Not so noisy - 5 quiet work spaces for freelancers

Anyone who has transitioned into freelancing knows that it's not about sitting around in your PJs all day. It can be a daily struggle with distractions everywhere - just need to put my editing reference books into alphabetical order now (I have done this and it's proved handy). So one of the first things I had to sort out in my early freelancing days was finding a quiet place to work. The first logical place to look was the local library, of course. I discovered back then that libraries have changed their function from how I remembered them.

When I was young, our local library had a scary chief librarian whose job it was to tell everyone to be quiet. She looked like the witch from The Wizard of Oz, just not green and boy were we scared of her. You dared not squeak with excitement in finding your favourite Tintin book had been returned.

So in revisiting my local library year later to do some work with shaky, free wifi, I headed straight to the desks with the A4 bit of paper stating 'Quiet Zone' above them. Well, I discovered the only quiet zone in that library with the toilet. Even the librarians would yell to each other in full voice, Jill! I've got the Thomas Keneally!!' So it makes it a tad difficult to complain when the staff are setting the noisy tone. I became the shoosher, asking a couple of seniors to please keep their chatter down, to which one objected 'It's a library!'. Hmm.

Libraries have indeed over recent years changed their purpose. And if it's in the spirit of keeping people reading hard copy books, I'm all for it. A recent article by Stuart Kells reflects on the changing function of libraries over the years and how our expectations have changed with the introduction of free wifi and cafe spaces within libraries. They are now more of a community space, a hub for people to gather and discuss books, movies or local issues. I've even found a library near me that has a fantastic fast charging station, where I can sit and read glossy magazines while my phone charges. Who cares about chatter!

I accept that I can't be the 'shoosher' anymore and I've had to be creative in finding spaces to work, when I need to remove myself from the distractions of home. Here are my top 5 quiet places:

1. Untrendy cafe

I've found a cafe near me where local seniors like to frequent. This means the music is soft and the chatter is low. The cuppa might be a tad average but the productivity makes up for it.

2. Co-working space

There's usually a cost involved, unless you want to go for a day trial, but the good thing about paying for the time is you'll be motivated to get your work done. And everyone is working on their own thing and usually don't know each other, so there's minimal chatter. I've found a great quiet one where others seem to have the same pressing deadlines as me. Head down!

3. Hotel foyer / room

Like Carrie Bradshaw, taking yourself off to a hotel room for the day or night, you'll find yourself with minimal distractions and quiet (as long as Mr Big doesn't turn up professing his love...). Good hotels are usually in solid buildings and have minimal noise. There are lots of nooks and crannies around foyers and conference floors to find a big ottoman to get some work done. Staying in a room for the night has the added benefit of getting your money's worth and really nutting down to get that deadline ticked off.

4. Libraries

Yes I'm back here, because despite their noisy reputation, there are still some great quiet spaces. Avoid those that are near unis as chatty students will be doing group work there, but I've found plenty of good regional libraries that still encourage quiet reading and working. Bliss.

5. Noise cancelling headphones

When all else fails, pop on a pair of noise cancelling headphones. No matter where you are, the technology of these headphones will ensure you stay focused and in your own world, like a portable quiet place. I find wearing these headphones kind of like a placebo effect - it tricks my brain into thinking I'm in a quiet space with no distractions and with or without music, it really works.

Soph-a-more...when more soph is a good thing

When I was studying speech writing as part of my editing degree, I was excited to discover the Sophists of ancient Greek. They were paid teachers of philosophy and rhetoric and I loved the image of them as ancient speechwriters and, at a creative stretch, editors. More exciting was the fact that my business name was born; Sophist was taken so I went with the Latin term, Sophista.

I love word forms and learning about their derivation. I've yet to purchase it but one day will treat myself to a big hardback copy of David Crystal's Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, an exploration of the English language, its history and how it's evolved. Lots of Latin root-words and maps of ancient Rome. Glorious.

So I was curious to read about a wellness technique called sophrology, which dates back to the 1960s. My first thought was it must be related to the root-word soph, meaning wisdom, so that made sense to me—a wellness technique related to the mind. A definition from the Sophrology Center claims the name is actually made up of sos (harmony), phren (consciousness) and logos (study of), so emphasis is on so not soph. 

You can become a fully qualified sophrologist by doing an online sophrology diploma. I'd do it just to have the letters after my name: DipSoph ? But the real bonus would be learning about this interesting technique that promises the opportunity 'to become fully present, fully alive and fully participating, comfortably and joyfully, in all areas of life'. Some of the key benefits are improved memory, concentration and decision making, as well as physical and emotional health.

Definitely a bit of soph in that sos.

