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9:53 am
February 11, 2010
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We all share some basic tasks and responsibilities in our work as freelance writers. But how do we spend our non-work time?
In my downtime these days I'm generally working on DIY projects to improve and decorate the house or I'm working on the shade garden we're developing or my veggie garden.
What about you? What do you most often do with your downtime?
Jenn
8:34 am
June 6, 2011
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Most often? Wow. It varies so much. Here are things I've done in the last month:
- Gardening
- Reading
- DIY
- Exercise
- Meditating
- Genealogy
10:10 am
February 11, 2010
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In one of our recent blog posts, I mentioned using hobbies as jumping off points for new income streams. Out of curiosity, do you tie any of those hobbies into your work life to earn from the time you spend on them?
7:59 pm
April 17, 2012
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I spend a lot of time in my vegetable garden. It keeps me so busy that I have to wait until winter to write. Within a year or two I would like to sell (uncertified) organic produce.
I have noticed that numerous writers love gardening and yoga-type exercise.
7:17 am
February 11, 2010
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I haven't done yoga in a long time, but when I did, I always felt much better starting work. Now it's just an issue of time because my schedule was overhauled when my hubby and I moved in together last year. Eventually I'd like to find a way to work things like that back in.
I'm not sure what the appeal of gardening is for other writers. But for me it's largely about getting out of the house. Because I don't get out for work, I can go stir crazy. And being outside helps with that. But I need something to do outside, and gardening gives that to me. Plus, it's fun cooking what we grow, and of course I love saving money by not having to buy expensive produce all the time.
12:01 pm
June 15, 2011
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Downtime…hmmm…I'm always taking my walks so I don't know if that counts as downtime. Otherwise ~
- Yardwork – we have an acre of land so that never seems to end
- Reading – catching up on my fiction reading – mostly mysteries or detective-type series
- Creative writing – not as often as I'd like
- Team captain stuff for 3-Day – newsletter, event planning
6:17 am
February 11, 2010
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Busy lady! 
And I feel your pain with the yard work. We have about the same amount of land to deal with (the rest is thankfully wooded, so no real work there). And it's exhausting. It's just now starting to look like someone actually lives here.
8:19 am
June 15, 2011
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I should throw in the fact that we deal with irrigation here as well. Boy, was that something different coming from California. I even have stylish, blue irrigation boots. 
12:37 pm
February 11, 2010
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Okay. I have to ask. What exactly is involved that requires special irrigation boots? lol
2:02 pm
June 15, 2011
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Jennifer Mattern said
In one of our recent blog posts, I mentioned using hobbies as jumping off points for new income streams. Out of curiosity, do you tie any of those hobbies into your work life to earn from the time you spend on them?
Long ago and tfar away, I wrote primarily about business topics. One article touched on TV advertising. I wound up slanting a related article to a TV industry magazine, the editor assigned it and 16 years later the largest part of my income is derived from covering he TV industry for that magazine and other publications.
Two or three years ago, after getting back into knitting and crocheting in a big (some may say obsessive) way, I decided to begin writing about yarn and crafty stuff. My first job in that area (other than a piece for the TV industry mag about how popular knitting was as an on-set, between-scenes hobby) was knitting and crocheting projects and writing blog posts for a major yarn manufacturer. This year I sold articles to a knitting magazine and to a trade pub geared to independent yarn shop owners. The pay is acceptable, but the real perk is writing about something fun.
1:22 pm
February 11, 2010
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I love how you were able to tie those two niches together! Great creative take.
1:40 pm
June 15, 2011
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Jennifer Mattern said
Okay. I have to ask. What exactly is involved that requires special irrigation boots? lol
Sorry, I missed this question.
The City of Boise Public Works Department operates and maintains a pump station and the mainline distribution pipe. When it's our turn to receive the water, I have to stand in the irrigation ditch (that usually has some water in it) and open and shut gates to divert the water to our property. Hence, the stylish irrigation boots. 
5:45 am
February 11, 2010
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Oh wow. I've never seen anything like that around here. Sounds very interesting… and messy.
1:55 pm
June 15, 2011
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Not too messy, but it is the reason for the irrigation boots. The pretty blue color is me stylin' 
12:46 pm
January 2, 2013
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A lot of my free time is taken by my children. I try to work out as much as possible, since constant sitting infront of computer influences badly on my figure.
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