Writing is work. As writers, we understand what that means, however, our friends and family may not. This is especially true when you work at your craft from your home.
A number of writer friends have often shared their frustration with the constant interruptions they encounter from people they know. I confess to experiencing the same frustration as a writer. However, unlike the writers I know, I found myself in the perfect position for an experiment. With a Master of Science degree, I am quite familiar with experiments.
I joined a law firm as one of their attorneys in the areas of estate planning, business, and real estate more than a year ago. I confess to enjoying the practice of law more than I ever have in my entire career (I won’t reveal how many years that is, but suffice it to say it’s more than 20). I work with an incredible, brilliant group of attorneys and support staff. Another plus, is that although our main office is fully staffed (with 3 satellite offices), unless I am meeting with a client, I work from my home office — where the experiment begins.
I don’t write full time, but, I never did. I have practiced law since I graduated law school, however, when I moved to Colorado, I practiced more part time until I started with this firm. With the exception of my clients, my family and friends saw me as a writer, and interruptions were a constant problem. Once I joined this firm, while I worked out of the same home office, the interruptions ceased.
What does that tell us? That others considered my work as a full time attorney as a “real job” while my work as a writer was not. To say that is frustrating is an understatement, however, there are things we can do.
- Treat writing as a “real job.”
- Go to your workplace, whether it is a separate room in your home, an area of your home, the library, a picnic table in a specific park, or Starbucks.
- Let your family and friends know your work schedule.
- During your writing (work) hours, shut off your phone, do not answer your door, and do not check your email.
Once they realize you are not available during work hours, they will understand that you are working. Fortunately, I am an early bird and my writing time takes place before most people rise. My “workday” for writing begins around 4:30 a.m. with my workday as a lawyer around 8. For me, a perfect solution.
What is your perfect solution?
(c) 2020 Karen Van Den Heuvel Fischer
Karen, I wish I could say I have a perfect solution, but alas I do not. However, for the first time, I actually wrote for hours in a Starbucks (after our retreat) with head phones on, no less. Then my brilliant writing buddy and I went to Panera for a Saturday morning of writing (again with head phones) and we both produced work. It’s not a solution, but it was something I could never do before.
I used to write in the morning, but now I carve out time most days a week and weekends are not off the table either. A routine would be better, but getting words on paper whenever is better than not, so I no longer beat myself up over it.
Hugs, L. A.
Thank you for sharing L.A.! I agree with you that getting words on paper whenever is definitely better than not.
Karen, thanks for the reminder that writing is work. Any self-employment can get shorted if you don’t set your mind to getting work done. I haven’t a solution except to say that if marketing time steals writing time, something needs rearranged. Also, a good editor or publisher that keeps you accountable goes a long way for good motivation. Cheers