Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The Last Mile of A Big Assignment

I wrote about writing through the blur not long ago. Sometimes you just have to in order to get done even if you're seeing blurry because you've been staring at your computer too long.

Last night I faced the final five articles of a fifty article assignment. I knew it going to be a long day yesterday and I had 9000 words for this assignment to do. 2% keyword density and it was written for a UK audience so I had to have my thinking cap on. I needed it to be done for many reasons.

One: I need to hit the deadline and take care of my client who relies on me.
Two: I need to invoice this sucker. It was worth almost $600.
Three: I’m so tired of writing on this subject, I don’t want to write about it ANY MORE!

Here’s what I did to stop myself from leaving the last 3000 words until today despite that little voice in my head telling me to just go to bed.

* Stretched
* Drank a bottle of water
* Got up and did something else for five minutes
* Got a snack
***Then solidered on.

I finished the job at 12:45 a.m. I was happy it was done and although I yawned while doing the invoicing, I felt good. The last one was not easy. I started to wonder if it even made sense but shook the sleepies off and re-read it before submitting. Another project done, more experience under my belt, more money on the way in.

Go me!

How do you get through that home stretch when your body and your brain are both telling you it's time to give in?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess you just have to 'gut it out' as you have, Dana. Sometimes that's the only thing that works.

Brenda Emmett said...

Yea you! :) I knew you were wanting that assignment to be over and done with!

Unfortunately for my waistline, I tend to choose snacks like licorice and chocolate. A sugar surge always seems to work for me at least for a short while. I probably need to find something a little friendlier to my waistline, though! LOL!

Michele said...

Bravo for you, Dana, finishing up with blurry eyes!

Here's something to take your mind off the exhaustion:

I've tagged you for the Random 8 Meme.

More details here:

http://writingthecyberhighway.
blogspot.com/2007/10/8-things-
that-make-me-me.html

Have fun! Can't wait to read yours ;-)

Anonymous said...

Congrats to you for getting it done! I bet you feel a whole lot better. :) When I've done the same thing it always feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!

Anonymous said...

While I'd like to say that I budget my time well so that I don't get backed into a corner . . . um . . . I can't. I found myself in the "soldiering on" position just recently on a batch of articles. Despite an aching back (compounded by a pregnant belly), blurry eyes, and a sudden dislike for anything having to do with my topic, I sitll managed to have a little fun by reminding myself that I was getting paid to write!

Dana Prince said...

Thanks Michele, I'll check it out :)

Yes, Courtney I felt great this morning with a big check mark on my to do list and took a few hours to relax today :)

Lorna you are soooo right. The getting paid part certainly is great motivation!

1luckeemom said...

Well, I have just started my blog and I've spent tons of time. I think what keeps me going is my excitement. I guess I will just have to see later on what it will take once my excitement dies down. Thanks for all the good advice, I'll file it for the future.

Sue Jeffels Writing said...

Know exactly what you mean Dana and when you get to that point the only thing to do is carry on.

suejeff