Missing deadlines makes me nauseous.

~ patyjag

I have a write on wipe-off board that I use to keep track of my “deadlines.” These are self-imposed deadlines, because I am a self-published or Indie author. But I take keeping to my deadlines a big thing. I HATE when I miss deadlines. I, being boss and employee, beat myself up over missing them and I have a hard time when a deadline passes and see it will be at least another month before a project will be finished.

That is what has been happening with Damning Firefly. Each month, I add another month to get it written and move the rest of the projects I set as goals for the year forward.

I’ve discovered that while I believe I have lots of time to write, I find I spend a lot of time researching and promoting. The book also had to go through a tweak which added more time to the finished project. But I am on the downhill side, which means I am wrapping up the clues, tightening the handcuffs on the suspect, and hoping the twist at the end leaves the reader going, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming” or “That was a good twist.”

I want to put this book up for pre-order but with as many times as I’ve extended the writing of the book, I’m afraid I’ll miss the date. But then, I am also anxious to see what readers think of the cover and the premise. It is darker and more controversial than my usual Gabriel Hawke book. But it was an idea that came from things my parents, who have now passed, said to me at different times. And I think it is something that people in small communities will sometimes hide.

Sales and reviews will tell me if the book was a hit or a miss. There are just times when I feel like there is a story that needs to be told. It’s something that burns in my gut and comes out through my fingertips. LOL that makes me think I should write paranormal. The visual is kind of funny!

I have tried to pair humor with a darker tale in Damning Firefly and tried to show the side of the victim’s and the woman who tried to help them.

Hopefully, by my next post I’ll have a pre-order and the book will have come back from my editor and soon to be released.

Unknown's avatar

Published by patyjag

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 50 + novels, novellas, and short stories of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

5 thoughts on “Missing deadlines makes me nauseous.”

  1. Not getting things done on time, whether a self-imposed deadline or otherwise, makes me nuts. So I know what you are going through. It leaks over into the rest of my life, too, and I often become disgruntled. Buying myself presents does no good at all. Then I feel guilty that I spent time shopping instead of writing. This just might be the only downside of writing. but there are so many upsides, I try to let it go. I’ll give you some advice my husband gives me at these times: “Honey, when you can, sit down and write. Let the dishes go. Meanwhile, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

    Like

    1. Thanks, Susan. Yes, I had to rethink a few things on this book after some initial comments by a critique partner. I like where it is now, and just need to forge ahead to the end.

      Like

Comments are closed.