When I tell other writers that I'm a fulltime, work-at-home freelancer, their eyes glaze over and drool runs down their chins. If only they had the opportunity to write all the time! From home! They're simply giddy with the possibilities.

But the realities of being a fulltime, work-at-home freelancer are another story entirely. My actual time to write is not anywhere near the eight hours I worked in the days of employment outside the home. Add that to the fact that my home is peopled with, well, people and a crazy dog that barks at anything passing by the office window. So if I don't organize my writing life, then my business is zilch. Want your writing business to take off? Here are four easy steps that anyone can follow, no matter how much time you manage to write!

The Must-Have Office

When I left teaching to work at home and write, I didn't start writing immediately. I did get right to work, though, re-organizing my home. I'd already been writing for a few years, when I'd shoe the children off the family computer to type. But I knew I needed an official "work space." So I painted the office, split it down the middle, and created an extra-long personal writing space, using a recycled closet door, balanced on filing cabinets. I topped off my homemade desk with my own computer and printer.

Whether you carve out a section of the wall and plop a computer into it or add on a thousand square feet, you must have an office. For fifteen minutes or five hours, you need an official place at home that says, "Now, people, I am at work." It'll help you take your writing seriously. And though it may take awhile, eventually the other people in your home will take your writing seriously. Unfortunately, the dog is not quite as likely to grasp the concept.

The Magic Word

You already know the magic word, don't you? So, why is it so hard to say NO, especially for those of us who work at home? Practice saying NO so that you'll be prepared when your neighbor calls and asks you to watch her twins for "just a little while." Or when the PTA call comes in, asking you to devote a weekend to the school carnival.

Give yourself permission to say NO occasionally. After all, you have legitimate work to do, even if you're working in your pj's. And if that NO still sticks in your throat, do what I do. Get Caller ID. It's an office tool that's worth every penny. And it also comes in very handy when the neighbor with twins is bored and wants to "chat."

Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize

Prioritizing is a word that's so nice, I have to say it …thrice?

When I first started working at home, I'd end each day, wondering where the time had gone. I had nothing to show for five or six hours of computer face-time. In fact, it seemed I was more productive when I worked outside the home. So, I started making a "To Do" list every night before I went to bed. And I prioritized the list, starting with the "must-do" activity at the top and working my way down. Throughout the day, I'd check my list. The next day, I'd refer to the old list, moving up the items from the bottom that I hadn't accomplished. In no time at all, I was much more productive. As long as I didn't lose my list.

Grandstanding Goals

If you really want to make impressive gains with your writing, it's not enough to have daily goals, or even weekly goals. Set yearly goals and chart your progress every month.

The first year of freelancing, my goals were not very well-defined. I was still learning the ropes of the writing business. But by the second year, I had a clearer picture of where I wanted to go with my writing. So, I set goals that would get me there. Of course, my goals won't be the same as yours. But I can guarantee that if you stick to your writing goals, you'll accomplish far more than you could have imagined without them. Your writing will take off-and pay off! And that's worth a little grandstanding, isn't it?