Possible Clues:

• Take more positions than one needs to finish novel
• Did one take more positions than one needed with finished novel?
• Take more reservations than there are places available
• Get two singers on the one night to finish as I lay dying, for example
• What airlines sometimes do, causing headaches
• Sell too many tickets
• Sell more seats than are available
• Be too reserved?
• Accept too many reservations (for flight)