Plot Monkeys

Deadline Hell

I am quite sure that anyone who visits this blog or any other author’s site has heard the expression “deadline hell.”

Well, I’m writing to you from it. Greetings. Scenery’s great but it’s pretty freaking hot here.

I have promised a book to my editor by December 1st. Ish. Which is, uh, if I’m not mistaken, next weekend. Ish.

Anyway, I have a problem. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m not happy with this book. I LOVE it so far, I’m having a great time working on it. The characters are fun and sparkling, the story solid and interesting. I can’t wait for people to read this. BUT I still have the problem I have with every book, and it’s right now kicking my butt.

Here’s the problem: I’m so close to the end…but not quite there. I’ve hit The Hump. And I must get over it.

I can close my eyes and see the final section of the book rolled out in front of me and I can’t wait to get to it! But, as in every story, I climb…climb…climb toward the very crest of the hill…er, story…and my feet are slipping on the slope more and more every moment.

Once I hit the top and roll over the other side, I know I’ll slide down so fast to the end that I’ll barely be able to catch my breath. When I get past that hump, which I call the “three chapter warning” I can write the last 60 pages in a day if I want to. It flies out of me at the speed of light, my fingers can’t keep up with the story jetting toward the finish

But getting past those final few scenes, over the hump, just slays me. It’s agony. Painful. I go through this awful, indecisive time when I think, “I suck, why did I ever think I could do this, my career is over, nobody’s ever going to buy another one of my books again, I’ve written myself into a corner and I have no idea how to get out of it!”

That’s kind of where I am right now.

But I’m trying really hard to get past it. Step by step. Scene by scene. Word by word. I have no doubt that I will and it will be as good a book as I think it will. In the meantime, I just have to keep on climbing.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. I’m sure I’ll see you guys once I get to the bottom of the hill…just give me about a week. Ish.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 6:00 am and is filed under Leslie. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

28 Comments

Oh Leslie, that sounds painfully stressful. If I were in your situation I would be procrastinating. LOL!! Maybe a call into your Plotmonkey friends will help get you over that “hump” to greener pastures??

It’s kind of weird, when I visit the board now. Sometimes I don’t see any comments or replies from the plotmonkeys unless it is in their own post. I guess you kind of forget that you are all writing and could be on a deadline and that is why you aren’t here as much.

Comment by Kelly — November 27, 2006 @ 9:12 am
Ummm …. I posted on Nov. 23, Nov. 22, I had my own post that week, we all post Saturdays, we’re not allowed to post Fridays … Not sure why you don’t think we’re here. We ARE!

As for this post, my reply is coming in my blog tomorrow b/c Leslie’s blog INSPIRED MINE, LOL.

Comment by Carly — November 27, 2006 @ 9:24 am
Kelly, a lot of times, I post privately to individuals who ask me stuff, like I know I sent a recipe to one Plotmonkey reader last week and a link to another. Rest assured I read each and every comment that is made on the board! We all do! They come straight into our email. Many comments lately have been coming in for moderation (not sure why…spam filters, I guess) and we have to read those comments too in order to approve them. Last week was rough with the holidays…comments were down from every direction…but we’re all here, trust us!

Since Carly is already going to blog off of Leslie’s blog, I’ll try and spare you all…but I’ve got 145 pages to write by Friday, so if you don’t hear from me much, that’s why! I wish I was at the hump like Leslie. This whole book has been a hump and I’m still trying to figure out why. When I re-read, I like what I wrote, but every word has been a struggle and I haven’t been able to discover the cause…and trust me, I’ve tried. Every book is a new experience and a new challenge, which makes me feel like a newbie each and every time.

Comment by Julie Leto — November 27, 2006 @ 9:32 am
oh Leslie I hope you get over your hump and I agree with Kelly and put a phone call into the PLOTMONKEYS for some help

Comment by Cherylann — November 27, 2006 @ 9:32 am
You can do it! I’m sure it’ll be great. We love your books and will love this one too. Thank you for sharing your stuggle with us, it helps us newbies in that even the pros struggle. But, I like the suggestion of calling the Plot Monkeys. I’m sure they can help you through the rough patches so you can meet your deadline. Good Luck!

Comment by Yolanda — November 27, 2006 @ 9:47 am
I hope I didn’t offend anyone (Plotmonkeys) with my first post. What I meant by that post was that I sometimes forget that you are all busy with writing and promoting your books. I know you are all floating around cyber space with us. And I can’t imagine how much work on top of taking care of your families, writing etc…blogging is. I don’t know how you do it. But I am glad you do.

Comment by Kelly — November 27, 2006 @ 10:14 am
Leslie…you’ll get through it. Maybe, a margarita would help….lol. I know I need one, right now (okay, it is 6:30 in the morning…this is NOT good).

Comment by katie — November 27, 2006 @ 10:42 am
No offense, Kelly! Just wanted to reassure everyone that we are here and reading comments, even if we don’t reply. My big problem is that I’m a night owl and I often read the blogs for the next day before they are posted, but I can’t comment then, and then I just never get around to it. But we are here!!!

