By creating a D-day for your writing project you think of it in a new way. You no longer have a single deadline that becomes a larger and more freighting monster the closer you get to it.
Instead, you look at your project as a two-part process in which you create your working draft and then have time to revise it.
Your D-day deadline still might be a monster, but it has less time to get so large that it overwhelms you.
Knowing that you will have time to revise the working draft takes some of the pressure off your writing.
The working draft you produce does not have to be perfect. In fact, you are giving yourself permission for it to be imperfect.
It’s been said that all good writing comes out of rewriting. Use this fact to your advantage. If you’re stressed about your writing project, channel that energy into just getting the working draft done.
If you’re having trouble getting started, focus on just getting the working draft done.
Remember the Nike slogan? Just do it. But that can be easier said than done.