I get asked now and then (all the time) how do I find the time to write? See I'm a wife and mother of two, so this is one of those questions that people ask out of honest wonder. The easy answer is that I don't find time, I make the time. Like currently it's summer and that means two/three days a week I am spending about two and a half hours of my evening at the softball field for my nine year old. I'm also scheduling in Driver's Ed for the sixteen year old. I am also gearing up for the dance season that begins in a few weeks, and I am gearing up to another year of horse riding. What that means is that when we finally get home at night, I am usually cramming food into everyone as fast as possible, then cleaning up, and doing my nightly "chores". By the time I get the house settled down its pushing ten o'clock and the night is over....or is it?
Let's face it, most evenings regardless of the "plans" end up about the same. Whether there is dance class or softball or horseback riding or nothing at all. The night finally settles down at about ten. So, that is when I make time to write. I have wired my brain to gear up at night. I will sit down and do administration work or editing work or if I am feeling creative I will start something new. I know that I have at the very least an hour at the most several hours, depending on the day of the week. I am more apt to stay up later on a Monday that I am on Thursday.
Why don't I use my mornings? Well, because I'm tired. I am so not a morning person. I'm grumpy. I don't want to talk, think, or even open my eyes, so there is not much in the way of creative going on at that time of day. I finally catch my stride around eight in the morning but before that, forget it.
My lunch hour I usually use as a time for writing, or connecting on line with other writers or checking out blogs or whatnot, but this summer I have changed that. I have been taking my lunch hour for myself. This has had the effect that I don't have as much time to be "social" on-line which I miss, but instead of staying inside at my computer, I am going to the park to read or to walk or to just find time for myself that I don't usually get. So far I am enjoying the sun. It wont be here much longer so I better soak it up while I can as I don't see my park days continuing throughout the Ohio winter.
So there you have it, if you ask me, you can't "find" time to write. If it's that important, then MAKE the time.
ctny
You definitely have to get outside while you can with our winters. I have to think stepping away from the computer helps with creativity and production. I am really going to try and plan my time more. I've decided to call time that I am not interacting with Roz, 'independent play time' (for her... and well, I guess me too, really), cause that sounds proper, and then I don't have to feel bad for being distracted. ;)
ReplyDeleteI hear you. I have to make time right now because my husband is home a lot more in the summer. I send him to bed and force him to nap because I need to write when my daughter naps. I steal time in the evenings too, but some nights I have to pay attention to my husband. Still, I'll stay up late if need be or get up early. Writing is part of who I am, and I'm more than willing to make time to do it.
ReplyDeleteStaying up late or getting up early is a MUST for mommy writers. I prefer the former, but I also do the latter. It's funny how being a mother actually gives you the discipline to do what you thought impossible even when you had a lot more free time!
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