I loved this post! It’s an interesting perspective, but I beg to differ that it is not restricted to freelancers only!

I work a “9-5″ job, but have always been productive on teh scales which you have talked about above. My countless cups of coffee can be swapped for Starbucks frapaccino, although I dont smoke, I am a chocoholic, I love eating and working at the same time (because who would want to waste that 15 minutes over lunch?!

Finally, under pressure or while working on hitting a deadline, I am more logical and have a greater sense of direction and decision making than at any time else.

I think the traits are those of people who work hard, or those who understand responsibilities, and know what failure and success bring with them!

Cookie Monster’s last blog post..Charity:Water

@ Writer Dad – 5 30?! Yikes. Some times, I go to sleep at that time. But then I don’t have children yet. My carefree freelance equation will change completely with an addition of a wailing two legged offspring that poops and burps out milk

Writer Dad’s last blog post..6 Secrets Every Writer Shares

Coffee: Yes. Strong, with cream, and keep it coming

Sleeping late: Alas, no. Up at 3:45 am for the day job, home around 5 pm if lucky.

Eating/Working: Well, yeah. Grated cheese hardens and really hurts if you jam it under your fingernail trying to hit Tab.

Smoking: Last month I went from a pack a day to 2 packs a week and now only smoke at the crazy job. I have to be quit by May 22 for surgery. So, of course, the eating/working thing is much worse now, lol.

ADD: Yup. Dunno what James takes/does for it meds iz good here.

Pressure: Yuck. I get enough of that during the day. I recently gave my doctor orders for when they cart me to the looney bin. It won’t be long now…

HUG, Sumar!

Wow…TMI?

B J Keltz’s last blog post..Uplifting

@ Barbara Swafford – I had all these grand plans of starting pilates so my joints won’t rust hunched in one position. Like you, I only remember it after a few hours have gone past.

@ Barb Hartsook – Don’t tell anyone but I watch TV while eating. It’s how I got addicted to Grey’s Anatomy. I thrive under pressure but I prefer to avoid it. It leaves me feeling completely drained afterwards.

@ Barbara Ling – Lol! That’s the best defence against coffee I’ve come across I tried smoking once, I felt like I was drowning when I tried to inhale. Never touched it again.

5 am?!?! I am officially jealous!

Smoking? Ick. Never have tried it, never will. Ick.

Sleeping late? Pardon me while I burst into hysterical laughter – getting up “late” for me is 5am.

It IS quite character-building, I’ll tell you that.

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach’s last blog post..Choices of Young Adults

Coffee, YES! European dark roasts, freshly brewed. (I don’t think of it as a hazard though — just a habit. )

I don’t think sleeping late is a hazard either when you work best at night. I have my clearest mind and most energy in the early mornings to mid afternoons. So I don’t sleep late. I feel I have cheated myself if I don’t see the sun up. But I sleep early — at night, when you’re just getting started.

When I eat, if I’m alone, I read a book. I know — terrible habit to have. But reading a good book is a great treat — and so is lunch! So my keyboard stays clean, but I sometimes get smudgies on the pages of my paperbacks.

Don’t smoke. Did in college but quit before graduation. So that’s not an issue.

But ADD? What artist of any sort doesn’t have a zillion creative ideas running through his/her brain at once? And the more we engage in a “project” the more our brains spin through dozens of related or alternative possibilities. Art (writing included) is a matter of solving problems. Taking an idea and working through it in whatever art form we use. Then as we work, we draw little mind maps (coined by ProBlogger) and we want to pursue those! ADD comes with the territory, I think.

Pressure — goes with the ADD. I don’t like it… pull my hair out sometimes and want to just go hide (with that book and lunch) but somehow work through it and come out the other side feeling good.

Those are mine.

Thanks for letting me think this through. That was fun.

Barb Hartsook’s last blog post..Why Does an Artist Paint? Or a Writer Write?

Getting up and stretching my legs, doing other things besides being on the computer is my biggest challenge. Often I sit down for ten minutes and before I know it, an hour has passed. I really need to start using a timer.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..The Secret Is Out – Our Blog Posts Are Not Being Read