Being a writer means having deadlines. That is part of your job. Some of the deadlines come from editors, and some deadlines are self-imposed.
Deadlines are good.
They allow you to schedule your time and present you with a goal to finish a project. Deadlines can be stretched, but they can never be broken. One sure sign of a professional writer is he or she never misses a deadline. Missing a deadline is the kiss of death to a writer s career, or at least to that particular relationship with the publication you just disappointed. Make sure when you accept the assignment or promise the editor that you can deliver the piece on a specific date, you are absolutely certain you can follow through.