Writing on a deadline sucks. Some people thrive under that kind of pressure, but most of the creative arts don't respond well to it. Creativity can be fragile, and most attempts to force it come up empty. That doesn't mean, however, that writers are immune to it, whether it's an actual deadline or a perceived one.
This leads to what I call rushed writing. Writers start to leave out parts of the story and take much for granted. While we should try to show rather than tell the reader what's going on, we can't take everything for granted, and that tends to happen when we rush our work. Characters around for the entire book drop off, and endings that should take a couple of chapters to develop get reduced to a few pages.
Readers notice this stuff. If a story is flowing at a certain pace, they'll pick up on it instantly when it changes pace. Usually that change goes from a slow trot to a panicked sprint, and it leaves many questions for the reader. It can also be unsatisfying for most and piss people off. Some get so mad that they won't read another book from that author out of fear of being so let down again.
This is where outlining and finding time is important. As I've said in the past, writing is the fun part, but outlining/brainstorming is just as important, for it sets the direction and makes sure that you aren't out there grasping for straws. If you can't outline or brainstorm, I don't think you can write well(yes, I'm sure there are exceptions, but those are exceptions, not most people). Every time I've tried to write without an outline, the writing comes off as rushed and directionless.
You also have to be willing, painful as it might be, to scrap material you've already written. Some first drafts are great; many stink. Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame said that he goes over material lots of times, and he points out some of his work that he had to get in under the deadline that wasn't ready. Trust me - it's easy to tell.
Rush if you like, but be prepared for your audience to tell. Then don't be mad when they find someone who doesn't rush. As the old saying goes, it's hard to find someone that can make a quiche and not decide to turn it into scrambled eggs.
This leads to what I call rushed writing. Writers start to leave out parts of the story and take much for granted. While we should try to show rather than tell the reader what's going on, we can't take everything for granted, and that tends to happen when we rush our work. Characters around for the entire book drop off, and endings that should take a couple of chapters to develop get reduced to a few pages.
Readers notice this stuff. If a story is flowing at a certain pace, they'll pick up on it instantly when it changes pace. Usually that change goes from a slow trot to a panicked sprint, and it leaves many questions for the reader. It can also be unsatisfying for most and piss people off. Some get so mad that they won't read another book from that author out of fear of being so let down again.
This is where outlining and finding time is important. As I've said in the past, writing is the fun part, but outlining/brainstorming is just as important, for it sets the direction and makes sure that you aren't out there grasping for straws. If you can't outline or brainstorm, I don't think you can write well(yes, I'm sure there are exceptions, but those are exceptions, not most people). Every time I've tried to write without an outline, the writing comes off as rushed and directionless.
You also have to be willing, painful as it might be, to scrap material you've already written. Some first drafts are great; many stink. Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame said that he goes over material lots of times, and he points out some of his work that he had to get in under the deadline that wasn't ready. Trust me - it's easy to tell.
Rush if you like, but be prepared for your audience to tell. Then don't be mad when they find someone who doesn't rush. As the old saying goes, it's hard to find someone that can make a quiche and not decide to turn it into scrambled eggs.
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