by Natalia Jones

Created on: October 26, 2009

Freelance writing conjures images of loafing around in pajamas and generally reveling in a life of sloth under the guise of creativity... and in some cases this may be pretty close to the truth. But the fact is that if freelancing is taken seriously it can actually support a decent living.

Writers who wish to shed the negative image and settle down to some productive work need to get a handle on time management issues. The following tips can help in that regard.

Treat Writing Like a Business

Get up, get dressed and get to work! If you had an 'ordinary' job you would be doing just that, so why not give your writing the respect it deserves and actually go through your morning routine as if you were heading to an office, the only difference is it will be your own! Which brings us to the next point...

Designate a Space to Work

Stephen King in his book On Writing says "The space can be humble (and probably should be), and it really needs only one thing, a door you are willing to shut." Granted, not every writer has the luxury of a dedicated home office, but you can close the door to your bedroom if your desk is in there, or it can even be taken figuratively. The point is to set aside a space which is completely yours so that when you retreat to it you automatically flip into work mode.

Set Writing Goals

Goal setting is an important part of minimizing time wasting. When you know what you are supposed to do it is extremely difficult to procrastinate under the guise of prepping. Your day generally runs smoothly because there is a hit list of things to get done and you will get a sense of satisfaction from checking things off the list as well.

Don't Neglect Friends and Family

Writing can turn you into a recluse, but the next step is insanity, so to avoid the associated medical bills and further loss of productivity, take the time to have lunch with friends and family. Stepping away occasionally and connecting with others can provide inspiration for more writing or simply give you a much needed break so that you can get right back to work.

Stamp Out Procrastination

Probably because freelancing is essentially unstructured it is left up to the writer to impose some semblance of order, otherwise there is a risk that everything else will get in the way and procrastination becomes the name of the game. Identify your weaknesses and stay far away from them or hang up motivational messages to keep you working. Everyone is different, so you need to find something that helps you to stay on top of things.

If you put these tips into action you will not only get a better understanding of how you operate as a writer, you will also be able to identify what's keeping you from writing and start controlling those pesky habits instead of allowing them to control you.

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