I love deadlines.  I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. — Douglas Adams

Hi, my name is Rachael, and I am a procrastinator.  If there were a group, I’d most definitely be a member.  Procrastinator.  That’s what I am.  Try as I might, plan as I will, nothing really gets done until the last minute.  I seem to do better now, now that I’ve acknowledged I have a problem, but mostly it still takes a looming deadline to force me to action.  And it can’t be some lofty idea of a deadline, that self-imposed type.  It needs to be a solid, no exceptions type.  I do well under pressure.  And if I know there’s no wiggle room, it’s easier to accept and to make things happen.

But that was the old me…

I am on a new mission, doing things differently.  I set some broad, realistic deadlines to start.  Then I discovered that the more I put myself out there, researching sites, trying to find contacts, etc. I found actual deadlines I could impose on myself of things I wanted to be a part of which helps in putting me on track with a very specific schedule; so far, two screenwriting competitions, an author quest for a new book series, and a fellowship, in addition to reading others’ screenplays to offer feedback and writing/rewriting my own material, reading, blogging, and the rest of my daily routine.  And I’m one of those that does better when they have more on their plate…so heap away!

So, here’s my tip of the day:  If there’s something you want to do, set a deadline, or find one out in the world that will force you (as I have).  Sometimes we need a little blood pumping, sweat, tears, panic, and chaos to achieve great things!

Good luck!

You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last-minute panic. ― Bill Watterson