| The best thing about being a freelancer is the time | | | | Back in the days when I worked on staff, part of my |
| freedom of our lifestyle. No more punching a time | | | | job was hiring freelancers. One writer we used also |
| clock, or being chained to a desk. No more being | | | | worked nights as a musician. We were told not to call |
| lectured to about personal calls or saving a doctors | | | | him before 2:00 in the afternoon, when he got up for |
| appointment for weekends only. | | | | the day. However, his schedule caused problems |
| But once we become a freelancer, we quickly learn | | | | when we needed quick turnaround on changes, or an |
| that we often have to answer to an even tougher | | | | immediate answer to a question. While "Paul" was a |
| boss-ourselves! And as you strive for a better income | | | | great writer, in the end we decided that his lack of |
| and greater success, you realize that neither will | | | | accessibility during normal business hours was too |
| happen without strict discipline on your part. | | | | inconvenient for our needs. So, we dropped him. |
| Sure, it's tempting during periods of writers block to do | | | | What about time zones? It doesn't hurt to "train" your |
| that extra load of laundry, or check out the handbag | | | | clients regarding your schedule, too. If they're in |
| sale at Macy's. But this non-productive time is eating | | | | California and call you when it's 8:00pm your time, let |
| away at your all-important bottom line. Remember, you | | | | them leave a message. Your business day is over, |
| don't get a paycheck any more. And time is money! | | | | and you need your downtime. Send them an email in |
| Here are 3 expert ways to keep your business on | | | | the morning acknowledging their call and suggest a |
| track: | | | | time that you can speak during the day. Likewise, if |
| 1. Dress for Success, even though you're at home! OK, | | | | you're on the West Coast and your client is in Boston, |
| maybe you can ditch the suit and the wool gabardine | | | | be at your desk a little earlier each day so you can |
| skirts. But you should still stick to a work routine. | | | | attend to their business needs before their afternoon |
| Shower, dress, wear makeup, and put the bathrobe in | | | | begins. |
| the closet. Follow the same routine you had when you | | | | 3. Create a production schedule of every project. |
| traveled to an office - the only difference now is that | | | | Decide which hours are your most productive ones, |
| your commute is shorter. If you can't get started | | | | and stick to them. Create a task list. Schedule those |
| without the morning cup of coffee, have some. This is | | | | projects to be completed during these hours. Do not |
| not only a morale booster but gets you in a serious | | | | take a friend on errands, do laundry, or waste time |
| business mode for the rest of the day. | | | | with non-productive tasks. These are your prime |
| 2. Keep regular business hours. 9 to 5, 8 to 4, or | | | | money-making hours. Use them wisely! |
| whatever you feel comfortable with. If you do your | | | | Remember, be professional, act professional-and your |
| best writing while burning the midnight oil by all means, | | | | clients will respect you for it. Which means bigger, |
| do it -- but make sure you're accessible to your during | | | | better-paying assignments. And that's the whole point, |
| regular business hours, too. | | | | isn't it? |