The Trials Of An Indie Author: Flexible Planning

THE TRIALS OF AN INDIE AUTHOR: FLEXIBLE PLANNING

One misconception about being indie is that because you're in charge of your own deadlines, you don't have any. Like you can just not do something by a certain time because it's always something you can move and change. Anyone who's been doing the indie life for a while will tell you that yes, they aren't always hard deadlines, but they're not always moveable or ignorable either.

I learned very early on in my writing and author career that I needed some kind of flexibility when it come to writing and deadlines. I still do, even all these years later. That said, it doesn't mean that I don't have deadlines to adhere to, or that those working with me don't also have deadlines they have to meet. A lot of the time when it comes to hiring professionals, whether that's as an editor or an audiobook narrator, you have to have a deadline for the contract to work.

While I'm not all that strict when it comes to some deadlines, for myself or others, I sometimes have to be and I do not like it. The perks of being an indie author are many, but one of them is being able to choose who I work with and what that deadline will be. But what some people don't realise is it all has a knock on effect. Part of being flexible in your planning and your work is knowing that there has to come a time when you have to set a hard deadline and everyone, yourself included, have to meet it.

Too many times I've seen authors working towards release and getting to the point where they need to really put their butt in gear, but just think they can keep moving that final date and will be done when its done. Now I'm not someone who thinks people should push themselves to breaking point, and I also understand that there ae a myriad of things that will stop people from meeting that first, second, whatever deadline, but eventually you do have to get to a point where you're tough with yourself and the people around you. It's not ideal, no, but it does allow you to know that you will be able to keep on track and meet that final deadline.

Of course I say that and know that not everyone has the luxury, and it is very much one, of being a full time writer. They don't have the time to schedule everything. They have other commitments. They have chronic illnesses and/or disabilities that inhibit what they're able to do. That is all valid, and I again, do not think that you should burn yourself out, or push yourself to breaking point, because of a deadline, but I do think there should be some leeway with your planning.

For instance, I know that I work best first thing in the morning. I also know that I'm not really able to work for longer than four hours. I know that if I need to get a lot of things done, then I need to parcel it all out into chunks that are doable in those four hours. I don't set myself up to fail, and while it has taken me over 20 years to get to the point where I am now, I did so by starting small.

The last thing I want to do is come across like I'm judging people, because I'm very much not. It takes as long as it takes, and that's okay, and I do genuinely mean that, but sometimes you have to weigh up what you're trying to do, and whether or not you're able to do it, and be honest with yourself about it. Everyone works differently, and that's valid, and you gotta do what works for you. Just be aware that when you're working, you gotta make sure that it is actually a way that works for you. No one wants you to burn out, no one wants you to fail, and if you're pushing yourself to breaking point to meet those deadlines, maybe take that knowledge and use it to help yourself later.

Your mileage may, of course, vary. Any questions? Lemme know in the comments.

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