that one of her residents has invited a date that she met while playing an online game. But when that date happens to be Rob Landers, Clair's ex-boyfriend who has returned to Port Provident to make amends for his past, Clair knows she can either use this moment to clear all the what-ifs and move forward in her life or be dragged down by the clinical depression which has held her for years. Can two people who have faced life's storms in their own way come back together to dance in the rain once again? Is there hope for forgiveness and a chance at true love once again?

Click here to purchase your copy!

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After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA^® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.