While many people think that the life of a freelance writer is composed of doing whatever you want followed by a bit of work, the realities are far different. Just as those in the work world, if we take time off for a medical appointment or sickness, we have to make up for it later. Here is a typical day in the life of a freelance writer.
7:00am
Wake Up
Really. We may not have a commute, but we have a lot of work to do so that time is generally filled.
7:30-8:00am
Breakfast. If you don’t want to become a puddle of mindless fuzz by 11:00, that is.
8:00-9:00am
Dealing with e-mails, minor bookkeeping, and any “busy work” that you need to get out of the way.
9:00-12:00pm
Work.
12:00-12:30pm
Lunch.
12:30-2:30
Work.
2:30pm-3:00pm
Depending on amount of work, this break may be shorter. Break for a walk or anything else to get active. A whole day in a chair is not good for your body. Personally, I take small breaks throughout the day and bang on my Wii Fit.
3:00pm-?
Work.
The question mark may denote 4:00, or it may denote 10:00. Frequently, it denotes around 6:00pm for me. If I am sick, I plug away at it anyhow since a sniffle doesn’t mean that I can’t type. I’m a bit slower at it, but I’m still productive.
On weeks where I have appointments for dental or medical purposes, I simply don’t make as much money as I could. Mind you, I do try to put my health before money as I didn’t do that when I was in the corporate world and that attitude had to change.
It is nice to be your own boss and not have to answer to anyone but your clients. I’ve always considered my clients my bosses anyway, regardless of where I’ve been. That attitude keeps my clients coming back to me for their writing needs; hopefully you are one of them or will be eventually.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some writing to do.
