Freelancers do it anywhere they like — at home, in an office, out in the country; wearing pajamas, casual clothing, or perhaps nothing—and they  love it! A few work at clients’ offices, but the majority work at home, either in an office that may be a separate room or a partitioned-off section of a room, or a room that also serves another function, such as a dining room. There they surround themselves with the tools of their trade (computer, supplies, phone and fax, files), augmented by such essentials as a back-saver chair, a basic reference library, and (very often) something to eat or drink. (Freelancers consume countless gallons of tea and coffee, not to mention cookies, crackers, and gum, while working.)

Many freelancers do not do all their work in one place. Instead, they may move around the house or apartment, working in different rooms, or on a porch or deck, as the spirit moves them. One occasionally works in bed, another in a rocking chair. Still another works either at her dining room table or at her computer, which is in the basement. The two locations have different advantages—the dining room table is in good light and near the refrigerator, while in the basement there is no way to see how nice it is outside and, hence, no temptation to take the day off.

On the other hand, some freelancers work outside whenever possible—under a tree in the park in the spring and fall, or on the beach in summer. Others occasionally work at the library for a change of pace; a few do most of their work there. One freelancer works at a coffee shop from time to time, saying that he likes to be around people sometimes and loves free coffee refills. Another says that he doesn’t like to work at home because there are too many distractions there.

Some freelancers work in decidedly unusual settings. One writer completed a project on her laptop computer in a hotel lobby, serenaded by cocktail music. But perhaps the most original freelance workplace is an office in a large sailboat, equipped with a notebook computer with built-in fax modem, a cellular phone, and necessary supplies; the owner has called corporate clients from five miles off the coast of Nova Scotia and written press releases while sailing to Maine.

Some freelancers combine work at home with a part-time job or on-site freelancing. Marcia Savin, for example, does all of Revlon’s proofreading at their office. "I enjoy getting dressed up and out of the house and seeing another world and faces, as I’ve worked alone at home so much," she comments.

The Home Office / Warming Up for the Day / Creatures of Habit

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The home office

One of the greatest advantages of a home office, apart from the freedom from commuting and office politics, is that freelancers control their own space and can decorate it in any way that makes them feel comfortable. The pictures and objects in a freelancer’s office (or visible from it) make a definite difference in his or her ability to function well at work. One respondent to EFA’s membership questionnaire comments that she needs "a certain sense of beauty—my favorite picture, my cup of tea, a gray sweater and purple scarf, sometimes a beret to keep my brain warm." Another revels in her view of a flowerbed and hummingbird feeder. A third says, "I have three scarves tied to my work chair—black lace, blue velvet, yellow handkerchief." Hardly the environment of the typical nine-to-fiver.

Also important to the freelancer are the comforts of home: quiet and privacy; comfortable furniture; access to the refrigerator, microwave, or hotplate; the presence of plants, cut flowers, or pets; good lighting, often including natural light (freelancers don’t have to wait their turn for a window office); music if desired; "personal totems" such as a special coffee mug; and the freedom to wear whatever clothing one chooses (if any). There is no dress code; typical work outfits of freelancers include bathrobe and slippers; long, loose gowns; jeans; stretch pants; flannel shirts; and sweats (with matching socks, in one case). One writer tends to wear the same articles of clothing every day while working on a particular project—"I have decided it is ritualistic, and it must work, because I always finish the manuscripts."

The freelancer’s imagination may play a role in creating the right work environment. Nancy Wolff keeps a glass of water in her office and says, "I tell myself it is a hot fudge sundae so I don’t eat constantly—especially when working on cookbooks." Another freelancer keeps an album of pictures taken where she has worked—among flowers in a garden, at parks, in the waiting rooms of an endodontist and a car repair shop, and so on. She has labeled it "My Office."

For individuals who are physically disabled, freelancing provides opportunities that might not otherwise be available. An EFA member with rheumatoid arthritis reports: "Freelance copyediting and proofreading is the first profession I have had that the arthritis does not interfere with. My clients do not even know about it—I don’t take on more work than I can handle and I always meet my deadlines. Freelance editorial work has been the ideal profession for me—physically and mentally."

