What Does a Day-in-the-Life Look Like for a Writer During the Pandemic?
16 writers gave me the inside scoop on how they spend a “normal” day in quarantine
“We are all living braless days and long, cold nights. No wonder the prairie dress has made a come back.”
How is everyone doing in quarantine these days? I’m hearing more and more people (whom I actually know) getting the vaccine, so that’s exciting. It’s also now March, which means maybe only one more month of Winter?
The snow has been brutal where I live this year. Of course, when something as trivial as the weather is being compared to something as huge as mental health issues amidst a global pandemic, the cold doesn’t seem so bad.
And because I write about the importance of writers’ mental health, I thought giving you guys a REALISTIC picture of how writers are spending their days in lockdown to be both timely and sanity-saving for us…what do they call us? Oh yes, struggling artists.
Struggling artist or New York Time’s best-seller, hopefully this post will feed your soul with the inspiration it has lost in the realm of creating, and maybe — *crosses fingers and closes eyes* — this is juuuussstt the type of entertainment your brain needs to function properly today.
Do let me know either way, and bookmark this for future mental funk days, because you know they’re gonna strike.
What Does a Modern Day Writer Look Like?
What comes to your mind when you hear the word, “writer?” Yourself? Your favorite author? A stick-thin woman in a power-suit hopping in a taxi with newspapers flying onto the street? A rumpled mess of a man wearing crooked glasses, furiously pacing his log cabin living room?
It seems there are two common, contrasting visuals when it comes to a modern writer’s appearance:
- The chic and polished editor — sleek briefcase in one hand, porcelain cup of espresso in the other.
- The house-robe and slippers writer — whiskey flask in one hand, pen and paper in the other.
The former is a boss. In charge, confident, on their A-game from sun-up to sun-down, and maybe even a creative genius. The latter is sloppy, but they don’t care. They believe their mind is their art, and therefore, no attention needs to paid to their physical appearance.
I like to think I fall somewhere in between, where I presume most other freelancers do as well.
Whether you’ve gotten into the toxic habit of comparing yourself to other writers or creatives, or you are in desperate need of some relateability as it pertains to how your peers are spending their work days in lockdown, here is what 16 different writers’ days-in-the-life currently consist of, plus some sound advice for sticking with it.
16 Writers on How They Spend Their Days Working From Home
I’m in the UK and balancing my writing business with homeschooling my ten-year-old (who has ASD) and keeping my very active almost-two-year-old entertained. With new clients on-boarding all the time, it’s been a wild ride so far. It basically involves a lot of working in strange positions while I nurse my sleeping toddler, lots of late nights and lots of biscuits. -Melissa
Get up at 5:30am, write until 7:30am and then spend the rest of the day trying to teach three different curriculums simultaneously, wash and dry five people’s clothes and clear up endless messes that get thrown around when the kids aren’t home schooling — fall asleep with kids at a ridiculously late bedtime (10pm) and then repeat. -Antonia
Wake up, walk my dog, make breakfast, tackle highest priority task, write for future projects, write paid work, chores, walk my dog, long shower, read, make dinner, watch something well-written, vision board. -Melia
We are all living braless days and long, cold nights. No wonder the prairie dress has made a come back. -Gretchen Kelly, Editor-at-Large, Business Traveler Magazine & Chief Pivot Queen (CPQ).
As a former journalist turned freelance writer determined to grow my business during a global pandemic and economic downturn, “all in” best describes my approach to business. I wake naturally at 5 a.m. and use the quiet early morning hours to tackle research for projects, check and respond to client emails, and get a jumpstart on my writing. I spend the afternoon with my kids — usually our routine involves a Starbucks run, followed by some hiking or a long drive. Three of my four kids are young adults, so they happily take on the cooking and errands when my work schedule gets crazy. -Teresa
Freelancing from Los Angeles. Each morning I wake up, planning to start writing at 9am, but as of late, I’ve slept in late and have spent the morning walking, sitting in a rocking chair, looking at nature, and praying. I’m no longer “Pandemic fine.” I’m “COVID exhausted.” I no longer have the energy to try to be a morning person. So instead I use my mornings to rest and pray, and my afternoons and evenings to work. I’m happier this way. -Chante
I have 5 children at home, so a typical day looks something like: 6am — get up, work until the kids get up around 7:30. 7:30am-8pm — deal with kids, try to make notes in between remote learning, reply to emails on the toilet, hide in my bedroom for phone calls. 8pm-midnight (sometimes 1am) — work until my eyes can’t focus. Then repeat until I go completely insane or the kids go back to school. I rely heavily on tea and music to keep me motivated. When I am typing I always have my headphones and a Spotify playlist. -Kim
I always make sure to get up at an early hour, shower, and dress like a “professional.” That puts me in “work mode.” That was a habit I promised myself when I went full freelance 8 years ago. -Heide
Read Daily Stoic and meditate. Drink 4 Sigmatic coffee. Quick tidy up around the apartment. Writing, sending pitches, emails, client work. Some days I go to Second Home LA for a change of scenery because I LOVE it there. 3-ish mile walk through our neighborhood followed by weights/strength training at home. Shower. Lunch and Celsius energy drink. My favorite flavor is Watermelon, what’s yours? Finish up any lingering work/tasks. Watch TV/play games/hang out with my boyfriend. Cook/eat dinner. Quiet time. Sleep. -Jacqueline
