Comments on: A Deadline Column About Writing on Deadline

By: Bill Sutley

Bill Sutley — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:37:40 +0000

I enjoyed this … especially the nod to Stephen King’s book. I’ve got a bookcase full of stuff on writing, but his is one of my favorites. Very practical stuff. Keep sprinting …

By: Vic Feuerherd

Vic Feuerherd — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:53:46 +0000

Reading the comments to this brilliant column is why I miss this business so much. Reminded me of the strike delayed 1981 All-Star Game in Cleveland when I was so impressed to be sitting next to Tom Boswell in the cramped Municipal Stadium press box. Was not so impressed, though, when Boswell spilled his cup of coffee on my lap as I tried to make sense of how Rollie Fingers had blown the lead for the AL stars. Perhaps it would not have made much of a difference if I hadn’t been covering the Milwaukee Brewers for the Milwaukee Sentinel, but when the Brewers best coughed it up, I was in more of a spot than usual. Fingers later noted in the clubhouse how I must have peed in my pants when he gave up the lead. Too bad most of Fingers’ comments had to wait a day because of those wonderful Sen tinel deadlines.

By: Wendell Barnhouse

Wendell Barnhouse — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:02:19 +0000

In my print life, I was always one of those geeks who thought that writing two stories on deadline was always better than one. At the famous Boise State-OU Fiesta Bowl, was doing a game story and a column on OU running back Adrian Peterson (playing his last game for the Sooners). Of course, all hell broke loose in the final minutes. I had gone to the field to try and get a quick Peterson quote for the column. Had my laptop in my shoulder bag. When I left the box, OU was down 28-20. When I get to the field, they score on an interception return to take the lead. I take out my laptop, set it on a garbage can near the stands and start rewriting the game story. (Bill Hancock, now the BCS dude, says he’ll never forget the site of me writing on top of a trash can – no smart aleck comments, please). BSU scores to tie it. OT. Stop rewriting. BSU wins on 2 trick plays. Start rewriting. Head to photo area to get online to send. See BSU RB propose to girl friend. Get girl friend’s name from friendly photographer. Grab a Peterson quote from OU press conference. File both stories. Head to BSU locker room and gather some of the greatest quotes ever for an on-line follow package.

By: Steve Aschburner

Steve Aschburner — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:49:02 +0000

“Toughest deadline write ever – Tyson vs. Michael Spinks. The fight started right at 11 pm eastern time, right on deadline, and my paper decided to hold first edition for the fight…”

I feel for Steve Simmons, but smiled at his anecdote. Tyson-Spinks was just the second (and last) major fight I’d covered and walking to my seat, I knew I couldn’t fake it, write “running” with much authority or just crank from familiarity like I could on a tight deadline with baseball, football or basketball. I was working for a paper in the Central time zone, but I distinctly remember thinking, “If this goes the distance, I’m screwed on deadline.” Then, 31 seconds later, I had a big grin on my face and what felt like all the time in the world. Prepare for the worst and anything short of that is a bonus.

By: Oscar Combs

Oscar Combs — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:18:46 +0000

Dave,

You’re still the greatest. Would love to see an encore for “The Dream Game.” A column on John Wall, as in your eyes, would also be a great read. Come see us.

By: Oscar Combs

Oscar Combs — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:18:18 +0000

Dave,

You’re still the greatest. Would love to see an encore for “The Dream Game.” A column on John Wall, as in your eyes, would also be a great read, I’m sure. Come see us.

By: Dave Kindred

Dave Kindred — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:47:54 +0000

Feinstein-on-deadline story: we’re at Indianapolis, some Final Four, this during The National’s time, we’re both on deadline, I’m reaching for the phone to send, he says, “I need the phone,” I say, “Soon as I’m done,” he says, “I NEED the phone,” I say, Soon as I’m done,” he starts again, “I NEED THE….” and I say, “USE THE F— PHONE, I’LL GO TO MUNCIE AND FIND ANOTHER ONE,” which I almost do, and he calls me the next morning to ask, “What was wrong last night?” and I tell him, “You were being an asshole,” and he says, with some relief, “Oh, is that all?”…. we were, are, and always will be friends, and he has even let me use his phone on deadline once or twice since….

By: charles pierce

charles pierce — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:37:13 +0000

Worst annual deadline experience for me?
The Saturday of the US Open tennis, when they’d play both men’s semis on either side of the women’s final, and always on the early Saturday-for-Sunday timetable.
I worked alone for the Boston Herald, so I was frantic, although it was always a great diversion to watch the several folks from the NYT and the WaPo — Hi, John! — fighting with each other.

By: Jay Stone

Jay Stone — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:30:10 +0000

Good stuff Dave. Deadline writing to me has always been a time-management exercise, and it’s becoming moreso, because with Internet copy, we’re all working in a wire service environment. I came to the place where I was convinced you had to have at least 2/3 of it written when the game ended; much easier to pound out 150 words in 10 minutes than it is the entire 450. I’ve looked around and seen a lot of reporters wasting time during games, and then they struggle to make deadline. Do it long enough, and you come to embrace it. At halftime, write a lede. You’ve got a 50/50 chance of it being right, and it’s easier to embellish or change it in a hurry than it is to make it up from scratch.

By: Steve Simmons

Steve Simmons — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:46:21 +0000

I miss heavyweight boxing. Haven’t been to a fight since Lennox Lewis beat Klitschko.