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Efficiency Tips for the Writing Parent
By Melissa Ingold | March 22, 2008
Lack of progress, dissolving motivation, and seemingly endless distractions are just a few hurdles in the life of a writing parent. At times, it becomes overwhelming and leads you astray for days or even weeks, not writing a single thing. The life of a parent writer is far from dreary and definitely challenging, but the end result is certainly worth it.
Here are a few tips to help you stay on track and maintain your motivation:
Download a free minute timer like the one at http://www.pc-tools.net, and use it. You can set it for any amount of time you like. So if you have 15 minutes to sit down and write before running errands, use the timer and it will pop up on your computer screen when the time has elapsed. Chances are you will find yourself spending a lot more then the allotted time writing.
Join a local writers group in your area. If there is no such group, you may want to do a search for an online group who shares your interests. You will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of support you receive by being a part of a group that has similar goals. You’re bound to find many members in a particular group who are successful authors, and the advice they offer is priceless. It’s an all around great place to ask questions, get willing interviewees, or just to hang out and have fun.
Schedule in time to write. No matter how much you think you don’t have the time to write, you do. You need to decide how important your career as a writer is, and if it’s something you absolutely have to do, then MAKE time to write. If you plan to do the laundry and dishes while the kids are napping, use half that time to write and then the remainder doing chores. If it doesn’t all get done right then, don’t worry about it. You can finish it up later that night or tomorrow if you have to. The reality is; you can’t be a writer if you don’t write.
Get out of the house and write. If you have kids that are in school during the day, take advantage of the free time to go to the library or coffee shop. Sometimes a simple change in atmosphere will get your creative juices flowing, and your pen scrawling. If you’re unable to get out of the house without your children, talk to your spouse or another family member about having a couple of hours to yourself in the evening once a week. Whether you go out for a walk, sit in the park or coffee shop, you will be amazed at how refreshed and energized you’ll feel afterwards.
Use the resources available to writers. Like most stay at home parents, you’re likely on a budget and have convinced yourself that don’t need those books, software or courses for writers. If you deny yourself the tools of your trade, you may be missing out on pertinent information like writing markets or grammar essentials. And stocking your office with writing must-haves doesn’t have to be expensive. Scour used books stores, yard sales, e-Bay, your local classifieds, and even your library for writing books and software. Search for websites that offer free information and resources, like Brady Magazine, and signup for their mailing lists to keep up-to-date.
Try not to let the chaos swallow you up. You cannot be a stay at home parent and not experience moments of complete chaos. Don’t spend all your time trying to tamp down a losing battle, instead, just go with the flow. Ignore the toys, shrieks, bickering, laundry, dishes, barking dog, and just write. This is your life and there’s not much you can do about it. Just let it go and deal with it all at the end of the day the same as you would for any other job. The sooner you start treating and talking about your writing as job, the better you’ll feel.
Don’t feel guilty for the time you spend writing. Instead think about the advantages of being at home rather than at an outside job. You get to be the one to kiss boo-boos and wipe tears, read stories, do crafts, or even take off to the park for two hours after lunch. You can work in between everything else, so don’t allow yourself to feel that familiar guilt when you do work. If you need to, situate your office in the most frequented area of your home, like a rec room or living area. This allows you to be at the centre of the action, on hand when you’re needed and the kids will feel better knowing you are right there. If mom or dad is sitting at the computer in the spare bedroom, the kids are bound to continually parade through so they know exactly what you are doing, distracting you to no end. So try putting yourself where they are, and you’ll be surprised by how much more you get done.
The most important thing I can tell you is this: You are not the only parent writer in existence, so don’t give up no matter how much you want to at times. It’s truly worth the sacrifices and stress, and nothing compares with seeing your work in print and getting a check in the mail for doing what you love.
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March 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I like the idea of getting out of the house to write. I used to be most productive with writing assignments during school when we’d go to the park. It was nature inspiring me I guess.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You…while I “know that I know” your reminders came in a timely fashion. Having adopted a 4 yr old just 3 months ago, I am still trying to do what I used to do and still write and be his caring mom.
I WILL let the dishes and laundry go…sooner or later they will get done; and, having a timer for writing - will take a lot of that pressure off.