Creating the Best Writing Environment
How to Prepare the Best Writing Environment: Have a separate office to work from
Freelance writers who are used to working off their laps as they balance their laptop and cup of coffee will run into problems. They need to find a room, not a corner of the house where they can write. A home office does not have to be large and roomy. It need only consist of a desk, computer and a filing cabinet. Try to view the office as your work station, not as the room where you eat, watch TV and listen to music. It needs to be a quiet haven where you can concentrate on writing. Make sure that you have everything with you that you need, such as pens, pencils and notebook.
How to Prepare the Best Writing Environment: Inform family and friends of your “office hours”
Many family and friends will not understand that as a freelance writer working from home you are still busy. As such, they may call you and invite you out to lunch, ask you to babysit for them while they go out, and so on. The only way to combat this problem is to let them know in a kind but firm tone that you are busy working and then tell them of the hours you work. Your “office hours” may be 10:00am-6:00pm or they may be more erratic than that. Then inform them that you cannot receive phone calls during these hours, unless it is an emergency. Unless you inform your family and friends of your work schedule, they will take it upon themselves to disturb you.
How to Prepare the Best Writing Environment: Care for your children and then return to work
Freelance writers who are also stay at home parents are to be commended, as they have a great load of responsibility that they carry each day. But if you are to be effective at reaching deadlines and goals, whether professional or personal, you must deal with parenting and your job separately. That means when you are setting your work hours you should take your children’s needs into account. Does your newborn need to be fed and changed at a time you have decided to write your third article? If so, you will need to make changes and care for your baby’s needs first before returning to work. It will be exhausting for you trying to feed your child while also trying to concentrate on your writing.
How to Prepare the Best Writing Environment: Turn off the TV and radio
In order to concentrate fully on the task at hand, you will need to reduce the amount of distractions around you. It is hard to do this when you are used to background noise from the TV or radio. Train yourself to turn these off while you are writing. Reserve the TV and radio for your breaks, so that you will have something to look forward to later on.
Preparing the best writing environment will ensure that you have all of your tools to hand, you are focused on your job and you are not distracted. It can be hard to stay focused and motivated when there are so many outside influences bearing down on you. The simpler your work environment is, the easier it will be for you to get your work done.
