mercurial scribe

Notice this post is 2 days late? It isn’t posted on Friday but instead a Sunday afternoon?

That is a violation of the deadline.

Before I started to seriously consider writing for a living, I researched the meaning of several words used frequently in the writing word to educate myself in what they really meant. Deadline was one of those words. I found the definition so enlightening that I actually have it posted on my desk (please mind it is paraphrased to suit my purposes while the actual definition can be found here):

DEADLINE: noun.
A line drawn around a time frame that a person passes turning in their work at the risk of being shot.

Though fortunately this business isn’t as violent as all that, when a writer misses their deadline they do shoot themselves in the foot. Said writer may earn a reputation for missing deadlines and thus creating massive headaches for editors, which will lighten the future burden of even having a deadline to meet. Yet, you’d be surprised at how few writers actually are faithful to the deadline. It’s a shame, really. Especially because as a writer, rule number one is to “say what you mean and mean what you say.”

In order to meet that deadline, do what you know you should: plan. I know, it’s supposedly an evil word to we creative types, right up there with “no”, “small budget” and “realistic”. However, it is necessary and it can be done in three easy steps:

1. Do a Proper Time Estimate

When analyzing how long a project will take, take the word count and divide it by how fast you type. Next, you’ll multiply that number by 60 and that will provide your maximum time frame.

Example: I have a 1,000 word article and I type at 3600 wph (words per minute x 60 = Words Per Hour), which gives us 20 minutes. Next, we multiply 20 minutes by 60, giving us 1,200 minutes or 20 hours.

What? 20 hours to write a 1,000 word article? Are you serious? Think about it. I put in 6-9 hour days 6 days a week, which means 20 hours is only 3 work days or so. But remember, this is the total time estimate. This time estimate includes brainstorming, research, writing, rewriting, editing and re-editing. This is the maximum time frame I can use as my time quote given to an editor or the person hiring me.

Please note this equation is only to be used when you’re writing a straight-forward article for a magazine or newspaper that will require little travel and doesn’t need a deep understanding of the topic or its a topic you’re very familiar with and may have written on before. If there is travel involved, I’d recommend you add 10 to the multiplier (60) if it’s local, 20 if you can drive to your destination in under 2 hours, and 30 to 50 if it involves air travel, using the higher numbers depending upon the extent of the travel.

Remember the basic equation:

2. Schedule Your Time

Now that I know how long I’ve given myself, we must schedule out the time I have. Since we’ve given me 20 hours to write the 1,000 word article, let’s break it down.

Activity - Time
Brainstorming - 2 hours
Research - 3 hours
Writing - 5 hours
Rewrite - 2 hours
Edit - 2 hours
Re-edit (including fact check) - 2 hours
TOTAL TIME - 16 hours

This plan gives me 4 hours of “cushion”, in case research takes longer than I estimated, my ISP goes down and I need to email it from somewhere else, etc. And if the “in case” doesn’t happen?

I turn it in early and have one very pleased editor.

3. Stay on Top of It

Obviously, if I stick to my schedule, I should be better than fine. Mind you, that is no reason to become a slacker and allow my hours of brainstorming to balloon into 4 hours because the XBOX beckoned or I stupidly logged into Myspace (it’s like internet crack, I tell you!). But if in brainstorming, I keep coming up with different ideas that are really taking me somewhere interesting (and potentially profitable!), well, then add an hour or so.

Let’s say things aren’t going well and I’m researching and realize there is a lot more to this article than I originally anticipated. In that situation, I would need to contact the editor immediately and explain my situation: the editor may be able to work with me, send me in the right direction to keep me on schedule, or wish to change the direction of the piece. Any way it goes, the editor will appreciate that I contacted him/her right away and spared them the agony of a missed deadline.

After many projects, you’ll begin to learn your own rhythm and how long a 1,000 word article will take you. However, it is important to remember it is always better to schedule more time than necessary because “even the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” as a distant relative of mine once wrote.

Learn to love the deadline, my dears, and happy writing!