| Creating a working schedule when you're a | | | | 4. Tell your friends and relatives what your |
| freelance writer can be a difficult task. When you | | | | working schedule is and ask them not to call or |
| work from home contrary to what many people | | | | come over during those hours unless it's an |
| think it is often not easier but more difficult as | | | | emergency (make sure you clarify what an |
| there are more distractions. For example, maybe | | | | emergency is, otherwise the next emotional crisis |
| you have children underfoot, or your house is | | | | with the boyfriend will be used as an excuse). |
| dirty and the temptation to clean first and write | | | | After all it's not like they would show up at your |
| later hits you, or friends and family are calling you | | | | place of employment unexpectedly if you had a |
| because after all you can make your own | | | | regular job. |
| schedule so why don't you go out to lunch or | | | | 5. Create your own contract. Add the hours you |
| shopping with them, you can write later, right? | | | | are going to work and any other stipulations such |
| Unlike working a regular 9 to 5 job where you | | | | as how many pages or articles you are going to |
| have a set schedule for what hours you are | | | | write per day for example. Make sure you have a |
| expected to be productive, when you work from | | | | place to sign your name and date it, then print it |
| home this is not the case, the only one you are | | | | out and hang it somewhere in your office where |
| responsible to is yourself. | | | | you can easily see it. This is your contract with |
| So, how do you create a working writer's | | | | yourself since you are your own employer. |
| schedule and stick to it? There are a number of | | | | 6. Commit to your schedule, this is very |
| tricks and tips you can use to help yourself in this | | | | important. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by |
| respect. After all if you don't write, you don't get | | | | dusty shelves, books that need to be reorganized |
| paid, and if you don't get paid, neither do the bills. | | | | or dirty dishes. Your writing must come first with |
| 1. Decide how many hours you want to work | | | | the exception of an emergency or your children |
| each day which will provide enough income to | | | | needing you of course. There are some |
| take care of your necessities and leave you with | | | | distractions that you cannot ignore, but as much |
| a little extra for fun. Then pick the hours during | | | | as possible stick to your schedule. |
| the day when you are going to write, and stick to | | | | 7. Make a list of daily goals. I make my list the |
| that time period. | | | | night before based on what I got done during the |
| 2. Turn off your phone! I can't stress this enough, | | | | day. I use a student's planner which has several |
| many a writer finds him/herself answering phone | | | | lines for each day and a full monthly calendar as |
| calls from relatives or friends who don't take their | | | | well. I write in my goals the day before and then |
| career choice of writer seriously, and then find | | | | cross them off as I finish them each day. If I |
| themselves on the phone listening to gossip, | | | | don't finish a goal I move it to the next day until it |
| requests to go shopping, or the latest emotional | | | | is completed. This also makes it easier for me to |
| crisis with the boyfriend. Avoid this all together by | | | | keep track of deadlines for previously contracted |
| turning off your phone during working hours. Let | | | | work. |
| the voicemail or answering machine take the calls, | | | | All of these tips will help you to create a working |
| you can always check them later when you take | | | | writer's schedule that you can live with. You will |
| a break. | | | | see your productivity go up, as well as, your |
| 3. What if you have kids at home? Well, that can | | | | income. It's worthwhile to create a schedule you |
| be tricky because kids are important and they | | | | can live with because you are more likely to stick |
| have a right to our undivided attention and love. | | | | to it, than the usual hit or miss method which is |
| What I usually suggest is having special toys or a | | | | what many of us use when we are starting out. |
| TV with DVD/VCR for them to watch videos | | | | The old excuses of "I'm just not inspired right |
| (have them be videos maybe they don't get to | | | | now, so I'll wait," or "I have writer's block, I can't |
| watch normally so it's different than other times) | | | | possibly stick to a schedule now, I'll create one |
| or play in your home office or very close by. | | | | later" will hold no sway over you because just like |
| Make it a special time where they get to do | | | | in the real world when you have to produce, you |
| something they really like while you are writing, | | | | will train your brain that you are on a regular |
| this helps them to feel included in what you are | | | | schedule and must produce as well. |
| doing. | | | | |