Okay, so I’m working on Sunday!
Those of you who follow this blog know I’m a firm believer in freelance writers getting enough time off to make their lives sane and to recharge their batteries. In support of that, I generally aim at writing only about four hours a day, leaving plenty of time for the rest of my business. I also try not to work on weekends. That’s why you often don’t see a blog post on Saturday and usually only one on Sunday. The truth is I rarely do much if any serious writing work on the weekends.
There are, however, always exceptions! I’ve gotten behind on two projects. There are various reasons for my “behindness,” procrastination being one of them. I had solid plans to do a great deal of writing late Friday morning, working well into the afternoon.
You know the saying, usually credited to John Lennon, Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.
Friday got off to a good, but unusual start. Early in the morning I took a friend to the doctor. I came home and started on the jobs. When I realized it was taking longer than I’d planned, I called to make the chiropractic appointment I had later. That worked, but on my way home, my car quit. It quit while I was on the freeway and I had several of those hair raising moments getting off. Then I had to find someone to help me push it just a bit because I got hit hung up on the curb. Next I had to go through the goat dance of phone calls to get it towed and get me home.
fter I got the jobs posted
Frankly, I was wiped out. I didn’t get home until mid-afternoon and all I wanted was a nap. So that’s what I did, secure in the knowledge that no car meant I couldn’t go to the morning meetings I usually go to on Saturday. I was sure I’d get some writing time in.
Two things intervened. When I tried to cancel one of the meetings, someone offered me a ride. Darn! But I accepted. Then, Saturday morning early I discovered the letter c on my keyboard was no longer working!
Good grief! I had no idea how much I use that key!
My friend not only brought me home, but stopped with me at an office supply store so I could get a new keyboard.
By the time I got home and had some lunch I’d done too much for the day - and decided I’d write tomorrow.
Which is today, and I’ve gotten a draft of 850 words and am about to read and edit it. When I complete that I’ll send it along with an invoice to one client and then I’ll only be behind on one project.
BTW, the mechanic said he (yep, it’s a he) thought the fix would be simple but wouldn’t know for sure until Monday when he got the part.
Life is good, if confused.
Write well and often,
Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.
Image from http://www.sxc.hu
Tags: authors, cars, freelance-writing, Goat Dancing, home businss, john lennon, life, work, work-at-home, writersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Musings From A Freelance Writer
8 opinions for Okay, so I’m working on Sunday!
The Golden Pencil’s Anne Wayman on Overwork | freelance-zone.com
Jul 13, 2008 at 4:44 pm
[…] The Golden Pencil ran a piece on freelance writing overwork, what I like to call “deadline creep” and time management. When reading Anne Wayman’s description of how she tries to keep her writing off limits on the weekends, I was reminded of a set of my own crazy work problems last year. […]
Mary Emma Allen
Jul 13, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Yes, Anne, I agree…”Life is what happens when….” Life has been happening to us the past few months with our daughter’s illness and its unexpected twists and turns. Tonight there was a flare-up, so it’s off to the hospital lab to get unplanned tests done. I’ve learned I can’t say I’ll write or won’t write any particular times…I just write whenever I can squeeze it in and somehow I meet my deadlines…and even get some extra done. I’ve even written drafts on paper towels while waiting with her in the emergency room. I also have another home business I have to squeeze in, too. I can’t afford the luxury of saying, “I can’t.” Somehow we go on with the adventure of life.
Do You Schedule Time Off in Your Business?
Jul 13, 2008 at 8:17 pm
[…] It’s difficult to work non-stop at one’s business, so most business owners are advised to schedule time off…to relax, for family, to recharge. However, sometimes these best laid plans go astray as Anne Wayman mentions at The Golden Pencil in her post, Okay, so I’m working on Sunday! […]
marsha
Jul 13, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Oh boy….I wouldn’t want to have to go through all of that in one week, much less a single day!! :-)
But I agree with you on the fact that freelance writers should not write too much and should reserve some time for rest and relax. And no weekend writing unless if it’s for him/herself!
Debbi
Jul 13, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Yikes! What an awful lot of bad stuff to happen in a day.
Good luck with your projects. Maybe once you get caught up, you should take some time off. :)
Anne Wayman
Jul 14, 2008 at 6:37 am
< <<>>>> hugs for you and your daughter… my goodness, makes my stuff look easy breezy.
marsha and debbi… actually am almost caught up… today should do it, then a day off or a a morning off or something and back at it.
b5media - The Summer Slump: It’s Not In Your Head
Jul 14, 2008 at 7:47 am
[…] at scheduling time off for home business owners; Becky thinks about the value of taking a nap; Anne wonders why you’re working on a Saturday; and guest author Suzie Cheel talks about finding balance at the beach on Successful […]
Business and the Summer Slump from the b5media Business Channel
Jul 14, 2008 at 8:05 am
[…] at scheduling time off for home business owners; Becky thinks about the value of taking a nap; Anne wonders why you’re working on a Saturday; and guest author Suzie Cheel talks about finding balance at the beach on Successful […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: