Love ‘em or Hate ‘em: the Deadline Blues
“A perfect method for adding drama to life is to wait until
the deadline looms large.”
Alyce P. Cornyn Selby
OK, I’ll admit it right up front: I have no idea who Alyce P. Cornyn Selby is (or was). But I do know she knows (or knew) what she was talking about. I have an October 15 deadline looming large and like with every deadline, the drama is mounting.
The house really needs a good cleaning.
There’s tons of laundry that needs to be washed.
Friends are suddenly asking about lunch/dinner/drinks. When can we schedule?
I’ve got a pile of German contracts to sign, and a trolley tour coming up this weekend, and an idea for a new series that would be brilliant if I just had time to sit down and think it through.
So how am I handling all this? Well, the first thing I decided to do is sit down and take a deep breath. And then I thought it would be interesting to see what the famous and not-so famous have to say about deadlines.
Just like Alyce, I don’t know who some of these people are, but here’s what they had to say:
“Deadlines are meant to be broken.”
Sarah McLachlan
“I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines, nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.”
Harry Schearer
“This is the earliest I’ve ever been late.”
Yogi Berra
“A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all.”
Rita Mae Brown
“The ultimate inspiration is the deadline.”
Nolan Bushnell
“Success is 10% inspiration, 90% last-minute changes.”
From a billboard ad
And my very favorite . . .
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
Douglas Adams
Sounds like the next couple weeks will be dramatic and full of inspiration. I guess a writer can’t ask for more!
