Last night I was reminded of one of my favorite writing quotes. The late great Douglas Adams once said, “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
What brought the quote to mind was an email in my inbox about a screenwriting competition. I went over to their website to see more about the competition, and I must admit the first thing I looked at was the deadline. Like many screenwriting contests out there, there were actually a series of deadlines. The earlier one enters, the less one has to pay as an entry fee. It struck me that those who organize competitions may do this very deliberately because they know that writers are master procrastinators and will end up paying more money out of their meager budgets as one deadline after another whooshes on by.
And yes, at the time that I was looking up screenwriting competitions last night I had a deadline looming on the news story for the local paper that I needed to get submitted before I turned in for bed. Is there a writer out there who isn’t also a master of procrastination?
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I’m an overachieving freak! I see deadlines as a challenge I know I can beat. Odd I know, its like a sickness
I love Adams quote though, that’s hilarious!
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I share your procrastination tendencies! (alas). But also, fyi, as a reader for screenwriting contests, another reason they have the early deadline is to encourage people to enter early so the judges can start reading — and not have to rush through huge stacks as the deadline (that word again!) looms for turning in their reports. That said, I’ve never determined whether it’s better to be an early submission or later, in terms of how you get rated.
You see deadlines as a challenge? You are an overachieving freak! Just kidding. Seriously, though, I am so envious of you!
Kathy: Well, it makes sense that there is a logical explanation for those staggered deadlines, still I bet they get more late entries than early ones!