tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890965705973577389.post5927044064000775819..comments2023-07-08T07:17:39.447-07:00Comments on Once Upon a Novelist: How to be a "writing mother"?Josiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891614490103342485noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890965705973577389.post-6642531455652809972010-05-11T06:48:43.384-07:002010-05-11T06:48:43.384-07:00I suppose my pressure is not so much to publish (a...I suppose my pressure is not so much to publish (althought wouldn't that be a great reward!) After a little more intropection, I suppose my NEED to finish and be productive with my writing on a daily basis is because I am home with my children, I do spend glorious hours with them - and quite possibly I like the feeling of completing something - something that says I am more than house cleaner and chef (though I'm not much of the latter anyway!) <br /><br />But I think you're right...to enjoy the writing...and isn't that what will make it successful anyway? :)Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01891614490103342485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890965705973577389.post-53728247562498860742010-05-11T04:14:05.865-07:002010-05-11T04:14:05.865-07:00I totally understand. I have two young children (...I totally understand. I have two young children (7 and 3) and I work full-time at a job that often necessitates bringing work home nights and weekends (I am a teacher). Time is something I do not have in abundance (or even, often, at all). I don't make myself crazy over when this book will get done. I write when I can. I still love it. When I get back to it, it is always such a delicious feeling to steal a bit of time and work on it, so it helps me not to fall out of love with what I am writing. My writing and I give each other space, lol.<br /><br />Truly, when I get home from work and pick up the kids, I spend every minute I can with them until they go to bed. Then I am cleaning up, spending time with my hubby, doing schoolwork. If I get to writing, bonus. A lot of people would scoff at my lack of discipline but I choose to make my children my discipline after work because I get precious few hours with them on weekdays.<br /><br />The good news is that no one is going to write your novel out from under you. If you finish it this year, great. Next year, great. In five years, great. Your ideas are your ideas and they're not going anywhere. I always thought this rush to finish and publish was a somewhat irrational fear.<br /><br />Anyway... enjoy your kids. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your writing. Fit the pieces together the best you can. If you are happy, then it's working. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890965705973577389.post-81242985021079943352010-04-30T14:45:51.415-07:002010-04-30T14:45:51.415-07:00The first and most important thing is to not be ha...The first and most important thing is to not be hard on yourself.<br />There are only so many hours in the day.<br />Your work, if it takes 18 months or 5 years, will show the time you have taken to think about it and be better for it.<br />Also, as your kids get older I guess you will find it a bit easier to squeeze some time in for your writing. That might not help too much with your WIP, but I imagine you aren't planning to stop at one.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625543235578144620noreply@blogger.com