Writing Tips: How to Practice Discipline with Deadlines

Most writers are familiar with the stress of a looming deadline. Although some of us may always be better at meeting deadlines than others, deadlines can be a useful tool for holding yourself accountable and on track for your writing goals in 2025. We’ve rounded up some tips and strategies for building discipline and meeting your deadlines as a writer.

 

Make sure you understand the details of the project as early as possible

 

Whether your deadlines are self-imposed (e.g. to write your own poetry chapbook this year) or set by someone else (e.g. your boss at the new freelance gig), it’s important to know exactly what’s expected of you ASAP. You don’t have to start working right away, but setting aside some time to review the project details will help you create a realistic schedule and avoid any big surprises that could interfere with your ability to meet the deadline. 

 

Use technology to your advantage

 

Technology can be a notorious time-suck for writers and it can definitely lead to procrastination and writer’s block if you don’t use it carefully. However, there are plenty of apps and tools out there that can help you stay on track to meet your deadlines, including:

 

• Calendar and project planning apps like Google Calendar, Asana, and Trello.
• Social media blocking apps like One Sec, Freedom, and Cold Turkey Blocker.
• System settings like putting your phone on airplane mode or disconnecting your computer from WiFi.

 

If you’re struggling to get focused with a deadline looming, try using calendar apps with notifications, internet/social media blocking apps, and other tools to work with—not against—your writing goals. 

 

Looking for more apps to fuel your writing practice? Check out these 11 poetry apps for the poet on the go. 

 

Commit to the habit of writing, not the outcome

 

Facing a blank page can be intimidating, especially if you’re working on a long-form project like a novel or dissertation. It’s easy to psych yourself out by over-focusing on what the final product should look like. Instead, just commit to writing on a regular schedule—for example, set a timer and commit to writing for 15-30 minutes a day. By emphasizing the practice of writing and not the outcome, you can remove some of the stress and intimidation that can lead to writer’s block. 

 

Try the Pomodoro method to improve your productivity

 

The Pomodoro method is a widely used productivity technique that can help you practice discipline and meet your writing deadlines.

 

To use the Pomodoro technique, break your work into short sprints with breaks in between. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break, and repeat this process a handful of times, including a longer 10-15 minute break after a few work intervals. 

 

If you’re struggling to focus, the Pomodoro method is a great option for forcing yourself to get to work to meet your deadlines. 

 

Eat the frog 

 

“Eat the Frog” is another productivity technique that can help you stay on track with your writing practice. 

 

Eating the frog is when you identify your hardest, most important task for the day and tackle it first thing in the morning. If you’re prone to procrastination, doing the hardest thing first might sound a bit counterintuitive. But this way, you can ensure that you’re directing the majority of your energy and focus toward your most important goals. 

 

Celebrate your wins, and be gentle with yourself

 

Finally, it’s important to prioritize recognition and self-compassion whenever you’re approaching your writing goals. When you meet a deadline, stick to your set writing schedule, or tackle the hardest task first thing in the morning, those are all opportunities to celebrate yourself and reinforce the value of your efforts. 

 

In those instances when you happen to let a deadline slip by (which happens, sometimes, by no fault of your own), don’t beat yourself up about it—just reset your timer and start again. 

 

Ready, set, go

 

We hope these tips help you find the habits, tools, and frameworks you need to approach your writing practice with discipline and enthusiasm. Good luck with meeting your next deadline!