Best: Staying home. I’m a homebody. Plus, I have chronic migraines that really keep me from having a normal working life.

Discipline is the worst. The timer is a great idea.

Of course, being availabe for my son is wonderful too, being able to just walk away.

I’m one who goes in streaks too as someone mentioned.

Sometimes getting out of the house is the big deal of the day!

Katharine>> I comment a lot on blogs too. LOL. Probably comes from being a problogger. Unforunately, it’s not always good — but I can’t help it.

The downside? While I’m great at the whole creative end -generating story ideas, researching, interviewing, writing -I’m terrible at the business/organization end. Are there agents or managers for freelance writers? I could use one!

Robin C

The worst thing is that you *will* alienate your friends and family anyway because of obsessive proofreading of emails, phone messages, and birthday cads.

I’ve thought of using the timer idea myself, but I’m too lazy to go buy one, and too wary of viruses to download one.

I’m always trying new ways to increase productivity and keep me focused longer. Every time I try something new, it works great for a few days or a week. Unfortunately, after that I slip back into my old bad habits… Like commenting a lot on blogs…

:::sigh:::

You’re welcome. If you want, you can also try competing with yourself.

You do that by keeping track of roughly how long you manage stay on-topic, and deciding to try to meet or break your record time.

I’ve noticed that music I know can help me focus, too.

Of course, for any of these to work, I do have to use them… *eyes clock* Um, never mind.

Here’s an idea that I’ve sometimes used to help focus. (Unfortunately, I don’t have this function on my current computer system, and Mom wouldn’t like it if I borrowed hers from the kitchen.)

Set a timer every half-hour to hour with a reminder to work. Also set it when you step out for “just a minute” for a break. It can help drag you back from the distraction trap.

Worst: Instability of income leading to pressure from my family to get a “real job.” It gets frustrating, and I hope to learn enough to be able to start freelancing as a full-time “real job” by the time I graduate.

Best: Flexibility come final exam week, and other points when I need it, even if a job isn’t quite ideal. What’s even better is being hired for articles on grammar or for proofreading or for rewriting something for proper English.

Most writers who are doing this as a profession rather than as a hobby probably work more regardless of attire than a lot of other people. I support my family of four, including oppressive health care costs, on my writing income.

Worst: explaining to people that yes, I actually work for a living! I don’t lounge around in my pajamas all day.

Worst: Hounding clients for payment. Ug!

Best: Not having to work for “the man”!

The best thing is that I am finally writing!

The worst thing is that I am still working 50 hrs a week at my “regular” job and I’m really busy.

The worst part is the guessing. I’m still new at this, so I don’t know if I’m going to make enough money month to month.

Worst: I enjoyed interacting with my colleagues when I was a 9-to-5-er. Even for someone who tends to be introverted like me, the isolation is an adjustment.

worst: not finding a job, sometimes it just seems like there is a drought and I begin to wonder.