“Just Say No” – or, Finding the Time to Write
by Sandy Mitchell
I’m in the middle of my third year as a full-time freelance writer and, in my mind at least, I’ve gone from beginner to neophyte. I’m paying my bills, eating somewhat regularly, and am the proud owner of a 48-page tax return. Although I’ve overcome a mountain of hurdles in carving out my little writing business, my biggest challenge is combating the myriad of interruptions that threaten to derail my writing schedule, day after day.
Friends, Family, and the Jehovah Witnesses
When the word got out that I was working from home, I instantly became the “go to” person for any friend or family member that needed a ride to work, a babysitter, or someone to watch their pet. I’d get comments like “since you’re not working” or “since you have the time now.” I’m sure you’ve heard similar comments yourself. Funny how no one says these things to bank tellers or travel agents or account executives.
…And then there was the doorbell! I never realized when I worked in an office, how many people go around door-to-door during the daytime. I’ve had everyone from home improvement contractors, to magazine salesmen, to the every vigilant Jehovah Witness brigade.
What I Do
Early on, these interruptions had the potential to shut down my fledgling writing business. As a defense, I have adopted a strategy that includes:
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I Say No. This was harder to do that it sounds. I wanted to help out that friend whose car broke down or whose babysitter had bailed on them. Finally, however, I realized that all of these nice friendly tasks were taking money out of my pocket. Now, I choose the favors I grant very carefully.
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I take my phone off the hook. I get a lot of flack for this one, too, but who can write with the telephone ringing constantly in your ear? Telemarketers, bored friends, you name it; they call … again and again. Now, my office looks sort of like Gene Shalit’s (the Today Show film critic), with the phone receiver shoved into an open drawer. It’s a crude technique, but very effective.
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I get up early – really early. This one is my best defense. I start my day around 4am or 5am, six days a week. This way I already have 4-5 hours of work in by 9am when the rest of the world wakes up and starts to bother me. (A side benefit to this is that on those early spring days when you can’t resist going outside, you can have 8 hours of work accomplished by early afternoon.)
What Do You Do?
I don’t claim to have all of the answers. (I’m just a neophyte.) And, I especially admire those writers who also manage child care while pursuing a writing career. What are your secrets to staying the flood of daily interruptions? Please share your tips and experiences by posting below.
Sandy Mitchell is a Cleveland-based writer whose projects include writing and editing the Cleveland pages for About.com, a mystery and crime fiction site forSuite101, and writing travel articles for Love to Know. When she’s not at the computer or ignoring the doorbell, she’s working in her garden or in the middle of some DIY project for her century home. You can read more about Sandy on her Web site, www.writedestination.com. She may be contacted at smitchell@writedestination.com.
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This is a terrific topic and one from which I hope to gain plenty of ideas.
I, too, have been full-time freelancing for three years while simultaneously being an at home parent of the only kid on the planet (that I know of, anyway) who doesn’t sleep many hours at night, has never needed naps (even as an infant), and is always going, going, going!
I started writing regionally and statewide, but suddenly found tons of national and international opportunities in 2005/2006. It was then that I knew I had to get creative or I’d never be able to meet deadlines (or turn in copy that was a step above “See Spot Run.”)
My attempts at keeping up a profitable writing career while being 100% devoted to my very gregarious, extremely imaginative, often annoying, always lovable child are as follows:
- I write whenever I get the chance. If it’s 5:00 a.m. and I groggily wake up, I forgo an extra hour or two of sleep to finish articles in silence. At night, I stay up an extra hour or two.
- I get occasional writing breaks, thanks to my husband. He’ll take care of the bath, and I’ll write for an hour. It’s a nice trade-off, although it does eat into “family” and “together” time.
- Once, I paid a babysitter for three hours’ work. I was home, but available only if there was an emergency. Honestly, it was the best money I ever spent. During the time she was at our residence, I made about six times what I paid her. Unfortunately, she took another regular babysitting gig and wasn’t available during the day after that, or I would have had her come to the house more often.
Those are my techniques; they don’t always work, but they’re all I have right now! Next year, preschool should afford me more time to query and conduct research.
I can’t wait to hear what everyone else says…
Angelique, aka “The Quoibler”
One way to get through to those folks who think that just because you work at home you are available to be at their beck and call (babysitting, rides to places, errands, etc.) is to call and make similar requests of them during their known work hours.
I’m glad this topic came up. Thank you Sandy. I have quality effective time but they are not always regular. My best tiem is in early morning. I know many writers/moms who write during these wee hours. I cannot write anything serious or good when I am around my son or with my teaching papers.
I think the hardest thing is learning how to carve out a balance once I decided to put more and more time into writing.
Sometimes I feel that I am missing out on my child’s special moments and I suddenly become frenzied that I am not spending enough time with my toddler son. And then there’s the ton of school work for my ESL teaching job, so I always have these constant reminders of my day job and its impending realities. There are dys when I feel stretched a bit too much.
I really try to work either early still when he is sleeping and compromise on an hour’s of sleep (ah!) or write after a bit when he is with his father. In short, I have time to write but it just isn’t as much as I want and need at the moment in order to bring my freelance writing career to the next serious level.
Anyone else have trouble w/FWJ getting cut off by Deb’s sidebar? The blue to the right always overlays the last couple of words in the paragraph. Anything you (or I) can do to fix, Deb? I get the general idea, but I’d love to read the post in its entirety!
Deb, I read your blog from Bloglines most of the time, because the right sidebar interferes with the text of your blog. I thought you might like to know.
Pattie
I think I fixed it. I wish I’d known sooner! I’m a Firefox girl, and the problem was with IE. If you’re still having issues, drop me a line. I’d rather not let this issue take over the discussion though.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Deb
freelancewritingjobs@gmail.com
Hello, good post! Now I don’t feel so bad about switching of my cellphone or saying NO
Well, I am a comparative newbie to the freelance world; having had my dreams of personal projects making it slashed, I had the option, freelance or quit. I chose freelance….
I have always had a silent # but it bugs me that I get so many wrong numbers, and business people ignoring the fact that my number IS silent and just using it anyways. (I don’t object to friends in need, but official calls really annoy me)
I get up early too. I live in Australia, but keep Californian hours, so am up around 1-3am LOCAL! That means my work gets done and I am ‘free’ to pay attention to my teenage son when he gets up! (I home school him)
I guess with me it is mainly a game of fitting everything in and crossing fingers enough gets fitted in to pay the rent! But lately…. dry spell, sp maybe i am back on welfare.
I agree that it is so hard when others don’t recognize writing as an actual job (or side-job).
I have learned to redefine what success means to me, and to go after what I want and not what others think of as important.
Thanks to all of you for the tips.
It seems, the most important thing I’ve learned so far is to say no!
Sylvia C.
I hate the telephone! My friends don’t understand working from home. They tell other people that I “work on the computer.” I have a terrible time saying no to anyone. I’ve babysat a golden retriever, a pit bull puppy, two cats, a bird, and a 6 month-old baby in the middle of the day.
My biggest problem is that I live above a doctor’s office and her kids go there after school (and during the day in the summer). The daughter comes up here without asking and, if I ignore the door, she doesn’t stop knocking. Instead, it’s “knock, knock, knock, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, POUND, POUND, POUND” until I give up and see what she wants. I feel bad for the kids because it must be boring to have to sit there all day, but if I let them in, they are all over the place and I can’t get any work done.