Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 8

Your Education

Education is important to the freelancer, whether acquired by traditional means or not. A college education may not be wanted or attainable, but there are other ways to learn what you need to know to enable you to set up and run your business. You may need to learn things such as:

Starting a business
Blogging
Website building
Ebook writing
Creative writing
Graphic design
Journalism

You might go about learning these things in a variety of ways, such as:

Adult education classes at the local high school.
A course at the college, even when not attending for anything else.
Online paid courses, through a university or not.
Online free courses.
Reading up on the subject.

Do not be afraid to learn what is necessary to run your business.

Once you are educated, and have had the opportunity to practice what you have learned, be sure that you are teaching your skills to others. A newsletter, articles or an eCourse are a few ways in which you might accomplish this.

Quick Writing Tip

Create an eCourse centering around topics that you know a lot about.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Online writing classes.
Book Idea: Your writing journey.
Ecourse: Travel writing.
Online School Idea: Freelance school.
Blog Idea: Lessons in writing.

Quote

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

Challenge

Expand your education. Find and online or offline course to take that will aid you in building your freelance career. Free courses count for this!

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 7

Take Care of Yourself

Freelancers go through periods of time where they are so focused on the task at hand that they forget to take care of themselves properly. This usually happens while beginning their career path, but can happen at any time.

This process may last a day, a few days or even weeks. We forget about everything else, such as cooking, cleaning and, at times, even proper grooming. We just don’t seem to make room for much else, starting work on a project as soon as we get up in the morning and continuing until the wee hours of the next morning when we just cannot seem to stay awake any longer.

This is good way to burn ourselves out, however, and we need to remember to take regular breaks – even if it means setting timers for ourselves. We need to be able to give our brain a little rest, and to accomplish other things.

Set a timer for every 1 to 2 hours during the day, and commit yourself to having a good lunch at one of those times, as well as a healthy snack once or twice. Dinner will also be needed, and breakfast should be eaten before starting work in the morning. Use each break to also perform another task:

Take 10 minutes to clean each room in the house. Ten minutes PER room, split up by breaks. This will aid you in keeping a healthy home.
Spend a few minutes out in the garden. This is exercise during planting and harvesting time, and a chance to relax any other time.
Read an article or a chapter in a book. A great way to relax.
Journaling is great for mental health.
Shower. Clean is healthy, and you won’t offend visitors with odd odors.
Run errands. Done on foot or using a bike, this is also great exercise.
Exercise, even if just doing three mini workouts a day. Great for both physical and mental health.
Return phone calls.

There are other ways in which you can take time for yourself. Schedule them if you must, but keep them in your routine to be at your best:

Take at least one day a week off from work. Two would be better. I try to take at least one day off during the week.
If no full days can be taken, then portions of days should. I usually do not start work until 9:00 AM or later. I also take a few hours in the afternoon off from work tasks at least once a week.
Each morning or evening, shower and pamper yourself a bit. Relax for at least 30 minutes after this.

Quick Writing Tip

Write about what you know. What you live.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Your spa experience.
Novella: Self-centered man meets all American girl at a spa.
Article Idea: Massage therapy.
Article Idea: Relaxation techniques.
Short Story Idea: What happens when Chris does not take a break from work, other than for a few hours of sleep during the wee hours of the morning, for three weeks straight?

Quote

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

~Samuel Butler~

Challenge

Schedule at least 2 evenings a month just for you. No work and no responsibilities.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 6

Nurturing Friendships

What do you and your friends have in common? Work? Families? Keeping up with your homes? Life is hectic, and friendships often suffer.

Because I am building a freelance career from the bottom up, I spend a lot of time right now just working. Writing, marketing, promoting… it all takes so much time. I rarely have time for myself, let alone time to be hanging out with everyone I would like to hang out with.

Make it a point to get together with your best friend at least once every one to three months, no matter how busy you both are. I do this. Once a month is obviously preferred, but there is not always time. I try to get together with other important friends at least once a year as well. Of course, we can always keep in touch on Facebook or Twitter and, in reality, Facebook is how I usually do keep in contact with people.

Friendships are important, and need to be nourished. Once in a while, my bestest and I get together for a day and photograph nature. We have been known to scrapbook together as well. Or yard sale. Find something that will help you to nurture the friendships that are important to you. By doing so, you will be giving yourself a much needed break from work once in a while, and you will have a chance to enjoy yourself and some good company.

And who knows… you may come up with some writing material while you are hanging out with friends. If you make a trip to the coast to photograph the ocean and try the local foods, write a travel article about your experience. Alternatively, you may choose to write a review about the place you decide to eat at. Maybe you will do both.

Quick Writing Tip

Friends are great sources for stories.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Coastal living
Article Idea: Vacation ideas
Blog Idea: Friendship journal
Poem Idea: Friendship
Newsletter Idea: Travel log

Quote

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.

~Henry David Thoreau

Challenge

Make it a point to get together with your friends. Schedule time now for this. Try for at least one get-together a month.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 5

Family Time

Family time is important but, when building a business, you can’t always carve out enough time to spend with everyone who deserves it. When your children want to connect, and you are unable to stop what you are doing, invite them to help you out. Allow them to talk about whatever they want, and let them know that you appreciate the time you are spending together. For instance, your children can help with:

Editing
Photocopying and printing
Filing
Organizing
Office cleanup tasks

Be sure that, when you are not working, there are things that you are doing along with your family, such as:

Making ‘dates’ with each member of your family, as well as with your family as a whole.
A family chore afternoon each week.
Running errands together.
A family game night.
A movie night.
Family walks after dinner.
Preparing meals together.

When young children are in your care, you might have a table set up for them in your work area. Provide them with pencils, paper, coloring books and other items that will allow them something to do while you work on necessary tasks. Conversely, a carpeted floor may be used. You might have a tote filled with items for them to use just while you are all in the office.

My suggestion is to get used to low-volume talk, even if that means you have to work on tasks that need less concentration while the children are there. Your children will feel closer to you just by being in the same area, and they will have fun pretending to ‘work’ along side you.

Quick Writing Tip

Family tales are great memories, that are fun to write about.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: A dream family vacation.
Article Idea: Activities for preschool age children.
Blog Idea: Family life.
Book Idea: Teen Entrepreneurs
Book Idea: Child Entrepreneurs

Quote

The family is a haven in a heartless world.

~Attributed to Christopher Lasch~

Challenge

Get your family together. Go to the calendar and schedule a family night each week.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 4

Budgeting

If you are like many beginning writers, you do not have unlimited funds. This makes it necessary to create a budget. In doing so, you will likely find that you will need to cut back in some areas of spending. Look at your income and expenses, and be sure that your expenses are not more than your income. Figure out where you can cut corners. Many beginning writers realize that things they have always considered needs, aren’t. I know I have.

If you are not currently making as much as you need from your writing, and you still have your ‘day job,’ keep it. Continue with the job until you are making what you need to live on with only your writing business. Cut down to part-time as soon as you can and devote that time to building your business as well.

When you are able to quit your ‘day job’ completely, you will not have to work as much on your writing career as you are working with both jobs right now.

Here are some tips to help you to get to this point more quickly:

Get on payment plans with all utilities, if allowed.
Save your income taxes, or pay bills ahead and bank that money each week from your pay check. Six months to a year of money saved for bills and other necessities will be necessary before quitting your day job. This money is to be kept on hand just in case.
Use coupons, preferably in conjunction with sales. Buy things on clearance. Learn what is of good value at your local dollar store. Learn to shop yard sales and thrift shops. Stock up when you can to have 3 months to a year of food supplies, personal hygiene items and household products on hand. Do this not to be a hoarder, but to be prepared if anything goes wrong financially.
Learn to cook from scratch. It does not take long, for instance, to fill a slow cooker with food for dinner, cover it and turn it on.

Find other ways to cut corners and prepare for financial fall-backs.

Quick Writing Tip

Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times to record your writing ideas.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Cooking tips to help you stay within your food budget.
Article Idea: When to quit your day job.
Blog Idea: From scratch cooking.
Blog Idea: Living through a recession.
Newsletter Idea: Working less, earning more.

Quote

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

~Jim Rohn~

Challenge

Create a reasonable budget.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 3

An Easier Life

Life is hectic. There is so much to do, that it seems we will never accomplish it all. We complain that there is not enough time in the day, but there is if we use it wisely. I am guilty of not using my time wisely.

I am always looking for new ways to streamline my daily efforts at getting everything done, to allow me to do more writing. Here are some things that I have come up with:

Doubling up on recipes, freezing leftovers for quick meals on the busiest days.
A baking day once or twice a month is helpful. Bake muffins and breads on this day, to freeze and pull out when needed. Bake casseroles to fill the rest of the freezer with.
Organize your time by getting paid work out of the way first. By this I mean work that you are paid directly for, not revenue share articles and the like.
Cut back on the amount of time you spend on email.