Comment by Julie Leto — November 27, 2006 @ 11:02 am
We’re not at all offended, Kelly — and we knew exactly what you meant. Like Julie and Leslie, I, too, am in deadline hell. (why do we do this to ourselves every year when we swear we won’t box ourselves into another December or January deadline? ) And right now, writing every word is excruciating. And then toss in the craziness of the holidays and we’re stressed to the max. :|

But be assured that we do read each and every post on our blog — and it’s your posts that keep us going on those days when we feel like throwing in the towel, LOL! You guys make us laugh and smile and overall FEEL GOOD!!! So, don’t underestimate the power of your presence and your posts — we appreciate and luv you guys!

Comment by Janelle — November 27, 2006 @ 11:15 am
I’m sending lots of positive vibes and hopes for happy endings. You guys never fail to come through, so I know this will all work out in the end. I’m sorry it can be such a headache sometimes, but the end result hopefully makes all the struggling worthwhile.

Comment by Stacy ~ — November 27, 2006 @ 11:17 am
Thank you! Thank you for letting me know that, as a writer, I am NOT alone when it comes to getting over the hump!

You CAN do it! Chocolate! Try some chocolate and a Diet Coke! That’s bound to help!

Lara

Comment by Lara — November 27, 2006 @ 11:28 am
Not offended at all! Just wanted you to know we’re here every day and really do do the best we can

Comment by Carly — November 27, 2006 @ 11:28 am
You know you’ll get it done Leslie!!

I was always bad about deadlines and would wait until the last minute when I was in school to do papers. When I went back in 02 I was just as bad then- but I still managed to get A’s. I know that the book will be just as good. I tried to explain to my college age daughter that that is NOT the way to do it- but does she listen??

There is something about that pressure that makes it better than if you just took your time and had it done by deadline. Maybe because you can’t stop and rethink it and rewrite it 14 times and mess it up?? :lightbulb:That was always my excuse for writing papers that way. God forbid you have it done and hand it in early- they would expect that all the time (Editors and Professors alike!!)

Comment by ev — November 27, 2006 @ 11:57 am
We are all pulling for you to make your deadlines, because we are the ones to benefit the most from your striving to get those stories to us………. Sending lots of positive vibes and encouragement to you all…………..:thumbsup2:

Comment by Cryna — November 27, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
Been there. Best of luck to you, I know it’ll be great.

Comment by jill — November 27, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
i hiope so too leslie.

Comment by kim H — November 27, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
Thanks for all the positive reinforcement! Wish i could say I whipped off a fast 10 pages this morning (snort) but I just got back from the airport. Took my little girl there so she could leave me once again. Wah! I miss her so much. Not sure I’m cut out to be a college mama.

Comment by Leslie — November 27, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Drink coffee. Make that a holiday coffee with spirits.

You’ll can do it-ish!

(And thanks for the books. They arrived Friday.)

Comment by Heather Harper — November 27, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
Sending you some Ice Cubes for your Deadline Hell. I think that would be my biggest fear getting almost to the end and then having a hard time finishing the story.

Good luck. I know you can do it

Comment by Gigi — November 27, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
Leslie, positive thoughts are coming your way. :thumbsup2: To all the Plotmonkeys, when I read here what troubles you have writing it makes me realize that those books we all enjoy so much do not write themselves! There are real people working hard to give us such enjoyment. I can’t imagine a deadline right now with all the holiday hoopla just beginning. I’m cheering each of you on. May you all be inspired in your writing.

Comment by Donna M — November 27, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
AWW…Here let me deliver you some Iced Tea to refresh you. I know you will make it. You always do and that is part of why we love you.

Keeping my thoughts with you.:love2::love2:

Comment by Debbie — November 27, 2006 @ 1:43 pm
You can do it, Leslie!

Comment by Estella — November 27, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
I hear we’re having a “hump” in. Deadlines are awful. I never take orders because orders require deadlines. So you plotmonkeys have my sympathy.
I am wondering why you can’t go to the top of the mountain and do the finish. I don’t write books so I have no clue whether you can do this or not. But maybe it would make the fill in chapters easier?? I wish you all a humpless week. I’ll stick to ditties. If they don’t rhyme I fiddle until they do. Playing Enya soothes me, try music. :cocktail: Can you type after a couple, how about inviting a or :doggie: to snuggle. Then there is always a sweet hot chocolate We all really :love2: you ladies.
PS I just bought “Making Waves by Julie so I have my night all set.
:thumbsup2:

Comment by jeannie — November 27, 2006 @ 4:55 pm
Thanks, Jeannie!

Comment by Julie Leto — November 27, 2006 @ 6:05 pm
You are very welcome! One of these days, I will be able to say I have read all of the plot monkeys books, I hope. My husband, family and co-workers will tell you I am doing my darnedest

Comment by jeannie — November 27, 2006 @ 8:04 pm
I hope you get over your hump, I’ve got good vibes coming your way that you make your deadline…ish.

Happy Writing!

Comment by Dylan — November 27, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
More…diet…coke…pant pant pant…

Comment by Leslie — November 27, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Congrats Nicole and lots of luck, Leslie

Comment by catslady — November 27, 2006 @ 8:42 pm