My Writing Day: Freelance Writer Nick Daws

NICK Daws is a Midlands-based author who has written more than 40 books and is known internationally for the wisdom and support he has passed on to aspiring writers. Nick's work and his starting point from a non-writing related career are an inspiration to many, me included. And isn't that an impressive picture?

MY daily schedule varies according to whether my partner, Jayne, is working in the morning or not (she's a college IT lecturer, and works varied hours). If she's around we have a leisurely breakfast and I don't start work till around 9.30. Today she's working a standard 9 to 5, however, so after seeing her off I have a quick breakfast and am at my desk by eight o'clock.

I start every day by going through my emails. Usually around twenty come in overnight, not including the spam messages which mostly get filtered out. Today I have a note from Nadine, the US moderator of my forum, asking my opinion about a dubious post. I agree it's not constructive and should be deleted. There's also a message from a Chinese lady asking if I can help get her novel published (probably not, sadly), and one from someone who has bought my Write Any Book in Under 28 Days CD-ROM and is having problems activating it. I refer the latter to my publisher's customer support site, as they know exactly how the technical features on the CD work, and I don't!

After a quick check on my forum to see if there is anything needing my attention, I get down to the main job of the day, which is writing a profile for a psychiatrist who contacted me via my homepage. As a generalist freelance writer I tackle all sorts of jobs, although this one is a little unusual even for me. The psychiatrist has sent his CV and other background information and asked me to produce a one-page profile highlighting his training and experience. He especially wants me to emphasise his media experience, as one reason for the profile is that he hopes to get more TV and radio work.

After a couple of hours I have a draft profile I'm fairly happy with, but I can't quite get the ending right. I've concluded by setting out my client's aims, ending with the phrase "ensuring that people with mental health problems can obtain all the help they need to overcome their disorders and get their lives back on track." It says what I want to say, but it sounds a bit flat somehow, and I don't like the chime between "back" and "track". If I worked in an office I'd run it past a few colleagues. As I don't, I do the next best thing, and post a request for help on my forum instead. I won't get an instant reply, but hopefully in the next hour or two someone will take up the challenge.

I put the profile to one side, and start another job I've been meaning to do for a while. My writing course publishers, the WCCL Network, have recently published a new, downloadable guide to copywriting for the web. This is a topic I'm interested in, so I asked if I could have a review copy. I spend some time reading the new manual - which is in the form of a PDF - and reviewing it for my blog. With the odd reservation I think it would make a useful resource for anyone interested in website copywriting, so I write a broadly favourable review and upload it.

It's around 1.30 pm now and definitely time for lunch, so I head downstairs and see what I can find in the fridge - bread, cheese, pickles. Then it's back to my office, where I log in to the forum again to see if anyone has answered my request for help. I'm pleased to see that three of the regulars have replied, and one of them - Symphony - has suggested changing the ending to, "and regain control of their lives". That's better! The back/track rhyme has gone, the clause parallels the preceding clause better, and "lives" is a stronger word to end on than "track". I quickly make the change, give the whole thing one more polish, and submit it to the doc for his approval. And, of course, I thank everyone on the forum for their help.

After that, it's a quick trip to the bank and Morrisons supermarket to buy something for our meal tonight. On my return home I spend a couple of hours working on a quiz book I've been commisioned to do by one of the novelty publishing companies I work for regularly. I enjoy this sort of work, as I can do it when I'm not at my peak (being more of a morning person). Also, as it doesn't require total concentration, I can have a little background music, so I tune my computer to my favourite Internet music station, Radio Paradise, and enjoy their particular brand of "eclectic online rock radio".

Jayne gets home at around 6 pm, so we have a chat and a cup of tea, and I go and make the evening meal. My computer stays on and I check for emails again later in the evening. I try not to do much more work now, though, as I spend too much time at my computer as it is, and if I work late I don't sleep well and am less productive the next day. Bedtime is around 10.30, then it's up again in the morning to do it all again!

Comments

[Suzie Harris]

Thanks for a great post, Linda. Nick, glad to see you live like the rest of us - I figured you had minions by now ;)

Nick also has a post on my blog: www.mydigitaldesk.blogspot.com
Check it out. It's full of advice for newbies!

[russ waterman]

I've read both bits and enjoyed your "typical" day in the life!

[Deborah G.]

This is a great website Linda.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nick's article and am drawing inspiration from both of you to really focus on what I need to do to become the writer I know I can be.

One more point: I too am a My Writer's Circle member and I must say, it is one of the friendliest, most helpful forums I have ever been involved with. Writers are special people and we have a wonderful camaraderie there.

Thank you for your help, insight, and encouragement.

~Deb

[Linda]

Thanks Deborah, your comments are much appreciated, I can tell you! x

[Glynis]

Thanks for being honest, Nick. Can relate to it - and see that daily routine need not hold us back.