Too Many Deadlines, Too Little Time
Every freelance writer has faced this situation before: you have several projects due on the same day (or around the same day) but not enough time to finish everything off. Even if you work longer than usual, you may still come up short.
Although this is a difficult situation to deal with, there are a few things you can do to make your way through this rough time without angering any of your clients.
1. Don’t run and hide. The last thing you want to do is miss a deadline with hopes that your client will forget and let it slide. Rather than do this, open the lines of communication as soon as possible. Once you let the other party know what you are up against, they may be more than willing to shift things around to accommodate your schedule.
2. Work in the proper order. If you have two projects due tomorrow and two others due in three days, it makes the most sense to start with those that are due within 24 hours. This will allow you to move forward with the chance of completing each and every job on time.
Note: if you are disorganized and lack a to-do list you are increasing the odds of working out of order.
3. Keep your cool. Contrary to popular belief, it can be stressful working as a freelance writer. This is particularly true when deadlines are closing in on you in a hurry. It is essential that you keep your cool, continue to work hard, and cross off tasks as they are completed. Don’t let yourself get stressed out.
Above all else, remember this: it can be a good thing to have a lot of projects due at the same time. This may increase your workload – sometimes beyond what you are hoping for – but it also means that you are doing something right and that you are going to get paid!
