My last few entries here discussed how I left my 30-hour weekly retainer work and re-entered the freelance world. With 24 published books and countless published articles under my belt, I shouldn’t have difficulty getting contracts.

What has surprised me about my freelancing re-entry, however, is the difficulty I’m having focusing.

Maybe it’s that I’d grown accustomed to someone else calling the shots, and now I don’t know how. Or perhaps I’ve become lazy since I’ve been under assignment for the last three years and haven’t had to think about where to pitch my ideas.

Or maybe I’m just burnt out (we’ve had some major family issues explode over the past several weeks, all of which have taken a huge emotional toll on me).

Whatever it is, I just can’t seem to settle down and concentrate.

So today I’m making lists (one of my strategies for enhancing concentration and productivity): a priority topic list, a get-to-sometime topic list, a targeted periodical list, a periodical wish list, etc.

And my goal is to get ten query letters out in the next ten days (a VERY reasonable goal).

My other goal is to get my office cleaned out and set up again within the next two days — a tidy, efficient work space always makes it easier for me to focus.

That should get me started.

We’ll see how it works out.

‘Til next time,

Joan