Now that my Zowie is off at college, I have no more children at home. I no longer provide childcare in my home, which was my “day job” for many years. During this years’ spring cleaning, I am going to incorporate organizational methods that will allow me to spend less overall time each day cleaning. This, in turn, will free up time for my personal writing projects.

Quick Writing Tip

Cooking blogs can be fun to create. I run the Frugal Recipes blog, which gives me great joy. It helps many readers with organizing their kitchens, and gives them information about eating healthy on a budget.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Cooking tips.
Article Idea: Time management for writers.
Book Idea: A unique cooking method.
Blog Idea: Cooking.
Newsletter Idea: Simple recipes for those with little time.

Quote

To laugh often and much. To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To leave the world a better place. To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Challenge

Make a list of things you can do to streamline the different aspects of your life. Begin doing these things. Try adding one of the items from your list to your regular routine each week.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 2

Inspire Me

What, or whom, inspires you?

I have many people and things that inspire me: My family, my friends, my cats. My home and the world around me.

I find it inspiring to walk along a river bank. To walk the bike path, snapping photographs of nature. I am always inspired to write when I come from spending time on the mountain, as well.

Books and movies always inspire new ideas. While reading or watching, an idea will often pop into my head that I have to rush to record on a sheet of paper, lest I forget it completely.

To find what inspiresyou, try:

Sitting in a crowded restaurant, watching and listening to the people around you. What do you see? What do you hear?
Sit back and watch your friends and family interact with each other. What do you feel?
Take a long drive, or a walk in nature. What do you notice?

Quick Writing Tip

Writing about what inspires you can be a healthy exercise.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Your favorite family activity.
Screenplay Idea: A quirky friendship.
Poem Topic: Nature.
Novella: Overcoming the fear of crowds.
Novel: You watch a movie, and then start living it.

Quote

Inspiration and genius - one and the same.

~Victor Hugo~

Challenge

Find something that represents whatever it is that inspires you. Place it in a prominent place, either on your desk, or elsewhere in your office area.

Special Report

Formula for a Successful Blog

In this special report, I show you how easy it is to set up a successful blog for your business. Whether you own a store online or off, you work in one of the many freelance fields or you work in another area all together, you will find this Special Report useful.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

Freelance Ponderings and Advice: Issue # 1

Balancing Act

How many jobs do you have?

I have many: Mother, housekeeper, freelance writer, chef, blogger and more. I wear many hats, as I am sure that you do.

How do I balance it all? It is not easy. My daughters are 21 and 18, so I do not have to care for them every day. I am still very busy, however. I have household and family obligations. I have six cats to care for. If anything is let go so that I can work or have fun, it is the housekeeping.

I try to cook and clean during frequent breaks from my work. This is not usually difficult, as I work from home. Unless, of course, I have deadlines or an emergency pops up. During those times, the housekeeping suffers. I cannot always keep up with everything. I am not perfect.

To stay ahead of the game somewhat, I have a few things that I try to incorporate:

Make extra servings of meals to freeze. I store these in serving size containers, and take one out the morning before the day it will be needed.
Have foods on hand, even if kept in the freezer, to make slow cooker meals. I throw everything into the slow cooker in the morning, add liquid if necessary and turn it on high for lunch or low for dinner.
Keep a shopping list going at all times, placed in my purse so that I do not forget it when I go shopping.
Have a 10 minute cleanup routine morning and night on very busy days. These are just quick jobs, not deep cleaning efforts. For example: Wipe down bathroom and kitchen surfaces, switch up laundry, put clean clothes away, scoop litter boxes, sweep, vacuum, trash and general pick up. This ensures that certain things are done even when I don’t have time to clean the place well.
Do one chore or make one meal during each break I do take each day.
I do not buy clothing and linens that need special care. I simply throw all dirty items in the washing machine. When it is full, I wash a load. I do not separate clothing to wash.
I try to stock up on things that I use a lot of, to lessen the amount of time I spend shopping.
I keep a tote packed with work that may be done away from home handy. I grab this tote when I leave the house and keep it with me. I pull out something to do whenever I have a little extra time.

Quick Writing Tip

Write from your experiences in daily life.

5 Writing Prompts

Article Idea: Write about your day job.
Short Story Idea: Write a funny piece about an unbalanced life.
Poem Topic: Motherhood or fatherhood.
Novelette: Write about the life of a male housekeeper, with a twist.
Novel: The main character has your career.

Quote

What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. ~Henry Matisse~

Challenge

Create a schedule that will afford you time to concentrate on building your freelance career.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In my Special Report, Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help.

Teens can be a big help with:

* Their younger siblings.

* Keeping up the house.

* Your business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.

How to Live the Freelance Life

If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison