Disclaimer: Stock photo from ShutterStock, the actual Zoe may vary. With the kids in school, I now have time to redirect my attention to more projects. There are long to-do lists that have been neglected over the past three years. There are more freelance assignments to do. And more importantly, I have articles, essays and blogs I have forsaken to write.
I am a master craftsman of the written word. I can write 500 words standing on my head. I have never had an issue producing any amount of copy in any tight deadline. Journalism school trained me well.
But when it comes to writing not tied to a deadline or that I am not getting paid for, it is incredibly hard to stay on task. Especially, since working from home. How can I possibly work on this essay, when there are dishes to be washed and meatloafs to be cooked!
I recently meet with a writing coach (Yes, there are coaches for everything.) Amy Silverman doesn’t particularly like the term, I know in order to work on my own projects I need external motivation. I would never use a gym membership, but I do show up to my yoga class. I picked her brain on how she blocks out time to do her writing passion projects vs the projects paying the bills.
Her overarching advice: do what works for you.
Instagram and Pinterest lure you to a cliff when people with much more ambitious projects (and far too much time) pitch “Get organized with my super complicated template!” You adopt their diet, training schedule, organization style… and in a day or two, you fail. The sense of defeat is weighted when you just spent $80 on a Marie Kondo box because you are trying to fold like her … as it turns out you have a personality more suited for hangers.
Know yourself well enough to know what works for you. And then double down your efforts.
I have decided on my “writing days” to don a cocktail dress. Why write in a cocktail dress, you might ask? It’s impractical. It is impractical to make a stew in a cocktail dress. You can’t scrub floors in a cocktail dress. Because although fashionable, one might get very odd looks at Walmart in a cocktail dress.
I know what distracts me, so the dress keeps me tethered to the computer. It works for me. And who says you have to have an occasion to dress up! Writing is so critical to me, that it does merit cocktail attire.
I am a master craftsman of the written word. I can write 500 words standing on my head. I have never had an issue producing any amount of copy in any tight deadline. Journalism school trained me well.
But when it comes to writing not tied to a deadline or that I am not getting paid for, it is incredibly hard to stay on task. Especially, since working from home. How can I possibly work on this essay, when there are dishes to be washed and meatloafs to be cooked!
I recently meet with a writing coach (Yes, there are coaches for everything.) Amy Silverman doesn’t particularly like the term, I know in order to work on my own projects I need external motivation. I would never use a gym membership, but I do show up to my yoga class. I picked her brain on how she blocks out time to do her writing passion projects vs the projects paying the bills.
Her overarching advice: do what works for you.
Instagram and Pinterest lure you to a cliff when people with much more ambitious projects (and far too much time) pitch “Get organized with my super complicated template!” You adopt their diet, training schedule, organization style… and in a day or two, you fail. The sense of defeat is weighted when you just spent $80 on a Marie Kondo box because you are trying to fold like her … as it turns out you have a personality more suited for hangers.
Know yourself well enough to know what works for you. And then double down your efforts.
I have decided on my “writing days” to don a cocktail dress. Why write in a cocktail dress, you might ask? It’s impractical. It is impractical to make a stew in a cocktail dress. You can’t scrub floors in a cocktail dress. Because although fashionable, one might get very odd looks at Walmart in a cocktail dress.
I know what distracts me, so the dress keeps me tethered to the computer. It works for me. And who says you have to have an occasion to dress up! Writing is so critical to me, that it does merit cocktail attire.