The Beauty of Writing Under Pressure
One of the best skills I gained while at University was the ability to write under pressure. I was an English major which meant a mountain of essays on a multitude of topics. Responsible students took the course outline provided by the Professor at the start of the year and scheduled and planned for their essay deadlines. Those individuals would never have to deal with last minute, late night, no sleep, Red Bull-infused, using an ancient computer in the over crowded student lounge, writing sessions.
With the obvious assumption that I enjoyed this masochistic tendency, my brain settled on a workable pattern. A few weeks before my essay was due, I would complete the required reading, research and notes. All the information needed to write my essay was now ready for me.
As time elapsed I started to believe that writing under pressure had less to do with the mechanics of time, and more to do with self-restrictions and limitations, i.e. stress, worry, doubt and disbelief.
As I’m sure many people can attest to, no one placed greater pressure on me than I did. It was just my way. While I wrote my final submission for a course, I fought to keep the pressure at bay. I did not want to allow destructive thoughts to cloud my words or ideas. I began to visualize and believe that writing under pressure was an exercise in my personal growth. I knew I had the ability to write an engaging short story. I did not fight or try to hide from the weight of the pressure. Instead I used it to my advantage.
Whether you are a student, a journalist or a copywriter at an ad agency or large corporation, the ability to produce your best work can very well be attained from writing under pressure. You are forced to align your creative and productive natures into a cohesive unit. The result, well, you tell me.
What happens when you are forced to write under pressure?
Giselle Maclean is Managing Editor of BreakFree, a blog that passionately charts her personal challenges as a wife, mother and friend; while managing a career within the financial services industry.
Giselle,
Great article, I haven’t been in that scenario with writing but I imaging it applies to other fields like design or even outside of work like sports. Pressure can do some great things sometimes along as you can handle that pressure.
Thank you for your comments Mike. At times the pressure does help, other times it can induce writers block. I am learning to work with the pressure as opposed to fighting it.
Giselle
As a writer and a professor I may say that last minute writing triggers in ourselves what we really mean by those words we put out. Managing time is somewhat of a problem to many people, so that even if one has all planned, all researched, etc, etc, one waits until the deadline is just around the corner to start producing.
I do many things at once, many projects at the same time, and time managing is a thing I myself gotta learn how to deal with. Some people work much better under pressure, some don’t. I truely dislike it, but, depending on how much stress is involved, I do work better if a have little resources.
There is a popular saying here in Brazil which states that the less time one’s got, the more one does. I believe that it’s quite right in certain situations, but there is a limit a person can take.
I guess the beauty of it is that there are always a way out. Look up for the light, just open your eyes to what’s around you and you’ll be able to do anything.
Well said Fabio. I agree, I found especially during my time at university, that the papers I wrote under pressure, at times found better grades than some of my other ones. I appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Hey, what can I say…Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can t deal with deadlines or writing under stress. Great article though :)
Thank you Ina. Believe me, I enjoy writing for the simple joy of writing, with no pressure or deadlines. Now, if only I could find the time! ;-)
Giselle
Writing under pressure can work out to my advantage, if I’m in the right state of mind. After a good night’s sleep, a cup of coffee, and possibly a little exercise, I am prime to whip out multiple pieces of quality content with a creative and engaging flare. Adversely, catch me after a late night and writing with drive and passion does not come so easy.
The worst is having an inconsiderate deadline thrown at you on a complex topic which you have no background knowledge on. Add that to not being in the “right” state of mind, and you are sure to get content with ideas organized more like puke after eating risotto then a five star entrée.
My job is all about deadlines and the more time I have, the worse the writing. Give me an hour, it’s award winning. It took me a while and some guts to realize this, but the knowledge about my abilities has served me well.