Trying to Focus

It's Saturday afternoon and I'm supposed to be working. I've been to the farmers market, cleaned the bathroom, finished two loads of laundry and scrubbed the kitchen. I haven't written a single word. 

I have two articles due on Wednesday, a huge corporate project due on Thursday and I have to write two chapters per week in order to meet the deadline for the Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Careers. I need to be working. For some reason, I can't focus. 

One of the biggest difficulties I have as a freelancer is forcing myself to write. Sometimes, the words flow easily: I sit at the computer, start typing and can write 4,000 words effortlessly but other days, it seems impossible to write 40 words. I can only stare at a blank computer screen for so long before I have to take the dogs for a walk, search the cupboards (again) for a snack or call a friend/freelancer to see if she's doing the same thing. 

The fact that I sometimes struggle to put words on paper is one of the reasons I work odd hours. I have to write when the mood strikes. So, I take part of the afternoon off to recharge my batteries. I work late at night. I spend Saturday afternoons in front of the computer. After years of trying to squeeze inspiration into a 9-to-5 schedule, I've FINALLY learned to write when I feel like writing. Of course, it doesn't always work. Deadlines often necessitate working a regular eight-hour day (or an irregular 15-hour day). Even though it's not always easy to find the right words, I love the challenge.