Invent a deadline - Meet the FAST system - The setup

Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Invent a deadline
Meet the FAST system
The setup

Now, technically, this isn’t a requirement of the FAST System. But the whole idea of writing FAST implies a deadline. And I believe deadlines are the only way to get you to write.

When I started this book, I knew I wanted it to be written quickly. After all, what kind of credibility would I have if it took two years to write a book called “Writing FAST”?!

But, really, how long should it take? Who knows? It could take two weeks or two years. Which will it be?

Believe it or not, that’s a choice. You decide how long it takes. And it can just as easily take two weeks or two years. But you’ve gotta make that decision deliberately. And gear up for it.

Give yourself a hard and fast deadline. Even if it’s arbitrary.

For example, when I decided to write this book, it was the first week of March, 2004. I decided to give myself a month (five weeks, actually) to write it. I wanted to finish by mid-April, so I could release the book by mid-May.

Why?

No real reason. I just wanted to finish it sooner than later. Then I could get back to FASTscreenplay, and then start building the Screenplay Factory.

But by setting a deadline, suddenly I’ve got a sharper focus. There’s something constantly pulling at me. Rather than sitting in front of the TV, I’m here writing.

But I went a step further. I placed four ads in local writing newsletters advertising the release date. The ads came out in the April issues. So there was no backing away from the deadline. I had to do it. If I didn’t want to, or didn’t feel like it, too bad.

And I’ve gotta tell you, it’s been pretty stressful. You might not want to do that just yet.

(Incidentally, I don’t recommend that on your first book. I ran into production complications because I was new to the process, and had to delay the release by a whole month. It’s not a good look.)

But give yourself a hard deadline. Not “next year.” Make it closer than you think you can do. Force yourself to power through. Don’t take the easy way out.