Photo credit: Farsi C @clearsky

Is it pronounced H or H?

A topic that is rarely discussed is the 'aitch' vs 'haitch' debate so I was interested to read an article in the Age about the origins of its use. It's a form of language that comes with an unspoken disapproval of its use and it made me think about the question of disapproval in the role of editing work and how an editor approaches this in their work.

Is there a silent disapproval for bad grammar and spelling? I relish the opportunity to get my red pen out and I try to refrain from mocking public typos because they will always keep me in a job. But the question for editors is how to approach this disapproval with tact and professionalism without the client feeling judged.

I admit in my early pre-editor days, I emailed a large cinema chain about their airing of an ad that featured a voice-over pronouncing H as 'haitch'. I felt they should have grammar standards and fortunately they replied in a positive and receptive way. But it could've gone the other way, of the company taking offence at my criticism, even though it was constructive.

The Age article is an interesting one and I might use it as water cooler conversation for the week to see how others feel about it. Which side are you on?

Transitioning into Freelancing? 6 Top Tips to get you started.

Amidst the excitement of finally relaunching my website, comes the realisation of the time spent on writing copy, sourcing images, consulting with a wonderful marketing content guru (thanks Connie!) and reviewing and reviewing with an editor's eye to ensure there isn't one single comma out of place - eek let me know if you find one!

Sometimes I miss my corporate days when I would just pick up the phone and dial a 3-digit number to send an IT expert either running up to my desk or to spend time on the phone to talk me through the issue. Problem fixed, hang up phone, get on with work and laser print a gazillion pages on a super-fast printer whose toner I don't have to replace myself. (*think before you print)

Running your own business brings wonderful positives such as flexibility, freedom of choice and a sense of fulfillment for doing something you're truly passionate about. But in moments of frustration, I miss those resources that are so readily available in the corporate world. As a freelancer, you have to be the IT manager, accountant, operations/project manager, HR manager...all these skills that people take years to study and become proficient in. I wouldn't expect a PhD candidate to perfect their paper by using spell check, so how can I devote all this time and effort into skills I'm not qualified in?

Here are 6 things that I've found have made my sole-business life easier:

1. Outsource. Even though you may think you can't afford to pay for a service, think of the time wasted on that chore when you could be devoting that time to your clients and their work and to building and marketing your own business. Consider using sites like Airtasker to get someone to do your books, get your weekly food delivered, even a basic clean of the house. All of this delegation will give you hours back in your week and keep your mind clear and focused on the job at hand. I always commend authors and small business owners for seeking my help with professional editing rather than trying to do it themselves, so why not take that same approach myself?

2. Connect with your industry. Professional community groups are extremely collaborative and supportive, whilst helping you carve your professional path. The editing community has great online groups for professional advice and assistance. There will be an online community for almost any industry. Seek it out and connect with your fellow small business owners. If I ever need help with an IT, accounting or general industry query I can jump on the Facebook page and there will always be a willing 'colleague' to assist. It has saved me much time and money. Thanks Eds :-) 

3. Get out of the house! Or the office. Get along to as many industry events as you can and network with your fellow SBOs (small business owners). Check out local MeetUp groups in your areas and connect with industry peer bodies (such as Editors Victoria). If you work from home, consider getting out for the day - what city isn't infiltrated with awesome co-working spaces?! Download the app WorkHardAnywhere to get connected all over the globe.

4. Get (online) help. Stay professional. Working for yourself shouldn't mean you down the tools needed for running an exceptional business. In Australia, there are awesome online resources thanks to Government initiatives, like Business Victoria. This site offers a huge amount of information on marketing, tax, social media and business planning and stays current with technology trends. Some information is specific to Victoria, but much of it is just general important information for running a small business and juggling the various tasks at hand.

5. Consider a mentor. Do you know someone who has trail blazed your industry/occupation before you? Get out and ask them if they're willing to share their knowledge with you... chances are you'll be met with a resounding yes! Shape yourself up to be the perfect mentoree to get the most out of your sessions and professional insights that could take years to learn.

6. Write vision and mission statements. Companies big and small do it - why shouldn't you?! Your vision will give you clarity for your ambitious goal and this is a great thing to launch into from day one. It's the thing that drives you to want to excel in your world - to make the difference you want to make. Your mission steps out how you're going to get this done with integrity, professionalism and in a timely fashion. Keep them brief! This is not the moment to experiment with the thesaurus on newly-discovered words. Here's a great resource to get you started... and have fun with it! This is your vision - make it shine.

So now a new week and to manage my time wisely. Can I finish early today, Sophie? Yes you can Sophie...