Freelance Writing and Research

 Making it Through the Mud

The weather in my "office" has generated a lot of mud in terms of backlog. Several weeks of flu, followed by bronchitis and an increase in incoming work resulted in a huge backlog.  Mark Foster has described backlogs as trying to cross a muddy field, which is why I ask when should freelancers wear their wellies? However, wearing my wellies the last few days has meant that I have only two tasks left and I am out of the mire. I have only two tasks left which should now be finished in time for me to get started on the new stuff - and I only had to extend one deadline in truth.

Keeping Out of the Mud

Not needing to wear my wellies is a lot more comfortable. I hope to remain in this state, illness notwhithstanding, to keep on top of things as much as possible. It is all too easy for freelancers trying to build a client base, marketing themselves and their services, keeping up with home and family and my other areas of work, some research and teaching etc to get bogged back down in the mud without even realising it. Keep wellies to hand but set yourself a project plan each time a new job comes in. Don't spend all your time on one thing, work between projects as deadlines allow.

Knowing When Enough is Enough

There comes a time when you just get too tired to work. Try to stop a few minutes before you fall asleep over your laptop, write what still needs to be done under DIT or do it tomorrow. Then when you do finally greet the world you will have your starting point - and it won't be in the very muddy slough of despond. 

I am indebted to Mark Foster's Post for the mud metaphor in this entry.