On Running Behind Schedule

Traffic Light Tree by Squirmelia

It is a truth universally recognized that when you are running late, you are almost guaranteed to hit every last red light on the way. And possibly a traffic jam or two. It’s just the way things are; who doesn’t know that feeling of sitting in traffic, one hand white-knuckled around the steering wheel while you bang on the dash with the other, chanting to the transportation gods, making wild promises in exchange for making up a few minutes of time?

Oddly enough, this karmic return on postponing getting our asses in gear by a reasonable time is not limited to just doctor appointments, flights, and work schedules, but it shows up all over the place. I notice it especially when I have a deadline looming.

As a writer, a “non-traditional” (read: kinda old) college student, and a full time office drone, I am well familiar with the whooshing sound due dates make as they go by. Something like a cross between an Apache helicopter and a Concorde jet, the passing of a deadline is pretty damn hard to mistake for anything else. And just like how you don’t want to be caught out in the open when the birds bring the rain or out of your seat when the sound barrier is broken, letting a deadline sneak up on you can have disastrous effects.

I think I’ve properly beaten that simile to death, don’t you?

But the point isn’t how far I can stretch a shaky turn of phrase, as much as the fact that the more behind you get and the closer to your drop dead date, the more of a son of a bitch old Murphy and his Laws can be. Because let’s be honest – when you’re running on time, or even early, it’s always smooth sailing, isn’t it? It’s kind of like getting a few thousand words ahead in NaNoWriMo.

In fact, as far as deadlines go, NaNo is a pretty good example; you’ve got the secure comfort of short to medium-length deadlines in your daily and monthly goal, on top of the frantic hurry-hurry-hurry-damn-the-red-lights sensation that always comes with an impending due date and a mountain of work to be done. But you still know what you’re getting into from the very beginning, as insane of an undertaking as it might be, and so you’re able to plan for making up lost writing time thanks to Thanksgiving (if you celebrate), or birthdays, or even padding in for unforeseen circumstances like getting five chapters in and scrapping the whole manuscript and starting over with a new plot. You can deal with those things if you use your deadline to help you plan, and you’ll even survive. Kind of.

Me, I have a love/hate relationship with deadlines. I love the comfort and security that comes with knowing what to expect in the future, and at the same time, there is still that immature part of me that stomps her mental foot at being told what to do. And, since I’m a Gemini, I can totally admit to these two parts going to war with each other on a regular basis (other astrological signs, don't try this at home).

But then there are the times when I tell my teenage self to shut the hell up and sit the hell down, because I have my first blog post to write for Loose Ends, and I need to get it done. And I sit my ass down and start typing, only to have truly pretty links pop up from my friends. Even my OCD self can’t help but appreciate something that fine. Go on, I’ll wait. In fact, I think I'll watch a movie:



The fact of the matter is that I know all about red lights and handing in papers still warm from the laser printer. I know what it’s like to plan ahead and then get distracted and have to scramble to catch up.

But I also know what it’s like to win NaNoWriMo because I busted my ass for a solid month. And I’ve delivered a promised manuscript in time to make the production schedule. Getting Where the Heart Is done enough to satisfy my perfectionist self and in time to make our Thanksgiving release date was one hell of a learning experience, but Jenny and I survived and can look back on it now and say that it was actually a lot of fun.

Oh, Murphy’s Law tries to screw with me when I write. I have a spouse that likes to do things like talk to me, a lonely cat that still doesn't understand where his sickly sister went to, a brother that's moved in for an indeterminate period of time and has the sole hobby of video gaming, school that needs doing, friends that feel neglected, day job that needs changing... but I just push right on through those red lights at every chance I get. This is what I want to do, this is my job, and I'm not going to let a few measly roadblocks get in my way now.

Besides, if I were to get pulled over for that (in my living room, no less!), I’d just tell the cop that sure, there’s a fire. And wait until you see the sexy fireman…

How about you? Do you ride up on your deadlines with white knuckles and caffeine overdoses, or are you a planner that gets it all done?


See you next month!

Love,

Elizabeth
http://www.urbansilver.net