Our World in Words

No One Believes Writers/ Online Workers Can Be Busy

After spending nearly four days incapacitated with constant headaches, listlessness and high-grade fevers ranging from 38.5 to 39.5 deg C, the curse has been lifted and I can finally savor food and sun rays again with utter pleasure. I still have terribly itchy post-fever rash (apparently, adults CAN acquire infant measles) but life is generally back to normal programming. That includes work, which I’ve got a brain-wracking pile of now.

When it’s back to normal, it also means more frequent visits from Lia’s playmates and their moms – which is kind of a glitch.

Ain’t that true?

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy preparing juices and pancakes for them kids and arranging them in tiny plates and cups, but you know, there’s a time when two, three kids tugging your shirt to dress/undress them for/ after pee time and asking you whys and whats every minute gets in the way. 


And I am not even counting adult companions in this. Now with kids, you can simply say, “Kid, I am working on something right now. Can we talk later?” and you remain chums. But tell that to an adult who’s on to a lengthy conversation and you risk being branded a bitch or a snob. 

So you take the polite road and lose precious hours of a deadline-driven project.

The thing here is, I don’t think people actually realize that writers can indeed be busy. I don’t think they even take my job seriously. Often I’d get moms in the block tellin’ me I don’t get Lia out of the house much as I should. Kids should get plenty of play time outside everyday. I explain that I have regular work everyday, 7am till the break of dawn. I have no time to accompany Lia outside to play for hours on end. I do when I have, but when I haven’t, I don’t because it’s gonna cost us the bills and the rent. 


Then I get the “Seriously, what exactly do you do?” line. I’d be lucky if the person I’m talking to even knows what a freelancer, a copy writer and a virtual assistant are to begin with. Avoiding complicated conversations, I simply respond, “I write articles for websites and occasionally, print” (which sometimes don’t really work, because I get a follow-up question on “What do you mean you write for websites?” Ugh). They simply give me this blank stare and heave a cumulative and bleak “Aah.”

Then I would hear those comments again and again.

And here’s another one.


I know it seems like I am just Facebook-ing all-day. But even my Facebook time IS work. I manage three Facebook fan pages for clients aside from my own. Even that requires research. I know it doesn’t seem like I am doing anything at all in front of my laptop. For all you know, I might just be playing solitaire. And at times, I wish that were true. I wish I had the luxury of lengthy neighborly chats, the time to bake devil cakes till our house smells of nothing but coco, or to take Lia out to play for as long as she desires. But I don’t. 

We online-based employees do not need to be clothed in suits and have impressive desks to be seriously working, you know. When we say we’re busy, we mean it and we hope you do treat it seriously too like you would office-based workers and offer us some peace. You can be there, it’s fine, but we just can’t talk – at least not for very long. That’s harsh, I know. Sorry. But that’s the reality of our work.


A friend says I should post a sign our the front door that says, “Working. Please Don’t Disturb”.  The husband suggests I should have a formal office space at home – you know, computer desk, a swiveling chair, the whole shebang. Makes it look more professional. They might take you more seriously then than if you were working on top of the dining table or the couch while breastfeeding Lia.

I think I should seek Senate advice on “Effective Ways on How To Appear Believably Busy At All Times”. 

About the Author

Gretchen Filart

Gretchen Filart is a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and essayist from the Philippines. Her confessional pieces draw from love, motherhood, healing, nature, and intersections and have received distinction from phoebe’s Spring Poetry Contest and Navigator’s Travel Writing Competition. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok @gretchenfilart. She is usually friendly.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Filipina Explorer says

    Speaking as a fellow copy writer who is office-based, I feel you! 🙂 I sometimes accept freelance work from a former boss who manages around 50 websites. And doing research is really tricky, tiring and medyo nakakaantok! I dread deadlines for my freelance job kasi kahit super tired na from office work, research research pa rin para sa raket and people don't really realize that writers can be busy. Si hubby nga, feeling nya wala akong ginagawa haha, kaloka! And WE both have kids, I think we have super powers hehe… Hey, my family went out of town last Sunday and I thought of you, will be sharing with you a beautiful place you could try to explore, medyo unti pa lang ata nakakaalam nung place. I think you would like it, sa FB ko na lng share sa 'yo 🙂

    Reply

  2. Filipina Explorer says

    I think you need to have an office, to separate the 'work-mode', and the 'life-mode'.. it can get frustrating when the home that you're supposed to relax in because your very source of stress so it's better to create boundaries. and yeah it looks more professional heehee

    Reply

  3. Filipina Explorer says

    Yes, exactly! It's really a challenge to create such boundaries when your work is based at home, especially when you don't have a yaya! Hay. I actually used to have my own desk, but Lia keeps clambering on and about it kaya tinanggal na namin. Now I'm thinking baka nga dapat ibalik na uli. hehe.

    Reply

  4. Filipina Explorer says

    Thank you! Finally somebody who understands! Haha, I know, my husband also says sometimes, "nagboblog ka lang eh, di ka naman gumagawa!" LOL. Mommy, I don't think I can do more like you do. You know, regular job plus freelance work pa. Minsan nga the research alone takes longer pa than the writing itself. Hirap nga for us working moms, we need super powers!

    I saw the photo you posted and envy you! I've wanted to go to Minalungao Park for the longest time, but am thinking if kaya na si Lia isama?

    Reply

  18. Filipina Explorer says

    Wow. Nakapagspelunking na si baby! Clap, clap! Di pa sure if we'll bring Lia, but will definitely visit this 2014. Thanks for the tips, sis!

    Reply

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