One of the problems that I find with working from home as a writer, is that others equate it with not having a job.
So they come round, or ring up and expect me to be always available.
Over the years I’ve trained them all to respect the fact that I do work for a living and that I do need time to do it, so I banned them with disturbing me during office hours.
And for a while it worked but now I find myself backsliding and letting them interrupt me again.
The problem is that I often feel guilty about putting my writing before everything and everyone else.
And it’s this unnecessary guilt that I need to lose.
I mean where would JK Rowling be today if she’d given in to her co-workers’ demands to have lunch with them instead of using her lunch hour to write her second Harry Potter novel?
And where would Stephen King be if he hadn’t put his kids to bed early every night so that he could write his next great horror novel while his wife was out at her night job?
These writers put their work before demands from others, especially unimportant demands.
So that’s what I have been doing too.
And do you know what?
It feels good to be back in control of how I use my time and being able to get more writing done.
So if you have others who insist on interrupting your writing time, don’t feel guilty
Just write and make them wait.
And if you need more motivation to write more and spend less time on other less important things, take a read through the Villains' book.
It’s all about being a true villain and explains how to put your mission (your writing) first.
It’s a quick yet insightful read.
I’ve read it a dozen times already and I might just read it again.
http://viewbook.at/villains
So they come round, or ring up and expect me to be always available.
Over the years I’ve trained them all to respect the fact that I do work for a living and that I do need time to do it, so I banned them with disturbing me during office hours.
And for a while it worked but now I find myself backsliding and letting them interrupt me again.
The problem is that I often feel guilty about putting my writing before everything and everyone else.
And it’s this unnecessary guilt that I need to lose.
I mean where would JK Rowling be today if she’d given in to her co-workers’ demands to have lunch with them instead of using her lunch hour to write her second Harry Potter novel?
And where would Stephen King be if he hadn’t put his kids to bed early every night so that he could write his next great horror novel while his wife was out at her night job?
These writers put their work before demands from others, especially unimportant demands.
So that’s what I have been doing too.
And do you know what?
It feels good to be back in control of how I use my time and being able to get more writing done.
So if you have others who insist on interrupting your writing time, don’t feel guilty
Just write and make them wait.
And if you need more motivation to write more and spend less time on other less important things, take a read through the Villains' book.
It’s all about being a true villain and explains how to put your mission (your writing) first.
It’s a quick yet insightful read.
I’ve read it a dozen times already and I might just read it again.
http://viewbook.at/villains
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