tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post45940611186369510..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: 5 Tips For Writing on a Tight Deadline…Plus Book Release Celebration!Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-50472778777119727262018-03-21T07:34:56.960-04:002018-03-21T07:34:56.960-04:00Thank you so much! - your dedication to family fir...Thank you so much! - your dedication to family first and then writing - spot on! You're awesome! Be warm and safe :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862432117329475846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-2494670601448717002018-02-15T12:53:25.445-05:002018-02-15T12:53:25.445-05:00Marcia, that's a great idea! I'll be think...Marcia, that's a great idea! I'll be thinking of you as you work toward your deadline!Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-18118538059026377432018-02-15T12:52:51.590-05:002018-02-15T12:52:51.590-05:00Patti Jo, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping...Patti Jo, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by.Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-49896830044875452512018-02-14T23:03:48.340-05:002018-02-14T23:03:48.340-05:00Thanks for some great advice for all of us! I woul...Thanks for some great advice for all of us! I would love for my nane to be included in your giveaway.<br />Connie<br />cps1950(at)gmail(dot)comConnie Porter Saundershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234596850866029756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-44989588105896231972018-02-14T09:56:30.811-05:002018-02-14T09:56:30.811-05:00I don't think I could survive without naptime!...I don't think I could survive without naptime! Whew!<br />Thanks!Amy Anguishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227138959392552195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-7081555634047363252018-02-13T12:42:35.423-05:002018-02-13T12:42:35.423-05:00Thanks for the awesome tips, Missy! And Congratula...Thanks for the awesome tips, Missy! And Congratulations on your novella collection!<br /><br />I have an author friend that has a June 11 deadline for her next book, so I made that my deadline for my first!! It's helping, but I'm such a procrastinator, so I'm going to be a very busy person on June 1!!! I know myself!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />MarciaM. Lee Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05012495294155062857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-77971781608278510092018-02-13T01:14:17.928-05:002018-02-13T01:14:17.928-05:00It's after midnight so it's really Feb. 13...It's after midnight so it's really Feb. 13, LOL - - but I still wanted to say thank you for this wonderful post, Missy! Excellent tips and this is going into my Keeper File. :)<br />Congratulations on the novella collection! Am ordering and look forward to reading your story (and the others too!).<br /> Hugs, Patti Jo (who really really needs sleep!) ;)CatMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09985658721138526298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-80807662520292856502018-02-12T20:45:39.227-05:002018-02-12T20:45:39.227-05:00Nicki, I sometimes do better under pressure. But o...Nicki, I sometimes do better under pressure. But other times, it just gives me an ulcer. LOLMissy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-7561603074363663332018-02-12T20:44:44.261-05:002018-02-12T20:44:44.261-05:00Kathy, I had to release your second comment about ...Kathy, I had to release your second comment about The Middle from spam. But the other posted! That's progress. :)Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-89115069462418348502018-02-12T20:42:39.884-05:002018-02-12T20:42:39.884-05:00Have fun with it, Melanie! My guy was somewhat a j...Have fun with it, Melanie! My guy was somewhat a jerk, but I sort of redeemed him (a least a little) in the original story. I think that helped. :)Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-79393218979428936952018-02-12T19:58:56.409-05:002018-02-12T19:58:56.409-05:00Ditto to what Jan said!Ditto to what Jan said!Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-8238421399790545152018-02-12T19:58:42.869-05:002018-02-12T19:58:42.869-05:00I have just decided that I'm going to redeem a...I have just decided that I'm going to redeem a secondary character from the book I'm working on now. He'll be the hero in the next book. I've never really done that before. Should be interesting. :-) Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-6203104227926105722018-02-12T19:57:14.213-05:002018-02-12T19:57:14.213-05:00I'm a natural born procrastinator, so my probl...I'm a natural born procrastinator, so my problem is whenever I write for something that has a deadline (which is very rarely) I end up putting it off until almost last second until the deadline is looming before me. Then I write like mad, but I don't know if a deadline has kept me from doing anything. Yet.Nicki Chapelwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975226105127466970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-39181475194350136372018-02-12T19:45:01.958-05:002018-02-12T19:45:01.958-05:00Typo alert. I know have KNOWN you'd create a s...Typo alert. I know have KNOWN you'd create a spreadsheet.Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-43011883060917349512018-02-12T19:44:21.353-05:002018-02-12T19:44:21.353-05:00Pam, those are some amazing tips!! I remember thos...Pam, those are some amazing tips!! I remember those two weeks and how stressed you were! I was astounded at how well you handled it.<br /><br />#2 I should have know you'd create a spreadsheet! :) But it's a fantastic idea. I love how you leave the positive feedback as well. Very smart and inspirational!<br /><br />#4 I'm feeling convicted about the rest. I'm really bad about that. :( Hubby would definitely agree with you because he worries.Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-59338409232446666952018-02-12T19:26:26.645-05:002018-02-12T19:26:26.645-05:00Anytime! :) Anytime! :) Beth Jamisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10957921850212217241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-3034408947673993192018-02-12T19:15:02.841-05:002018-02-12T19:15:02.841-05:003) Yes, I knew I had edits coming, and it was goin...3) Yes, I knew I had edits coming, and it was going to be great. I put in some serious writing on Book #3, and cleared the decks for when the edits would land on my desk. The best laid plans of Pam... never seem to work out. Grandbaby had HFMD (a mild case), but couldn't go to daycare and in addition the daycare was closed the entire week of Thanksgiving. The Saturday before Thanksgiving, my MIL fell and broke both her arms.<br /><br />I really don't know how I did all I did in those two weeks, because it's all a haze... but the first thing I did was hit the ground running as soon as the edits came in. I set my alarm at 6 am, worked until the g'baby got there, and some days my son was able to go in a bit later, and I had more time. Then hubby might take her to check the cows with him. I'd edit while they were gone. I prepared supper while she was there, and then started editing the minute she left. Without fail, I shut the computer down and went to bed promptly at 10 (I normally stay up later), knowing I needed to be fresh for my 6 am wakeup call.<br /><br />Then when my MIL broke her arms, and was very loopy on pain meds, my sister-in-law and I took turns staying at my in-laws to assist her. My FIL, hubby, and other family members helped, but there are some things us girls have to do. One night, I spent the night and spent 3-4 hours editing after they went to bed. Another day, after all the folks with day-jobs were working, she and I spent the day together. She read while I worked. We took breaks together.<br /><br />So, what I'm saying is figure out what needs to be done when things go wrong and do it. I did what needed to get done, and then some.<br /><br />4) Something I mentioned up there reminded me... REST. Unless you are a hardcore night owl, STOP working and go to bed or take a nap or a walk if that energizes you. Several times lately, I've been trying to get a scene to come together and it's just not working. I finally just quit, go to bed, and get up fresh the next morning, and it practically writes itself. I should know this... I've had the same thing happen when crunching numbers.<br /><br />5) Be prepared to just DO IT. I've pulled some 10-12 hour shifts for several days in a row.<br /><br />6) While not always feasible for everyone, I take a nap with the grand baby. If she naps extra long, I can write or catch up on email. But then when her parents pick her up, I'm fresh enough to write.<br /><br />Or in this case, read Missy's post!!Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-16002293767258324022018-02-12T19:14:30.002-05:002018-02-12T19:14:30.002-05:00Ugh, started typing, then poof! Comment disappeare...Ugh, started typing, then poof! Comment disappeared. I must have hit the delete button somehow. So...