Tips for WAHMS

Although there are many important aspects of being a freelance writer and stay at home mom, one of the most important is the ability to meet deadlines. It does not matter how brilliant you writing may be if you are always missing your deadlines. Grant it, there are moments in life that occur that may occasionally stand in the way of a deadline or two, but part of the way to build credibility as a freelance writer is by making those deadlines every time! If you have several deadlines hanging over your head it can get a bit hectic, but there are things you can do to help those deadlines work for you, instead of you being owned by them.

Tip #1 - Organization
Organization is one of the key things you can do to keep yourself on track to making those deadlines. Taking a few minutes to organize your paperwork into separate files can be a great help. Have a folder designated for pending jobs and have a folder specifically for completed jobs. This allows you to easily see what jobs you have left for completion. Keeping an online calendar or even a desk calendar can help you as well. When you have all your deadlines organized on a calendar it is easy to get the big picture of what you need to work on to get your work sent in on time.

Tip #2 - Make Your Own Deadlines
If you find yourself constantly working right up to the last minute to make deadlines, you may want to start making your own deadlines to avoid some of the last minute stress. If you start making yourself complete projects 24 hours before they are due, this will give you time to critically look them over to avoid errors and will make your life less stressful as well. Making a weekly schedule can help you organize your projects and your self-imposed deadlines so you get them done on time.

Tip #3 Avoid Burnout
At times, having multiple deadlines can leave you cramming to complete a project right before it is due. Many freelance writers make the mistake on working on only one project at a time, which can lead to burnout on a specific topic or style. You can avoid burnout by working on different projects in spurts. Devoting just 20-30 minutes to one project and then working on something else can help keep that feeling of burnout away. Dividing your time between different projects helps you keep the creative edge that you need to create an exceptional completed project. Writing on one topic too long can cause your brain and creativity to burn out, so work in spurts to be the most effective.

Deadlines can be frustrating and at times stressful for a work at home mom but when you learn to use them to your benefit and work with them, they can help you become a more effective writer. Deadlines can help keep you on track if you know how to manage them and becoming efficient at meeting deadlines will make you a quality and impressive freelance writer that other will want to work with.