Scheduling your writing

[AceTachyon]

How many here balance freelance work with a day job? Of those that do, and your freelance work consists of articles, business/tech writing, short fiction, and novels, how do you schedule your writing time? Does the fiction work take a back seat to the commerical/business work? Have you found a happy medium? Are you able to get in your daily 2-5 pages (or 1000-2000 words or whatever) in addition to cranking out brochure or ad copy?

I realize one's MMV, but I was hoping to get an idea of how folks handle it.

[dahmnait]

Quick question: What does MMV mean? Is it milage may vary?

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the business/tech writing is my day job. And my night job, and my weekend job...

I have noticed that lately I have not had the time for my poetry and fiction writing. So I guess at the moment it takes a back seat. I hope to find a happy medium soon.

I will be watching this thread with interest.

[Bamponang]

I work as a business journalist from 6.30-15h30( flexi hours). I do my own writing from 20h00 - 22h00.

In between I pick up child from school and spend time with her, prepare supper/meet friends for drinks, watch TV etc.

My creative writing includes children's stories, personal essays and non-fiction book projects.

I also write most weekends till early hours of the morning. There are rare occassions when my business related writing overflows into my creative writing time, but I try to make sureit doesn't happen often.

[Kristen King]

Now I'm full-time freelance, but until April 28, I was commuting 100+ miles a day, working a full-time job, going to grad school, and freelancing on the side. It sucked, but it was worth it. I took advantage of my time on the train to and from work, my lunch hour, my evenings when I got home from work, and my weekends. Fortunately I have a very supportive husband. :]

Kristen

[crypticquill]

I have noticed that lately I have not had the time for my poetry and fiction writing. So I guess at the moment it takes a back seat. I hope to find a happy medium soon.

Gah, me either. And it sucks.

[Aesposito]

In my "day job" I work 24 hours on, 48 hours off. That leaves two days in between working for writing. But no actual writing gets done until the kids are in school, in camp, outside, at a friends house.......you get the picture.

In other words, I have no writing schedule at all, except what time I can grab. It seems to work OKl for me, especially now that all three kids are in school all day (or will be in a week, hurrah!)

Audrey

[crypticquill]

In my "day job" I work 24 hours on, 48 hours off.

Wow, 24 hours straight?! (or did I read that wrong?) What do you do?

[Aesposito]

Wow, 24 hours straight?! (or did I read that wrong?) What do you do?

I guess that did sound a little weird <g>.

I am a firefighter/paramedic. 24-hour-on/48-hour-off shifts are pretty standard for firefighters in the US.

Audrey

[razibahmed]

Quick question: What does MMV mean? Is it milage may vary?

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the business/tech writing is my day job. And my night job, and my weekend job...

I have noticed that lately I have not had the time for my poetry and fiction writing. So I guess at the moment it takes a back seat. I hope to find a happy medium soon.

I will be watching this thread with interest.
I am now blogging professionally about business and technology. Since, I write in 4 blogs now, my hands are totally full and I have the same problem. I always wished to write short stories and novels but I do not have time. On the other hand, writing about business and technology is like a blessing for me as I this is paying all my bills.

[crypticquill]

24-hour-on/48-hour-off shifts are pretty standard for firefighters in the US.

Oh, I know, I have several friends (well, people I know pretty well from back in my hometown, haha) who are firefighters. I don't know why the thought didn't cross my mind.

Do you get any writing done while you're on duty? Not while you're fighting fires, of course, haha, but while you're not on a call?

[Aesposito]

Do you get any writing done while you're on duty? Not while you're fighting fires, of course, haha, but while you're not on a call?

No, I don't write at work, too many distractions... even at night, when I have free time, I've found that the second I fire up the computer, it's like the "call Gods" want to teach me a lesson, LOL.

Audrey

[miketo]

I've tried juggling "fun" writing with paid writing, and I have not been able to make it work. After I've wrangled words on someone else's dime, my brain is mush for my own work. On the bright side, my writing is all on a contract basis, so there will be gaps in the schedule to shift from work to fun writing.

[crypticquill]

^Lucky you!

Two of my paying writing jobs are both on contract basis; however, there has never been a lag since February. So...I'm still trying to (dreaming about) juggle the fun with the paying.