How to Write Books and Freelance at the Same Time
When I first started freelancing, that was all I was doing.
Well, sort of.
I was writing novels too, but I wasn’t publishing them. I was practicing. I wanted to publish one day, and that desire got me up every morning to write before work.
Today, however, I write and publish both novels and non-fiction books and maintain this blog and the Writing and Wellness blog—all while working full-time as a freelance writer.
Other writers have asked me about balancing these tasks. How can you manage both freelance and book writing at the same time without losing your mind?
5 Ways to Manage Both Books and Freelance Writing
You have to figure out what works for you as a writer, but over the years, I’ve discovered some things I need to be able balance the different types of writing I do.
1. Have a definite schedule for your freelance work.
My freelance writing is my day job, so I found it critical to set a schedule for doing it, just as I would with any other job. Otherwise, the freelance work bleeds into my own time.
Part of this involves setting boundaries with clients. If you allow it, some will take advantage and call or email you at all hours, expecting you to be available. If you have definite working hours, they learn quickly when they can get in touch with you and when they can’t.
The beauty of the freelance life is you can set your hours whenever you like, but it is important to set them and then stick to your schedule.
2. Physically separate your freelance work from your creative work.
I didn’t plan it this way, but it turns out I do all my freelance work on my desktop computer, and all of my own work (websites, books) on my notebook computer. Yes, that means I have two computers, but I’ve found this to be necessary for managing it all.
I also work in different places depending on which job I’m doing. My freelance work takes place at my desk, then I do my creative work in a recliner or at my dining room table. The physical change helps encourage the mental change required to shift between the two types of writing.
I find it difficult to do my freelance writing on my notebook computer. The smaller screen is not conducive to the types of research that I do, so it feels more time-consuming.
On the other hand, I don’t even attempt to do book writing on my desktop. Book writing is more intimate for me, so I need the feel of the laptop under my fingers rather than the desktop sitting at a distance.
Even if you have only one computer, it helps to change your location depending on the type of writing you’re doing. Because I have a habit of switching, I can be more productive as my brain is trained to respond depending on my writing location and machine.
3. Take time away.
When you run your own writing business, it’s not easy to get away. You don’t have paid vacation, or anyone to take over your tasks while you’re gone.
At the same time, it’s critical for your sanity and your creativity to take regular vacations. We need to expose ourselves to new things to keep the creative juices flowing, and that’s necessary for whatever type of writing you’re doing. Distance can also help you gain unique insights into your career as far as where you are and where you want to go.
I’ve found the best way to make sure I get time away each year is to regularly work ahead. I’m fortunate enough to have a consistent group of clients with consistent projects, so I can work ahead on many of them so they’re completed and either delivered or posted before I go.
It’s now become a habit for me to work on projects that aren’t due for another 6-8 weeks, simply so that I can accommodate all the traveling I do for business and personal reasons. I also plan a longer vacation away each year to relax and regroup, which I highly recommend as the best way to stay fresh and motivated.
It’s a lot of work to make it possible to get away, but it’s worth it. Otherwise, you increase the risk of burnout and writer’s block. Don’t put yourself in that position—get away at least 2-3 times a year, if not more.
4. Set clear goals for your creative/book writing—and schedule your time.
It’s tempting to see your creative/book writing as something you do “on the side”, but you’ll be more successful if you set definite goals and create a schedule for your creative work as well as your freelance work.
The key is to realize that these two schedules will look different. Whereas you may have a set group of hours each day for working on your freelance projects, your creative/book projects may be more likely to follow cyclical periods. Particularly as your goals change—from writing a book to publishing it to marketing it—your schedule for each of these goals will change.
I may spend the winter months drafting a new book, for example, and then use the spring months for editing and proofreading, and the summer for marketing. The months may change, but I find that the cycles are pretty consistent.
Other types of projects take place at different times too. Most of my blog writing I accomplish in the evening one or two nights a week, and I may schedule one morning over the weekend if I want to devote a few hours to a new project, such as creating a new website or course.
When is your best creative writing time, and how can you match that up to your most creative writing project? Think about that, and then schedule from there. Be willing to change your schedule from week to week if needed, but do set a schedule so you don’t neglect this part of your writing life.
5. Follow your passions.
The key to creating a career that gets you up and out of bed each morning excited to go to work is to continue to explore your interests and passions and take small steps toward them every day.
I used to spend 8 hours or more per day on freelance projects, for example, but now I work about 5 hours a day on freelance projects, which gives me more time to spend on my own work. It took years to get here, but I’m thrilled with the fact that I get to spend more time on the subjects I’m passionate about.
If you’d like to spend more time on your writing work and less on freelance, here are some tips:
• Create a niche in your freelance writing—it helps you gain experience and gradually write for higher rates. Choose projects you enjoy and topics you have an interest in.
• Look for no-problem clients—those that like what you do, don’t require a lot of edits, pay well, and give you regular work you can count on. They’re not always easy to find, but if you keep putting yourself out there, you’ll gradually add more to your business. Don’t forget to weed out the problem ones to open up space in your schedule for the good ones.
• Use your strengths to build a writing platform for your creative work so you can start to gain some income from that as well, which will allow you to back off on the freelance a little. (For more information on building a platform that works for you, see Writer Get Noticed!)
These are just some of the things that have helped me to balance various types of writing. How about you?
How do you balance freelance and book writing?
