Ever have one of those days where every step of a project feels like pulling teeth?

For me, this usually occurs when I’m working on one of my dating advice columns for Nerve. First, it takes me eons to find enough people willing to participate. And then, when I feel as if I’ve finally overcome all hurdles, and am on the home stretch, my interviewees miss the deadline I’ve given them, or balk at supplying everything they originally agreed to, or just plain flake out.

For the love of god, don’t other people recognize the importance of deadlines!??

::deep breaths::

For the sake of my sanity, how do you guys deal with unreliable sources? I use followup e-mails, charm, and begging.