Because they are free to work whenever they choose, the hours during which freelancers work are, to put it mildly, highly variable. For example:

• 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Friday
• Anywhere between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., Sunday through Friday
• Never before 10 a.m.
• Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, sometimes 7–11 p.m. as well
• Monday to Friday, except Tuesday; a total of 20 hours
• All day most days
• 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.—sometimes forget lunch
• Evenings after an in-house job
• Any time

One new freelancer sums up the situation succinctly: "There are no normal days, alas." On a more positive note, many value the flexibility of their working hours and cite it as a reason for choosing to freelance. A few try to avoid working on weekends, but they are the exception, not the rule.

Most typical, it appears, is the freelancer who works almost constantly as long as there’s work to be done. Part of the reason is the pressure to meet deadlines, but much of it stems from just plain compulsiveness. Especially when one is paid by the hour, the urge to work as many hours as possible is strong. As Susan Davis puts it, "I work Monday to Sunday from 9 to 9, with time off whenever I can grasp it. I’m trying to take more time off, but it’s a constant struggle." Another respondent notes that she works "as many hours as possible between 7:30 a.m. and midnight!"

Many freelancers have specialties and interests that provide an avenue of escape from the almost constant attention to words that their profession requires. Among EFA’s members are artists in numerous media, including ceramics, painting, and photography, as well as poets, dancers, and musicians. Some enjoy cooking or gardening. One admits to being a computer pinball games junkie. Others have special interests in taxonomy and heraldry, fire engines, purebred dogs, sea battles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, African drumming, building and construction, scuba diving, Medieval and Renaissance literature, Billy the Kid, matchbox labels and razor blade packs, genealogy, claw hammer banjo (Appalachian style), the North and South Forks of Long Island’s eastern end—you name it.

Occasionally freelancers’ avocations come in handy in marketing their services. A member with a passion for Hollywood films has been able to obtain work in that subject area; another, who specializes in Italian literature from the Renaissance period (including discovering and translating it), has become an author and formed a small press. The specialist in taxonomy just mentioned once got a job advising the publisher of a major dictionary on taxonomic issues. The freelancer who is interested in building and construction has been able to find work with how-to publishers, while the one with a specialty in Medieval and Renaissance literature edits texts and journals in that field; the freelancer with an interest in the eastern end of Long Island does some work for a local paper. One EFA member, a performance artist, has written two plays that were published in textbooks. Another member, a skier, has written numerous articles for Skiing Magazine and is sometimes paid to ski in beautiful locales and write about the experience.

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Warming up for the day

So how does the dedicated, hardworking freelancer "warm up" for a day of grappling with words in all their forms, not to mention equations, photo captions, footnotes, and all the rest? According to Valerie Martone, "The hardest part is getting started." Sheila Buff echoes this sentiment: "I sort of sidle up on the work," she says. Many freelancers start their work day by—let’s admit it—procrastinating: reading one or more newspapers, making phone calls, writing letters, staring at the piles of paper on their desks, having another cup of coffee, taking a walk (or walking the dog). But there are many others who prepare for work by making lists, setting priorities, and organizing (or clearing) their desks and files.

One freelancer starts the day by reading dictionaries, style manuals, newspapers, and reference books. Others begin by doing the crossword puzzle, household chores, or undemanding work such as recordkeeping. "To get in the mood," says Denice Anderson, "I fill out the Federal Express airbill and write out the invoice, with costs/hours to be filled in later. By the time these tasks have been accomplished, I’ve settled down and my mind has been geared toward work."

Mary Ratcliffe says that she can’t start work until she is "showered, shampooed, and mascaraed. I don’t know why, but the mascara makes a difference." She also has to move the cat. "Pete has a fine feline instinct for settling down comfortably on the pile of papers I need first, and he resists being moved. He also nibbles around the edges of papers, so I have to be careful not to jot important telephone numbers in the margins."

Christine Lyons is the exception that proves the rule; she starts work before she is fully awake: "Just after I wake up, as I lie in bed floating between waking and sleeping, I write my leads [for news features]. Then I go to the computer, put the story into it, and edit it."

The daily routines of freelancers often include exercise, which may range from walking or running, calisthenics, working out, or swimming to more esoteric activities such as snowshoeing, yoga, or Chinese gigong exercises (energetic postures to promote health and well-being). Also common is snacking and the consumption of large quantities of tea or coffee ("An editor is merely a device to turn coffee into books"). Time set aside for meditation or prayer, or to listen to favorite radio or television programs, is often mentioned as an important part of a freelancer’s day. One respondent takes a midmorning shower; another reads the Post at lunchtime and cuts out the sensational headlines.

