Monday, April 06, 2020

Working from home

I know for many people it’s a big adjustment. But as a writer I have to say I love working at home. I know other writers who feel they need to get out of the house, go to Starbucks, or an office, even if that means renting one. One writer I know likes to write in the produce section of Gelsons’s Market.

Of course today those away-from-home options aren’t available. There’s not even produce at Gelson’s.

I do miss the camaraderie of being in a writers’ room and being on sound stages, but when it’s time to sit in a room by myself and write a script, I prefer to do it where I don’t have to wear pants.

There’s also the commute factor. Not a lot of traffic between my kitchen and office. And think what I’m saving at the pump!

I know for me this began at the beginning of my career. David Isaacs and I would meet in one of our apartments and write our spec scripts at night after going to jobs during the day. When we finally got a toe-hold in the business and were able to quit our day jobs there was something almost decadent about getting together in an apartment at 10 in the morning and being able to make a living writing. It almost felt like we were playing hooky.

The downside of writing at home is that for many people it’s harder to concentrate. Too many other things going on around you… like life. And of course, when you are writing no one takes that seriously. People feel free to interrupt you at any time. You want to say, “If I were a doctor performing an operation, would you just come in and complain about your Aunt Rose?”

Another problem some writers have working at home is they feel they can never set it aside. It’s much easier when you go to an office and carve out hours for dedicated writing, but when you can sit down at the home computer anytime it’s hard to just set work aside without feeling a little guilty.

On the other hand, an advantage (at least for me) is that when I get stuck I just can just shut it down and do something else, regardless of the time. I’m not chained to my desk. When I do get stuck I often take a shower. In a more relaxed state the solution usually comes. I can’t take a shower at Starbucks (not that I’ve ever inquired).

But writing is only one job. Lots of you are conducting your business from home now. How has that adjustment been for you? Aside from all the self-isolation annoyances and cabin fever we all feel, do you find you like working from home? Or hate it? I bet for some it’s the very first time you have worked from home.

Stay safe and remember – you don’t need your pants.

31 comments :

The Moderate said...

I travel a lot for my work, so I feel doubly whip-sawed...I can't go to the office and I can't hit the road because everyone in my industry is fired or laid-off, even if I could travel.

So, I get a lot of stuff done at home...then the cat comes in, my wife wants me to start the washer...and I get around to doing what I need to do at some point. But I miss the old normal.

Michael Hagerty said...

Ken: I got a running head start. I was among the 1,500 professionals laid off by iHeartMedia the week of January 15. So by the time the stay-at-home order came down, I was pretty used to it. And, assuming there is a next gig in the next few weeks, it'll probably start as a work-from-home deal. The weird part will be actually having to go somewhere to work again, day after day.

Brent said...

I first started working remote about 15 years ago. Back then, to simulate the office experience, I would put on Simpson DVDs in another room and play them with the commentary tracks. The muffled voices made great white noise while I transitioned to being remote.

Jeff Boice said...

I never liked working from home. I am one of those who has to separate "work" from "home". I don't feel I am really working until I have put on the proper work attire, left the house, and done the commute. But you do save money on the lunches. And I notice that today L.A. is getting hit with a pretty substantial rain, so you get to avoid driving in THAT.

Dan said...

I'm getting used to working at home, and I might end up liking it better than office work. However, while I used to dread meetings, now I look forward to the human contact via Zoom.

Alan Gollom said...

I feel very lucky that my job offers me the opportunity to work from home and continue to receive a pay cheque.

I don’t miss the one hour commute each way to and from work. I do miss the fact that I am not taking advantage of the very low gas prices.

I miss seeing work co-workers and clients in person.

I miss my lunch hour walks on a busy street and being able to walk into any store without fear.

I do appreciate the wonderful lunches my wife is cooking for me.

Overall, I'm enjoying working from home. I just hate the reason I have to.

Laurie said...

My office building has been undergoing renovation since September. Our temporary space doesn't have enough room for all of us, so I've been working from home four days a week since then. It was a seamless transition to go to 5. I feel very lucky. What I love about working from home is not having to pack a lunch, not having to get dressed for work, not dealing with the commute, and being able to do aerobics at lunch. So, I have no complaints. I'm grateful that my job is continuing so I have something to do during the long hours at home.

Brian said...

I appreciate the fact that if I need to have repair work done, hey...I'm here! However, I like the carrot at the end of the day of "going home", even though as I work from home I can potentially get more work done, because I'm not getting up to answer questions.

Also, I feel as if I am SENTENCED to my home office as opposed to visiting it to play music or produce my radio show (http://rockinradio.com)

Rick said...

Pussy Galore passed away.

Troy McClure said...

News just broke that legendary Bond girl actress Honor Blackman has passed away. She was 94. Her role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger was iconic.

Rest in peace

Roger Owen Green said...

My wife's having a bear of a time on the technology learning curve. She's a teacher and most of her work has been a one-on-one or one-on-a small group within a larger group. (She teaches English as a New Language).
And the meetings! A Google meeting at noon and at two. A patent calls back at one, so she barely has time to eat lunch.

I'm retired, TG.

Dana King said...

I've been working from home for ten years and there was a definite adjustment. What works for me is to clearly define when I'm working and take time between things. I work the day job from 8 - 5, then take some time for my "commute" where I read for an hour or so. Between that and small tasks and dinner, I'm "off" until 8:00 when I do the evening's writing, trying to be done by 9:30 or 10:00, after which I take the rest of the evening off. It works well and I think the breaking the day into defined sections is what makes it work for me.

Carl said...

I created this a few years ago as an ad for my company (thanks Mum for giving Dad permission to act the remote worker part) https://youtu.be/kLeftosjaZI

Jay said...

Like you Ken, I love working from home. I prefer it. No commute, no irritating co-workers...not having these things, plus the fact my job is made to be done remotely, has made me sharper, happier and more focused when I get down to working (after an hour or two online, of course).

As horrible as the pandemic has been, I'm actually dreading returning to the office once it's over.

VP81955 said...

The CBS rookie courthouse drama "All Rise" is doing a virtual Covid-19 related episode, scheduled to air May 4 -- the first post-coronavirus production of a scripted TV series episode:

https://deadline.com/2020/04/all-rise-returns-production-episode-coronavirus-cbs-social-distancing-1202901589/

WB Jax said...

Friday Questions for you, Ken: For me, neither MASH nor Hogan's Heroes (both, for a time, benefitting from the writing talents of Larry Marks, Richard Powell) have any bad segments. What sitcoms do you consider not to contain any truly bad (or at least embarrassing) episodes?

Also, speaking of MASH, recently saw an S1 episode, "Showtime," where a visiting dentist, Dr. Kaplan, visits the 4077, his mannerisms being very Woody Allen-like (screen persona) and was wondering if there were ever talk about bringing Kaplan back for future seasons (because he was hilarious).

KB said...

"People feel free to interrupt you at any time. You want to say, “If I were a doctor performing an operation, would you just come in and complain about your Aunt Rose?”

So true. Once I'm able to collect my thoughts again and try to resume the momentum I had before the unnecessary interruption, I try to find a place to create and kill off a character named "Rose."

Unknown said...

So, how is Aunt Rose? I hope well

Barefoot Billy Aloha said...

Working from my home audio studio for the past ten years but the last three months have been "interesting" because I discovered that my right hip needs replacement - I haven't been able to sit since Christmas...the COVID-19 stay-in-place order changed nothing...but I wonder if my lovely wife and I made a good decision in March when we bought two puppies and now have to suffer the upset of potty training a pair of boisterous miniature Australian Shepherds who have proven without a doubt that it is I who has the learning disability. Shoot me.

Pat Reeder said...

I absolutely hate Dallas traffic. And it seemed as if every time I would move close to work, I'd lose that job and land one on the other side of town. So I finally set a goal of working from home within five years. I achieved it in two, and have worked out of my home office ever since (over 20 years now.)

I feel terrible for all the people this virus shutdown has affected, particularly my many friends who are club musicians and comedians and are just utterly screwed. But aside from the fact that we can't go out to restaurants to escape the screaming cockatoos, and I can't do my regular shopping at 3 a.m. due to shorter store hours(I also work nights, like Dracula), I've hardly noticed the difference. I am making even more donations to my favorite charities, though, because they've really been hit hard.

