When I tell people what I do, I've come to expect a series of responses. I typically start by stating "I'm a writer," which tends to provoke curiosity. Full-time freelance writing can be difficult to understand, and even more difficult to explain to those who've never heard of this alternative career path. As with any alternative lifestyle, freelance writers face a lot of surprise and skeptical comments. Some best hits include:
"Like, you write for a living?"
"Books and stuff?"
"What do you do?"
"How do you make money doing that?"
*polite yet grimacing smile*
"What have you written? Can I read it?"
"And you're financially stable?"
"That seems difficult."
The list goes on. Recently, I was explaining my work to a friend for the first time, only to have him reply with, "that sucks." Needless to say, I was a little taken aback! My work isn't always easy, but I chose this path for a reason, I assured him. To satisfy some curiosity, I've decided to create this post outlining my typical day as a freelance writer. Grab a coffee and let's get a move on!
7:30am I awake with the sunrise brightening my bedside curtains. By now, the cats are up-and-at-'em, itching for a busy day of bird-watching.
7:45am The coffee is ready, and I scoot into my plant-filled desk by the window. My first task of the morning is to check my calendar, e-mails, and any group messages, which I typically wait to answer until I am coherent -- that is, at least one coffee deep. Sometimes I'll post a cozy TikTok clip to start the day off on a happy note.
By 8:00am, I'm off to work writing content for one of my brands, House Digest, Cozymeal, Classpop!, or Glam. Every day is a little different, which keeps me on my toes.
11:30am or so, I take an early lunch. Even starving artists have to eat, and if you're a workaholic like me, it's important to give yourself a break when you don't have a strict daily schedule. During my short break, I may do some light admin work or throw a load of laundry in the washer.
12:00am or so, I'm back in the trenches with a hot cup of tea and a fresh perspective.
Around 3:00pm, if my daily milestones have been met and I've reached a pausing point, I'll finally push back from the keyboard and catch up on some housework. You'll find me scooping litterboxes, sweeping floors, and scrubbing through dishes.
4:00pm I hit the gym or head to yoga class. I prefer to get most of my workout in before the surge in guests around 5:00pm. I've found that I have more efficient workouts in the afternoon, when I'm already awake and limber and the daily to-do list feels lighter on my mind.
6:00pm After I've returned home and showered, I'm usually starving, so I'll start cooking dinner. My dear partner is home from work by this time, and we like to catch each other up about our day.
7:00pm If I have any more client work to finish, now is the time. If not, this is when I'll jump into my personal writing (blogging, poetry, etc.). Once I feel satisfied, I'll wrap up my day by creating my schedule for tomorrow. Then I'll usually watch a movie with my partner or crack open my Book of the Month.
As the day comes to an end, I take a moment to replay all I've accomplished and all that I'm grateful for. I love waking up knowing that I get to do what I love and pursue new adventures every day. I love the flexibility my job affords me with both time and location. In my first year as a full-time freelancer, I have been able to adjust my work to fit my ideal life. I climb into bed at night knowing I've got a clean house, a clean slate, and a brand new dream to chase tomorrow. And that, my friends, doesn't suck.