This is just what I needed to read! I had the best intentions of getting up early (4:30) to write. But the 2 yr old woke at 4 having some kind of mad sleepwalking episode and just as I got him down the 3 year old woke and I’ve been trapped under him reading this as I get him back to sleep. I was going to race out to open my computer as soon as he was settled. But now I think I just need to to make a pot of tea first.
Oh my gosh I love all of this! I think all *expert* advice needs to come with an asterisk for mothers of young children. Whatever the advice is it doesn’t work when you are responsible for a small child(ren).
What has helped me is prioritizing my writing within all my daily activities. If I have laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning and writing on my plate, I’ll try to make the writing the priority before all the other things. Waking up early for myself doesn’t really work for me because my kids will get up too and then I’ll just get annoyed and end up with them for an extra hour instead of getting me-time. Ive really leaned into asking for help and nog feeling silly ti ask for help so that i can do things i want to do.
That is so true, Emma, about what you have written. I tried to be disciplined with my writing—set a time, go upstairs, and write. However, it does not always work, like today. Both of my children want to play with me, the state of the house irritates me, and I am feeling ill and achy. I was really trying hard to write, but thankfully, I stumbled upon your post, and it feels like I needed permission to attend to other things in life, to release pressure in other places that today are holding back my creativity. I am posting this response, and I am closing my laptop for now. Thank you, Emma.
Yes. I think I've read so much about people never finishing the book they want to write that it's made me fearful about not being really disciplined. But sometimes it's too much. And I did finish and publish a book so I know that writing slowly works in this season!
Yes to the asterisk for all mothers! I relate into not getting up early, my son will just wake up to so that doesn’t work. I do the same, if I have space and I could do house stuff or write, I go write!
Discerning about following writerly advice (or not!) is wise. I really resonated with the book Create Anyway by Ashlee Gad, about writing (or not writing!) in the midst of motherhood.
This is just what I needed to read! I had the best intentions of getting up early (4:30) to write. But the 2 yr old woke at 4 having some kind of mad sleepwalking episode and just as I got him down the 3 year old woke and I’ve been trapped under him reading this as I get him back to sleep. I was going to race out to open my computer as soon as he was settled. But now I think I just need to to make a pot of tea first.
I am so glad this served you! YES! Make the tea first. And I completely understand the urge to rush to write.
Oh my gosh I love all of this! I think all *expert* advice needs to come with an asterisk for mothers of young children. Whatever the advice is it doesn’t work when you are responsible for a small child(ren).
What has helped me is prioritizing my writing within all my daily activities. If I have laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning and writing on my plate, I’ll try to make the writing the priority before all the other things. Waking up early for myself doesn’t really work for me because my kids will get up too and then I’ll just get annoyed and end up with them for an extra hour instead of getting me-time. Ive really leaned into asking for help and nog feeling silly ti ask for help so that i can do things i want to do.
That is so true, Emma, about what you have written. I tried to be disciplined with my writing—set a time, go upstairs, and write. However, it does not always work, like today. Both of my children want to play with me, the state of the house irritates me, and I am feeling ill and achy. I was really trying hard to write, but thankfully, I stumbled upon your post, and it feels like I needed permission to attend to other things in life, to release pressure in other places that today are holding back my creativity. I am posting this response, and I am closing my laptop for now. Thank you, Emma.
How beautiful Aleks. I completely understand all of that, sometimes we need to give ourself permission to let things go differently than we planned!
Yes. I think I've read so much about people never finishing the book they want to write that it's made me fearful about not being really disciplined. But sometimes it's too much. And I did finish and publish a book so I know that writing slowly works in this season!
Exactly! It is definitely about what season we are in. I hear you on that fear though.
Yes to this.
I needed to hear this.
I am glad it supported you!
Yes to the asterisk for all mothers! I relate into not getting up early, my son will just wake up to so that doesn’t work. I do the same, if I have space and I could do house stuff or write, I go write!
Discerning about following writerly advice (or not!) is wise. I really resonated with the book Create Anyway by Ashlee Gad, about writing (or not writing!) in the midst of motherhood.
That sounds like a lovely read and much needed for
me!