Freelancers who use computers extensively devise ways of forcing themselves to take a short break from time to time, such as setting the computer to save every 15 minutes. Many freelancers take regular breaks from work, often using these intervals for chores and errands—sharpening pencils, returning phone calls, paying bills, watering plants, going to the post office or the library, and the like. A few take naps.

To reduce interruptions and promote concentration, freelancers often leave their answering machines on and screen incoming calls, or they turn off the ringer on the phone or simply don’t answer it. Some tell nonbusiness callers that they’re working and will call them back. (As Candace Levy remarks, "Now my friends don’t dare call before 3:00 p.m.! I was forced to be stern.") They may also leave a message on the answering machine: "I can’t talk to you now because I am deep in concentration. Leave a message and I’ll call you later." One freelancer has an unlisted office phone number that she gives only to those who need to use it.

In most freelancers’ home offices the television set is almost always turned off, but the CD player or radio is likely to be turned on. One freelancer makes a point of keeping her personal mail out of her office. Others comment that it’s important to close the door—perhaps the shutters as well. Mike Ricca sums up his approach succintly: "No radio, TV, kids, pets, or chatterboxes in the immediate area."

Working on weekends, very early in the morning, or late at night is, for some, conducive to concentrated work without interruptions—the phone is silent, the neighborhood (usually) silent. Also, a night owl can do a job so that the client will receive it in the morning, giving the freelancer an advantage when it comes to small jobs that clients might not otherwise assign to a freelancer. Other ways of promoting concentration—especially for writers—include pacing around the house or apartment and lying on the floor for a few minutes.

Freelancers with young children have a built-in source of interruptions. Teresa Barensfeld, who has two children, describes several techniques that provide her with periods of time for uninterrupted work. She pays a babysitter to care for the children three mornings a week; at other times (provided that her husband is at home) she may close and lock her office door. In the evenings, after the children are in bed, she says, "I luxuriate in the quiet and get some of my best work done." When she’s on a heavy deadline, she asks her husband, who also works at home, to take the children to his workshop—"i.e., get out of Mom’s hair so she can make the 5 p.m. Fed Ex pickup."

It should be noted that some freelancers welcome interruptions because they add variety to their workday.

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Creatures of habit

Freelancers—at least those who have been at it for some time—seem to be creatures of habit. Many say that they find departures from their daily routine somewhat disorienting and even stressful. Some say that they have tried to break a habit, such as procrastinating before starting work, but with little or no success. Susan Fey is typical: "Under press of deadline, I once forced myself to not start my day by reading one newspaper, and I opted to save even more time by not poring over another paper that I read at lunch. The result: Disastrous."

A few freelancers have managed to stop drinking coffee or smoking, but most attempts to break work-related habits are unsuccessful. Candace Levy once tried cleaning house in the morning but realized after three days that she wasn’t getting any work done. Veteran freelancer Miriam Hurewitz says that she has tried to get up earlier and get dressed sooner, "but don’t often succeed at either of these." Night owl Denice Anderson says that she can switch to daytime hours when she has company or is on vacation, but then immediately reverts to her nighttime freelancing. (She makes a point of noting that she can survive in the sun and has not yet turned into a vampire.)

One experienced freelancer notes that she has managed to break the habit of waiting too long to start a project. Her solution: Break the project into smaller parts and set short, manageable deadlines for the small portions. Using this approach, she has even been able to complete a job ahead of schedule. Peter Homans says that he hasn’t yet tried to break a habit associated with work, "but I may in the future, to avoid feeling stifled by routine." Another respondent comments, "I have had to make a real effort to work semi-regular hours so that I am not working 7 days and 65–70 hours a week. I’m more productive and much happier. I think I got carried away with the ‘flexibility’ of freelancing."

Marcia Savin notes that she tries to start working earlier by promising herself an afternoon treat such as a movie or swim. "Occasionally it works," she says, but "usually I keep at the computer until it’s too late." David Hall says that he’s still trying to break the bad habit of accepting lower-paying work when it’s offered just in case higher-paying jobs don’t come in (they almost always do).

So much for the day-to-day routines and habits of freelancers. Now for the unusual, some might say the weird, the ineffable, the memorable: those strange occurrences that can turn a normal day or project into an adventure, or perhaps a nightmare. (As one freelancer remarks, "The worst job I ever had was proofreading a book about serial killers on Halloween.")