Ah, deadlines. They are a feature in many a writer’s life, and while we may not always love them, they’re certainly not going away. Still, deadlines can be a good thing, whether they’re self-imposed or given to you by someone else. They can also be a pain in the backside. With this in mind, here are the pros and cons of writing deadlines.

The pros

They give you a goal

Goals are good. We like goals. If you can say to yourself “I want to achieve X by date Y” and convince yourself to stick to it, it’ll be a great feeling.

They put the end in sight

Another reason writing deadlines can be a good thing is that they help you to see the finish line. If you know that you’ve got to finish your novel by date Z, it can help you to picture a time when you won’t be plagued by half-formed plot lines, shoddy dialogue and editing dilemmas. And as wonderful as writing is, finishing a project is also a brilliant thing.

They offer structure

The structure forced on us by a deadline can also be a positive thing, particularly for those of us with a tendency to put things off more than we probably should. A deadline – particularly one that you really, really can’t miss – forces us to get down to business and just get things done.

The cons

They can lead to unnecessary pressure

Some people thrive under the pressure of a deadline. Others hate it, and some crumble. Writing deadlines can be stressful, whether they’re given to you by someone else or they’re a product of your own creation.

It’s disheartening to miss them

Missing a deadline, however accidentally or unavoidably, is not a good feeling. It’s not great when you let someone down, even if the only person being let down is yourself. Sometimes imposing your own deadlines can be more trouble than it’s worth.

It can lead to you rushing

A looming deadline can also lead to panic, and rushed work. As writers, we want everything we do to be just right, but when you’ve got three gazillion words to do by next Thursday and you’re only five words in, perfection can be something of a lost cause. And that’s a shame. If you’re able to take your time and get things exactly as you want them, it’s worth losing that deadline and giving yourself all the time and space you need.