VincentS said...

Because of the quarantine I'm working at home for the first time. Like any new thing, it took some adjusting but after that passed I must confess I love it - maybe a little too much. It's very tempting to know that I literally never have to get out of bed. I could just put my laptop on my lap (hence the name, I'm sure) and do my work in my pjs. So in order to prevent atrophy I force myself to do things as if I am not working from home. Most (but not all) days I shower, shave and, yes, wear pants, albeit sweats, which I wouldn't be able to wear at the office. I also exercise in the mornings before "going" to work and now that the weather is starting to get nicer I go for walks in the afternoon.

Anonymous said...

When Flash Gordon fought evil on the planet Mongo, he didn't always wear pants either.

E. Yarber said...

I had my first ZOOM conference meeting last week. There's something relaxing about doing business with a cat asleep on your lap.

Brian said...

I have worked from home for 18 years. It did take some adjustment in the early days, but now with all the video conferencing options its not as lonely. Overall, I'd say I really like it. I am lucky to have a completely separate office in my basement. I leave my personal computer off at least in the morning and don't check any email or websites on my "work" computer. There are other way better sites with tips other than "don't goof off". Well, back to work.

Andidante said...

I am working from home for the first time and I love it! I would love to do it all the time but I doubt I will be allowed to when things go back to normal. I find myself less distracted as there is no office noise and I feel like I am getting a lot more done.

bruce said...

I'm a math professor and I've been teaching my small undergraduate research seminar on Zoom. It's worked quite well. (My larger upper level math classes last fall would have been much harder, especially exams.) I talk with my PhD students on Google Hangout. One passed her prelim last week on Zoom (last step before dissertation) and we gave her a Zoom party on Saturday. It was sad that we weren't all there, but she's at home in Chicago, and his way, her brother, mother and grandmother could be in the party. (Cleanup was easier too.) My wife is a software engineer who's in her fifth week of working from home and she prefers it. STEM people like us are often more comfortable with solitude than humanities people.

But it's really scary out there. I feel like we're on a roller coaster that's already descending too fast, and it looks like we're about to hit a free-fall. Plus, it would just be like that crooked manager of the amusement park the last few years to have paid off the safety inspector.

Jeff Boice said...

People need to understand that if you use your work-issued laptop at home, your boss is able to keep track of everything you are doing on that computer, and that may include activating the webcam.

Marcel said...

"People feel free to interrupt you at any time." As a software engineer who prefers to work while lying on the couch I can totally relate that :-D To my wife it somehow doesn't look like I'm really working, no idea why...

Marcel said...

"People need to understand that if you use your work-issued laptop at home, your boss is able to keep track of everything you are doing on that computer, and that may include activating the webcam."
That would be highly illegal in my part of the world (Germany). In that regard most people should be more afraid of hackers than bosses, so in any case, a bit of plastic or tape over the cam while not in use has never done any harm.

Dan Ball said...

I'm actually working more since I'm a FedEx Express driver. We've got more freight coming through and fewer people to deliver it, thanks to illness or self-quarantining. This is handy because my fiancée and I were both part-time and didn't want to leave our jobs. This quarantine's been the deciding factor since I'm basically full-time now and my fiancée was fired from her job.

When I'm not on the road, I'm trying to find time to write between needing rest and daddy duty. We've got a very demanding 2 yo who needs constant attention/entertainment and Mommy almost certainly needs a break once I get home. If I start to write, it's not taken too seriously and I'm always thought to be available to help with anything for any amount of time. Earlier, I took a bathroom break during my first writing session of the week and before I could return wound up cleaning up a kitchen counter, sorting through old mail, helping my daughter with crafts, helping with her lunch, etc. Took me two hours to get back to the computer. After a bathroom break.

Plus, I don't work from home that well. I get far too distracted and need the din and activity of a coffee shop as white audio/visual noise to help me focus. I still get distracted, but I focus so much better and there are fewer external distractions. I want to work well from home, but it just doesn't--oh hey, Brian Blessed just showed up as Grampy Rabbit on Peppa Pig doing a Tarzan call! Brilliant.

(See what I mean?)

bruce said...

This is for Dan Ball, or anyone else who needs a coffee shop to work.

https://coffitivity.com/