<br /><br />I started to say that this is awesome, Missy! I seem to run up to a tight deadline with contracts and then with edits. Fear (which leads to procrastination) and over plotting are probably my two worse enemies.<br /><br />And... if something's going to go wrong, it will. It's amazing how 50 things will crop up during the weeks leading to a deadline.<br /><br />Let's see... your tips are spot on, esp. planning how much time it's going to take. I'll add these...<br /><br />1) Foolishly, when I got behind on one ms and re-calculated what it was going to take to polish, I figured I could do it in a week. It takes me almost as long to polish a fairly clean scene as it does to write it!!! So, I know to build in 2 weeks for polishing. If the contract allows, I build in 4 weeks, because of those unexpected things (family or MY illness, promoting a new release, edits on the last book, etc. etc.) For a novella, it's a bit different. I can write and polish a novella in 8 weeks. But the novels take a lot more brain power for me to pull all the threads together.<br /><br />2) Make notes of how much you wrote and/or edited so that you know your pace for the next book. I work in Scrivener and there's not a good way to chart daily progress (ie. that looks like an Excel doc), but I imported a blank Excel sheet in to my Scrivener and it's at the very top of my file. <br /><br />I log daily word counts and total weekly word counts as well as checking to see if I'm on track with how many SCENES I want to churn out a week. WC is important to me, but pushing through to the end is critical as well as I'm way too tempted to just started editing when I hit a brick wall. Also, in this area, I highlight met/exceeded goal in green, below goal in yellow, and BIG FAT ZEROS in red. Sadly, there are way too may days of red.<br /><br />And... I add a few notes of encouragement... Here's one: "Encouragement: When Writing Magnolia Glen, I wrote 2500 words several (7) days; 3000 words on 3 days and 4500 words on one day. I CAN exceed my goals if I will BICHOK!!!!"<br /><br />And another one: "Note: Finished MG edits on time, but had to keep Ella (grandbaby) the entire 2 weeks, Mams (my MIL) broke both arms and had to have surgery, AND I ended up with severe sinus/allergies.<br /><br />Which leads me to tip #3…. (and a new comment because blogger said I was over my limit! ...<br />Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-14274633255590966882018-02-12T19:10:53.554-05:002018-02-12T19:10:53.554-05:00Jan, I was surprised with what a difference it mad...Jan, I was surprised with what a difference it made. I may change my writing style a bit after this. :)Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-29833840241738973602018-02-12T19:10:24.892-05:002018-02-12T19:10:24.892-05:00LOL, Erica! I will now picture you with your hair ...LOL, Erica! I will now picture you with your hair on fire as you approach your future deadlines. :) Thanks for that image! hahaMissy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-8570860303114555492018-02-12T19:09:30.314-05:002018-02-12T19:09:30.314-05:00Glynna, I hope you enjoy a little time for reading...Glynna, I hope you enjoy a little time for reading. I know what a crazy schedule you keep! You always amaze me!Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-19280142642336765702018-02-12T19:08:48.799-05:002018-02-12T19:08:48.799-05:00Melanie, that's a great idea to take your comp...Melanie, that's a great idea to take your computer everywhere! I used to do that with my Alphasmart but haven't been as faithful in recent years. I should do that again!<br /><br />Thanks for celebrating with me!Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-62454802533545771202018-02-12T19:07:30.454-05:002018-02-12T19:07:30.454-05:00Beth, thanks for everything you did to make that h...Beth, thanks for everything you did to make that happen! :)Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-44344019955376532872018-02-12T18:41:38.025-05:002018-02-12T18:41:38.025-05:00I liked that one, too. I forgot to mention it in m...I liked that one, too. I forgot to mention it in my comment, but sometimes changing the way I approach the story makes all the difference in the world!Jan Drexlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-78143202064496227372018-02-12T18:22:58.487-05:002018-02-12T18:22:58.487-05:00Ahhh those deadlines! There's nothing quite as...Ahhh those deadlines! There's nothing quite as exhilarating or exhausting as a tight deadline where you're writing like your hair is on fire!<br /><br />I love your tips, especially the one about changing up your normal routines. Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.com