Summer Breaks For Writers!

Putting the brakes on your writing.

With our kids off from school for the summer, our thoughts have turned to getting away from it all for the day, for an extended weekend or even longer. Unlike most years we haven’t planned a long trip away from home this year, but we have left open the possibility of dropping everything and heading out.

I am not the only freelancer who is juggling his or her schedule to fit the needs of clients and family members. Not too many people I know are able to schedule a full two-week break and head off to some faraway destination. A few days here or there seem to be the norm with some writers making spur of the moment plans and then taking their leave.

There is one thing we all seem to be in agreement on: we need the occasional break if not only to allow us to enjoy some respite from our writing schedules, but to allow us to see that there is a tangible world out there, far beyond what our laptops and personal computers have to offer.

To encourage you to take some time off before Labor Day, I am offering up the following excuses freelancers make for NOT taking a break. I get to refute each one, so please follow what I have to say closely.

My plate is full and I can’t take time off. Well, so is mine. I’ve been blessed with more work than I’ve had in quite some time and it would be easy for me to not go away. Still, something “else” beckons including my wife and children who want to get away.

I’ve got this project due next week. Yes, I have one due too. So, I’ve decided to work a few nights and part of the weekend to get it done. An extra hour here or there devoted solely to a project works wonders. That also means you’ll have to cut back on the social networking chatter for a season in order to get your work done.

I was offered a new gig this week and I really need the money. Financial constraints can dictate everything, something I can fully understand.  Try to get some flexibility in the project, perhaps allowing you to escape for a three-day weekend while still being able to tackle the project. Under no circumstances are you to bring your work with you!

I blog daily and can’t take the time off. Yes you can. I blog daily as well and I’m not talking about this blog. There are two blogs I update Monday through Friday with fresh articles, but I’m already writing ahead and scheduling those posts so that I can enjoy some time off. Moreover, I’m accepting some guest articles to help tide things over until I return.

Of course, there is the matter of paying for a place to stay, the gas or airfare to get there and all of the costs related with being away from home. Priceline.com or a similar site can help you find travel deals. Or, maybe it is time for you to accept your friend’s invitation to visit their cabin or beach home. If you’re single, a couch might do.

I’m sure you’ll come up with something, being the resourceful and talented person you are. Who knows, but that much needed break could provide the springboard for some later article or narrative, a real life experience gained because you took some time off.

Photo Credit: Gary Scott

Freelancing on the Road: Can it be Done?

I’ve been weighing attending an important conference later this year, a trip which will require that I leave my home office, get in my car, go to the airport and catch a flight. I don’t get out all that much, but when I do I’m likely to travel clear across the country, being away from home for several days to a week at the most.

Hitting The Road

Heading out of town for a conference can be very refreshing and professionally rewarding. Preparing well in advance can ease the stress while you're freelancing on the road.

Because I only make these kinds of trips 2-3 times each year, I look forward to getting away and doing something different. I like my home office, love my family, yet I usually come back from these types of conferences refreshed and bursting with creative flair. Importantly, I can thrive on those productive fumes for the next few months.

What I dread, however, is trying to maintain my other work while I skip town. Sure, planning in advance knocks out some projects, while others must still be managed while I’m gone. I’m a sole proprietor which means I have to do everything myself, but if I plan well in advance I can minimize my work while away from home so that I can enjoy the conference.

Getting Prepared Now

How do you handle road trips? I’ve come up with five tried and true methods to help me work better, faster and smarter while I’m away, including doing the following as I prepare to leave or while I’m on the road:

Write Ahead – My writing schedule requires that I write daily for some clients which means that I have to plan well in advance to have those jobs out of the way before I leave. On occasion, I’ll write on Saturday mornings which is generally a no-no for someone who values his work/family time separation. If my wife is on board with this plan, then I’m free to write, but if a family responsibility comes up I’ll have to double up my writing in the evening or in the early hours of the morning. I’ve written 7-10 days in advance before, successfully scheduling my blog posts to appear at designated times.

Bring the Laptop – Obviously, if you own a laptop you bring it with you wherever you go. The day before I leave I make sure that all of my files are backed up to my external drive (or off-site with Carbonite), complete my virus scanning, and place a battery back up and extension cord in my carrying case. I never check my laptop – I claim it as my carry on bag – and I don’t let it out of my site. Ever.

Carry a DVR – I own a tiny Olympus digital voice recorder (DVR) which I bring with me to conferences. With fresh batteries included and a back up set on hand just in case, my little DVR comes in handy when I’m listening to a long speech or needing to confirm a quote. Still, I routinely jot down notes on paper and compare everything in my hotel room or in the conference’s press room.

Plan for Emergencies – One trip I took two years ago nearly turned into a nightmare when my email connection fizzled in my hotel room. I had to pack up all of my stuff, head down to the hotel lobby and purchase wi-fi access for the evening. Even then, the connection wasn’t that fast which meant that surfacing the ‘net took longer than expected. I finally finished up my work around 3 a.m., which meant I had just four hours of sleep before the next big meeting at 8 a.m. Next time, I’ll stay in the press room to finish my work, where the internet connection is fast and reliable.

Email, Cell Phone, Contact Information – No, I don’t own a Blackberry nor do I own an iPhone. What’s wrong with me? Well, I have a family to support – luxuries can wait. Before I head out, I answer all of my email messages, but I don’t indicate that I’m away from the office. I do recharge my cell phone and I bring my recharging cord with me. I also update all of my phone contact information and, just in case I lose the phone, I jot down key numbers and keep them in my wallet.

Less Stress

If I keep these five things in mind, then I’m less stressed while away from home and I actually enjoy the conference. I may still have to handle a few client tasks while on the road, but I keep these to a minimum. My time away is usually on my dime which means that I don’t have the luxury of going on the road knowing my work is covered back in the office or my trip paid by a client.

Photo Credit: Ronald Schuster

See Also — Should You Schedule Your Blog Posts?