Comments on: 8 Downtime Strategies for Freelance Writers

By: Freelance Writer Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic - Productive Writers

Freelance Writer Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic - Productive Writers — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 07:24:31 +0000

[…] “8 Downtime Strategies for Freelance Writers” […]

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:10:30 +0000

Paula, you’re doing what you need to be doing. And it’s wonderful that you’re doing that.

Yard work — that’s me today after I finish this article.

And you’re right. Being on schedule and in the routine makes it all seem normal enough. I’m thankful to be able to get outside after I work now. The little bit of down time I have right now (two days of it) is enough to recharge.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:08:33 +0000

In reply to Joy Drohan. Funny how new work shows up even during a pandemic, right Joy? Twitter is okay IF you turn off the notifications. I find it boring after about five minutes anyway, but it is a good way to share the info your target clients are posting.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:04:52 +0000

So far my schedule has been pretty much the same. I had about 10 days of a slow period (only had light editing and a weekly column to focus on), so I did more marketing. Last week I got a quick, unexpected, assignment that I turned around quickly. Looks like I might have a new assignment come in soon. Nothing big, but enough to pay for almost half of next month’s bills.

I want to work on my script, but right now I’m using any free time to make face masks to donate to the hospital a few blocks away. (A few will go to friends or relatives who need them, too.)

I need to do yard work, but I hate yard work—especially doing it without any assistance. (I have lots of branches and weed trees to cut, and I only have a couple of hand pruning saws.) But you know what? It’s a pandemic. I don’t have to do yard work. Last thing I need is to injure myself and have to go to an ER!

As much as I ALMOST envy people who are using “extra time” to cleaning organize and learn now skills, I’m glad I still have work to do. Staying on a schedule helps things feel normal. Or as normal as possible.

By: Joy Drohan

Joy Drohan — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:54:48 +0000

I had steady work for a while, then a short gap in which I scouted out free courses I’m interested in and made a list prioritizing what I wanted to get done in this time. I’ve been more active on LinkedIn and am thinking about diving into Twitter (but am wary of another time-sucking rabbit hole, although I know that I should be there). I started watching a webinar to learn how to make updates to my website myself, rather than paying someone else to do it. Now I have new work, so I’ll try to keep those projects moving along too. My husband and 2 kids are now home with me, so that can be distracting, but also offers some good opportunities. I’m so glad my kids are old enough to manage their school work almost entirely on their own, and I’m glad it’s required now. It keeps them somewhat busy and gives us something to talk about that’s not directly corona.