Freelance Writer: How to Optimize Your Home Office for Maximum Productivity
The Freelance Writer Home Office
When converting a room into a home office for work as a freelance writer or ghostwriter, first consider how to maximize the efficiency of the space. You need to be able to move around comfortably, yet still have access to essential tools in the home office. Concerns about comfort or the accessibility of materials should not enter a ghostwriters’ mind, so that all energy can be spent on creative thinking and writing.
With that in mind, here’s a list of the top considerations for creating a great home office:
Solitude and Noise
Writers must consider how quiet the space is so that unexpected noises don’t break their concentration. If possible have a dedicated room for your office. This way you can shut the door while you are working to avoid interruptions and disturbances, and keep your room organized by prohibiting others for using your desk or computer. Finding out your son or daughter downloaded a new game that has contained a virus or crashed your computer, can put you out of business. Do not position your home office by a window near a noisy street or next to a child’s playroom.
Lighting
While the idea of writing by candlelight might sound romantic, writers should utilize proper lighting equipment such as a desk lamp or overhead lights to protect their eyes from strain. Natural lighting (sunlight) can also be used to light the home office during daylight hours.
Furniture
The type of desk the writer uses is his or her personal preference, but the desk should be large enough to accommodate a computer and any notes the writer is using. The chair for a home office should be durable and have wheels for easy mobility, and should only be moderately comfortable. A writer that is overly relaxed in his chair might fall asleep, but an uncomfortable chair is not exactly conducive to inspiration, either. Get a chair with arms so that you can rest your elbows while typing or using a mouse to reduce the chances of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tools of the Trade
Essential items writers need in their home office include:
• a computer
• a sketch pad
• writing utensil
• Internet access
• Word processing software
Other helpful elements in a home office might include a dry erase board for notes and sketches and a bulletin board for tacking up newspaper clippings or other important papers. Writers might also consider purchasing a file cabinet as a storage unit for research or past writings clips.
When designing a home office, the primary goal is to find the most efficient space that will be best suited for long periods of writing, not the most comfortable spot in the home.
Buy the best Internet access you can afford. You will be performing research and uploading and downloading files and a dial up or slow connection can drive you mad enough to look for a real job!
Copyright 2009 TeacherWriters
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