Dealing with deadlines

If this is how a full-time freelancers life is, bring it on!

I love deadlines. That is the one thing that gets me writing – no two ways about it. Writer’s block, procrastination, doing the dishes…everything fades into insignificance at the thought of letting down an editor who is counting on an email due in her inbox with my words. What could be more important for a writer?

Having just submitted an article to deadline, I’ve begun working on two others. Then there’s the blog at Reading and Writing Lounge to update, and this one, and the personal blog. I’ve got two pages of Writing related ‘To-do’ lists to go through. And I’m loving every moment of it.

If you’re a writer, take a look at my posts on the Reading and Writing Lounge Blog : Essential reading for Writers, Finding writing markets online and Keeping a Reading Journal.

Any comments and suggestions for future posts are highly welcome.

Keeping ideas safe

Because you never know when ideas strike, I’m a firm believer in having a notebook in every room of the house. So my kitchen, bedroom, living room and bathroom all have little notebooks or paper & pen in case I need it. This often comes in handy when you’re watching a pot boil and a rhyme falls into place, or if you’re in the loo and can’t go to your computer to jot down an idea.

I thought my various notebooks covered any exigencies but I had forgotten one area that is known to be idea-friendly – the bath.

I was lounging in a sea of bubbles thinking of nothing in particular when two great ideas plopped into my head. I was startled. Then dismayed. I could see the notebook on the bathroom cabinet nestled with almost-overdue library magazines. Getting out would mean dripping on the bathroom floor, an interrupted soak and unnecessary cleaning…so I stayed put (laziness won), repeating the ideas over and over in my head, willing myself not to forget.

I finished my bath sooner than expected. The ideas weighed heavier than the pleasure of the soak. I could always do that again, but the ideas once gone…

This got me thinking of possible solutions to the ideas-in-the-bath quandry. I once read of shower crayons that you can use to scribble on tiles, then wipe out. I think they’re meant for kids , but that would be a good solution. Anybody use these?