By Tammy Karasek @tickledpinktam

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the delight in authors sharing their deadline dilemmas with me. Recently another one shared a couple new ones for my list. Yes, my list. Hey—we writers keep lists of great comments and ideas to use as fodder for blog posts or stories when we speak. Though, for those of you who have shared your situations with me, wipe that sweat off your brow, I have no intention of naming names. I’m just cool like that.

I will say, though, if you’re reading this and you blush, nobody will know. I promise I don’t have a bus to back over you. But, some of these comments during your deadlines are far too good to keep quiet about.

See if any of you can relate to the statements below. Quiz at the end. I’m kidding.

Said by an author during a writing deadline:

1. I’m teaching my kids good life lessons. For instance, when you run out of clean underwear, there’s your sign it’s laundry day. For someone else in the house, of course.

2. Would it be wrong for my nurse sister to bring home an IV pump and rolling pole to hook me up to coffee? Real. Strong. Coffee.

3. Hygiene is optional. I’m not going out, why waste time on this—I’m on deadline folks.

4. I highly recommend you text before coming. I’ll let you know the state of dress code I’m in at the moment. You may choose to wait until after the deadline.

5. The family is fed. I think. I reassigned that to their dad. I’m fed. I have a 50-count box of mixed chips, a Club size container of chocolate candies and a carafe of coffee with my tall straw in it. We good.

6. I’m living in sweatpants because I’m sweating bullets over here.

7. Wash my hair? Yeah, right. Why do you think they made baseball hats? Puh-lease.

8. I haven’t showered or brushed my teeth in days, but I have clean underwear on. I think? Or maybe . . . now I can’t remember.

9. If the family gets hungry enough, they will figure out what I do for them every. Single. Day.

10. Would it be rude to Door Dash coffee from the local coffee shop every three hours? Asking for a friend, of course. Wink!

Like I said, I’m not telling who shared these fun comments with me, but I’m going to ask you to share with all of us either a deadline dilemma you’ve had or some you’ve heard from an author friend. Share in the comments with us, we all need a little giggle when it comes to those pesky deadlines.

Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and show them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out!

She’s a writer of Romantic Suspense—with a splash of sass. Her debut book, Launch That Book, released in November 2023. She’s published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. Also, she’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation, The Write Editing, Blue Ridge Conference Blog, and more.

Known as The Launch Team Geek, she helps authors launch their books. You’ll also find her as a Virtual Assistant for several best-selling authors, the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President of ACFW Upstate SC, and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. Connect with Tammy at https://www.tammykarasek.com.