Comments on: 20 Tips For Home-based Technical Writers Who Want to Stay Sane

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Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:47:40 +0000

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By: Ivan Walsh

Ivan Walsh — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:26:00 +0000

Adding ‘my story’ to a Business Plan is something I had reservations about at first but I can see why it might swing it. all things being equal you’re investing in the person, not the technology or service.

It’s the person that will get it over the finishing line, so showing how you did this in the past may convince the investors to ‘invest’ in you.

Does that make sense?

By: Ed Burns

Ed Burns — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:22:00 +0000

I hadn’t thought about adding my story to the Business Plan. I’d thought the VCs would prefer things cut and dry.

By: Ivan Walsh

Ivan Walsh — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:18:17 +0000

Hi Sridhar,

Add enough buffer to deadlines. That’s a good point.

When I started out, I'd try to do things as fast as possible to impress the client. Now I give myself time/space in case unforeseen things arise and when working at home… that happens a lot

By: Sridhar

Sridhar — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:51:50 +0000

Thanks for the tips, Ivan!

I’d add these things as well:

* Expect things to go wrong (Murphy’s law) and be prepared.
* Set priorities and expectations – know what must be done and what can wait.
* Add enough buffer to deadlines.
* Keep work separate from personal stuff.
* Break your work into smaller chunks and work on them in 1 hour sessions.
* Don’t remember things, make to-do lists and add reminders.

By: Ivan Walsh

Ivan Walsh — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:42:47 +0000

Hi Doug,
That’s a good point.
I've been guilty of rushing headlong into things only to surface to air and see that something else needs more attention.
Alan Lakein’s books on time management have really helped. He wrote them in the 70s but they’re the best I've read.

By: Doug Morrison

Doug Morrison — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:01:33 +0000

A great post full of helpful tips. I try to make sure I write a “To Do” list before reading emails at the start of the day – then amend the list after reading emails if necessary. Otherwise something new and interesting in the emails can take over from more important things that you ought to be doing.

By: Ivan Walsh

Ivan Walsh — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:44:46 +0000

I start at 6am and get the US customers before they head off. I also leave the email to late in the day and do the work first! So much email is low priority.

By: Sally Andrews

Sally Andrews — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:43:04 +0000

Starting early really helps. That way I get a good run at things before the kids get up.