As with any freelance work-from-home gig, the bonuses can also quickly become the drawbacks if you aren’t careful… sleeping in late can lead to “not enough time to do all the things!” Being able to scroll my phone or watch TV or complete house chores at any moment can turn into “where did the day go?” Balance is key. Setting boundaries. Keeping them. Feeding myself. Maintaining a schedule WITH a degree of flexibility. It’s a tightrope walk at best, a shit show at worst. But I’m so grateful to be on this ride at all. -Lauren
I started freelance writing 3 years ago when I was traveling overseas. I moved to Alaska in May of 2019, and changed my business to start focusing on long-term relationships with people. The original intent was to always convert my clients into longstanding relationships for my business, which is working. I didn’t freak out when everything happened in March, I knew that was part of the game, the ups and downs. I looked at the opportunities I had in quarantine. Now I have a much more sustainable and predictable income. -Sarah
Tips on Keeping Your Writer Confidence Strong from Successful Authors
My daily routine has not changed at all. I spend the day mixing ‘life’s duties’ around the house and going on quick errands with writing, editing other authors’ manuscripts, and working on the details for a writers’ conference I direct, which, hopefully, will be held in July.
My advice is simple: just do it. Just start! Type and save that brilliant idea stirring in your brain into a WORD document. If you have children, getting quality time to write can be tough. If they’re school age, while they’re studying or doing projects you might have planned for them, take that opportunity to write. For the toddler group, nap time is a must.
Take the time to do research online. Visit publishers’ websites and read the guidelines for submitting manuscripts so you know which companies are looking for what you are writing. Phone or email other writers to stay in touch with the writing/publishing world, if just for encouragement or for any questions you would have about writing. We have quite a few published authors in our Susquehanna Valley who would be very glad to help budding new writers get started. -Marsha Hubler, director of Montrose Christian Writers Conference and author of the best-selling Keystone Stables Series
When I heard about possibly not having to go anywhere for at least two weeks, I admit I got a little excited about finally having more dedicated time to work on a project I’ve been wanting to complete for some time now. For people starting a writing project during the shutdown, it depends on when you’re at your sharpest and will have the fewest distractions.
For me, I am most focused and least distracted in the morning hours, so that’s when I like to set aside several hours to write. I also find that having an outline for a book project is helpful. Knowing where the book is going and having smaller goals of completing a rough draft of a certain part each day helps me stay organized and keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. Also, in a world where we can self-publish so easily, from the comfort of our homes, this time could be that chance for you to become the published author you always wanted to be!
Writing can transport us to a place beyond our troubles. I see writing as a way to escape the stresses of the world, even if it’s just for a few hours a day. Like with everything you enjoy doing, it can provide refreshment, energy, and a sense of accomplishment that can help through these times of uncertainty. -Tricia Kline, inspirational author, freelance reporter for PennLive.com and The Daily Item
As a full-time write-from-home author, the state-imposed closings haven’t had much of an impact on my writing schedule. If anything, I now have more time to write, as I’ve decreased out-of-the-home errands and shopping trips. The ongoing challenge when working from home remains staying disciplined and using time wisely. The constant news updates can easily lure me away from my writing.
My advice to writers is to stick with it. To accomplish any writing project, a book or a short article, the author must stay focused and set reasonable goals, even if the goal is to write only 250 words a day. Eventually consistent work, day after day, accumulates those words into a finished book or article. -Jill Marie Thomas, devotional writer and author of books including “Twisted, Mindful Pretzel Consumption,” about her family’s business, Tom Sturgis Pretzels
Extra time for a writer is like hitting the jackpot. I used the time to add finishing touches to my soon-to-be-published middle-grade novel, ‘Keep Running, Maggie McRooney,’ set in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania in 1964.
I wrote kid-friendly recipe directions — to add to the end of the book — based on two treats featured in the story: Lithuanian ‘Little Ears’ cookies and flitch, the ever-popular potato candy. I also worked with the publisher’s graphic designer on the cover.
My advice? Know your book! Write a one-sentence, a one-paragraph and a two-page summary of your book. -Edna Cravitz, author of “Keep Running, Maggie McRooney”
I can’t think of anything except to sit down and begin writing. -Kathie Mitchell, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” essays
Thank you for reading!
I hope this gave you relief, entertainment, and inspiration to keep trucking on your writerly aspirations.
Ashley is a writer based in Connecticut, currently working on a memoir focusing on the becoming-a-mom identity crisis. She is an advocate for mental health, on a hard mission to show people the incredible power that dressing up has on your mindset.
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