Deadlines and Journalism

jacqueline | Nov. 16, 2022, 8:52 a.m. Practicing Writing

I've had a feeling recently throughout my studies that I might never reach an end if I don't develop a deadline of some sort, I remember back when I first started working on content creation through Instagram and YouTube, I probably only had I think between 300 and 500 followers. I can't remember exactly, but it was about there. 

For me at the time, that was huge, that was so many people that were interested in what I called my creative work. Which honestly, I am still in the developmental stages. Through all of this though, I realized that when I look back on my interactions with my followers back then, I made promises that I would stream on Tuesday's, and I promise you, I made it to my house on Tuesday to stream to 2 people and maybe at one point 22 people if I remember correctly, I had one fire day. I then got so into the video game world that I wanted to start reviewing video games. I posted my first video on YouTube. I was so so so nervous to do this, I posted on Instagram that my video would be out on a specific date, I think I gave myself about a month to develop the video, I was working with Lynix, an open-sourced platform for my video editing and voice recording. Amazing, highly recommend it if you can use it for yourself. 

I would procrastinate some days, but it wasn't up until that last week that I started rapid editing and producing the finished product. I had promised people something, and I wanted to deliver it. The deadline was close! The best part about that experience was, people were waiting because of how much I talked and interacted about it, they wanted to see what I had made. It wasn't my best work, but the feedback was so positive and encouraging. People liked my style and although I was very much an armature at my work, the feedback and the interaction with my followers was exhilarating. I was in love with the entire process. Yes, I still look back on that video and think of all the better I could have done, but it's still nice to know it's there for me to criticize. It's funny to me how I see my past self as a person who was shooting for the stars no matter how sloppy the slingshot the intention was there. I always tried to shoot my shot. Although, the motivation behind it all was my passion yes, but the people I was showing my work too was what lit a fire in my heart. It didn't have to be much, just a few people, and that helped me get to the end. I loved that.  

So! I've decided to develop some sort of deadline.

Now, the deadline I am setting is not for the finished product of the book, no. I am not even close to setting a finished deadline for that, but I'd like to have a deadline for the rough draft. I am giving myself three months to have a rough draft. Today is November 16th, so by February 16th, I should have my rough draft of what I think and how I think the story should be written. 

To prove my work at that point, since it won't be ready to be published, well, I am still thinking about how I will do that. But for now, a personal deadline should help me produce with a deeper intention. 

A rough draft doesn't mean the story will be that, but it will be a better outline than the story blocks I've made. I have a solid idea where the story is going and its purpose. That's a good chunk of information I don't want to lose by taking too long to write it all down. More lonely nights I guess, but I've been getting pretty comfy here. 

The journalism part is something I wanted to mention because to develop the characters in the book, I do need to study different types of people more, and not just through reading, but through actually asking people some very interesting questions that may help me to understand better how to separate my characters in the book. 

Sometimes I find myself sticking to one personality and it's difficult to switch it up. So, I need to work on that part as well. 

But that's the update so far! 

As always, 

Thank you so much for being on the other end of this.