A writer’s space is often a snapshot of just how successful they can expect to be during their work time. Need convincing? Just look at my workspace evolution:

• I started writing when I was in college. My workspace was a desk where I also did homework, and I shared the room with one of my friends - though it was an actual apartment, not a dorm room, so we had a separate living space. I only did freelancing part-time, and my success was mild. Often, I was a bit overbooked and unorganized.
  

  Image: sxc.hu

• I then moved to my own bedroom in an apartment I shared with three other girls. We had a big living space, and my room was, for the most part, only for sleeping, work, and private phone conversations. I was much more organized, but also stressed out often.
• After graduating, I got a one-bedroom apartment. The living room and kitchen were a little awkward, and I had to set up my work space in my bedroom. I actually got a laptop that year, but was short on space, so if I wanted to use it, I had to do so on the couch or bed. It was the worst work environment possible. Beds are not good for writers! I was successful as a writer, but definitely stressed out to the max and worked all the time for lower pay than I probably should have accepted.
• I then moved into the house where I am currently living. I have my own office, and also can take my laptop outside to my porch, or to the dining room, or even to the living room or bedroom. The freedom is nice, but if I was smart, I’d spend more time in my actual office.

Over the past month, I did a little experience. Instead of spending so much time outside or in my living room, I spent more time on the desktop in my office and on my laptop in my dining room, where there are fewer distractions. I’ve been much less stressed, much more organized, and happier with my work overall.

I highly recommend having an office space if you can. It’s just the best way to go. Right now, my office is also my work out room and guest room, so in my next place, I hope to find a space that can be fully devoted to an office/library.

Where do you work? Are you productive, or do you wish you could make some changes?

Being able to start your own business in today’s economy is an adventure that many have chosen to take in order to become free from working for others. Yet, in some cases, you may find that you have to continue working your daytime job in order to have steady income.

Thus moonlighting comes into play which Webster.com defines as “to hold a second job in addition to a regular one“. When you have a daytime job, it is important that you keep your prospective about what’s important. Which means that “daylighting” something that you should prohibit yourself from doing. Just think, if you had an employee working for you and they were “daylighting” then they would be stealing time from you. Is this something  that you as a small business owner would be able to except an employee doing to you?

So how can you start up your business while making sure that you are not “daylighting“? Good question and I have included a short list below to get you started.

• If you work 9 to 5 every day, you can schedule your potential client meeting during your lunch hour for the first half and then take the second half and plan out your client projects.
• Make sure when you start your business that you determine how many hours you need to set-aside every week to work your business part-time. Then add to your daily calendar during the evening according to your availability.
• Create short- and long-term plans for transitioning into working your business full-time. Determine all the factors of what it would take for you to be able to walk away from your current full-time business.
• When setting up your business, see if you can outsource some of your project tasks to a virtual assistant (VA) who may be available to work during the daytime.
• Remember that it is also important to include “me time” on your schedule.
• Checkout available online resources for business startups:
  • Small Business Administration (US)
  • Entreprenuer.com Business Start Kits
  • Startup Nation
  • IRS StartUp business information
  • Inc.com Startup Guide

Remember this is just a starter list. If you have additional suggestions that you think should be on this list, please share your feedback. It would be great to hear how you have successfully transitioned from moonlighting to working your business full-time.

This is the last part in the series about “Freedom in Business” (read part 1 | read part 2) .

One of the things that I want to share in this article is that as a business owners are you are the keepers of your own time and you are in charge of taking “me time” to keep balance in your life. If you can not walk away from your business and take some “me time” then you might want to think about restructuring your business.

Being able to take “me time” can help you become less stressed and it can also help you take back control of your personal time spent with family and friends. Some key things that you can consider implementing to take back control of your “me time” are mentioned in the video.

Below are a couple of inspirational quotes to help you get started in taking control of your “me time”.

Lord Chesterfield: If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?

Doug Firebaugh: Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.

So watch the video and then share your feedback on how you plan to take control of your “me time”. 

Quotes courtesy of http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/growth.html

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

We end this week with 44 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

That’s 159 freelance writing, editing, etc. jobs this week. Freelance employment offers do seem to be slowing a bit; it may just be summer or it may be part of the general economy, although often freelancing increases during tough time.s

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Just posted 63 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

Want help applying for a freelance writing job? How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job has a lot of solid and helpful information.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
We start the week with 52 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

Remember, if you get a job through these postings we want to hear about it!

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

We end this week with 71 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

That brings this week’s total writing etc. jobs posted to 172.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Well, we’ve got 51 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs.

I can’t get to one of my sources today… don’t you just love it when a site you count on is down? Are you old enough to remember life before the net?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

Yikes! I’ve been working away, editing a book proposal for a client and suddenly, at the start of sample chapter 2, nothing was making any sense at all. And this is a chapter that’s had several drafts. In fact, it’s the chapter the client likes best.

All of a sudden I realized I was hungry - seriously hungry.

Twelve Steppers use the word HALT to remind themselves not to get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. They know that if they’ve got any of these going they are more vulnerable to slipping back into their addiction.

I find HALT also works for me, and I suspect other writers. I don’t know about you, but when my writing is going well, I can loose all track of time. That’s what happened this morning. I grabbed a bit to eat, and you know what, that chapter is pretty good.

Don’t always assume your writing sucks… make sure your in shape to read it with clarity.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)

As you might expect, I get lots of questions about how to apply for a freelance writing job. Yesterday I put together a whole page on the topic.

It’s listed over there on the right, the first entry under “Pages” and titled How To Apply For A Freelance Writing Job.

Now, tell me what I left out or what should be added and I will.

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu