Now that you are a professional writer, you may start noticing the assignments are start rolling in. If you want that flow to remain consistent, you’re going to have to plan beyond the researching and past the grammar checks. You have to move forward with each project in an organized way so that you can adhere to the most important part of your assignment, the deadline. Your clients will not respect an author who misses deadlines.
Set realistic deadlines for yourself.
When accepting your new assignments, you need to be sure that you double check all the details. If it's a topic with which you not familiar, you should make sure you have enough time to research it. If it's a rush, and this happens more than you would think, then you need to make sure you're not too busy to see it through.
Sometimes stretching yourself with a challenging project is good, but only if you have the time to focus and get it right.
Organize your work in manageable chunks.
This mean you have to break down your process into easily managed steps that you can track.
Start by creating a checklist. Include all the research you need to do because things like statistics, quotes, and links are going to take time to find. Allow enough time for it. After you write the piece, you need to allow enough time to proofread the grammar and double check your punctuation.
Regardless of your process, don't take it all on at once. You'll end up running out of time or rushing to turn in something that isn't your best.
Schedule blocks of writing time and stick to them.
Freelancing has to be structured. Too many times an author takes the “free” part of the job too literally. If you're going to make your deadline and turn in a quality piece, you need to schedule enough time to complete your work.
If you had a regular job, your boss would require a written schedule. Why don't you have one?
A well planned schedule will not only give you enough time to complete your assignment but it forces those around you, namely your family, to respect your writing time.
If needed, you might have to eliminate distractions.
Sometimes you need to make adjustments if you're going to make your deadline. With all the planning in the world and an ironclad schedule, you still might be pulled in another direction by life.
Sometimes the best solution is simply to get up and go write some place else such as a coffee shop, the library, a bookstore, or maybe even the park on a nice day. If you feel that your schedule is being affected, it's up to you to correct it before it gets out of hand. If it’s broke, fix it.