- For some reason, your 500 word article literally takes eight hours.
- A client complains and demands a rewrite on something you wrote six months go but he just now got around to looking at.
- You realize that the article in question is impossible to write because the subject matter actually does not exist.
These are just three great examples, though as a freelance writer you have probably run into many more, and possibly stranger examples. The biggest problem however is the fact that you're going to want some sleep. Sometime around the eighteenth hour you probably start fantasizing about how the blankets will feel against your legs. I eliminated this problem by getting rid of my blankets, but you probably don't want to get rid of your 300 thread count sheets. I have to wonder how you managed to afford a 300 thread count on a writer's income, but we'll talk about your taxes later.
At some point during the night you are going to nod off, and you might wake up to find you've typed a lot of nonsense, or you've managed to hold the H key down for half an hour. After you wipe the drool off of your keyboard, start thinking about taking these steps:
- Have an energy drink -- It might be unhealthy, but it's great for your writing abilities.
- Get rid of distractions -- If it's not music, you don't need it. This includes television shows, unnecessary tabs, and that MMORPG you have running in the corner that you think no one sees. If you were working at an office, they would insist you avoid social networking and web surfing. If you are your own boss, you need to have the same policy if you want to ramp up your productivity.
- Take a walk -- Try not to sit for too long. A walk will get the blood pumping, and keep you from developing a life threatening blood clot that kills you upon standing up.
- Eat Something -- Eating keeps you occupied -- more so than typing ever will. If you find that you need to snack while you write, see the previous piece of advice and take it to heart more often.
