Carving Out Writing-Time from Kid-Time

Thought it might be a nice idea to share ideas how to carve out writing time for ourselves with children in the mix. I used to think this was impossible. Then met - when my kids were 2 and newborn - a writer who got up at 4 a.m. to write.

I got in the habit of sitting down to write the minute nap-time started, and then school-time when that came. No answering phones or paying bills.

Anyone have other strategies?

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Permalink Reply by Adriana Ryan on April 29, 2010 at 10:50am

My kids are very young - I have an 18 month old and a 30 month old. I have a sitter on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-1. I wake up at 7AM, write till 9 AM when they wake up. Then I write furiously from 10 till 1 when the sitter is here. I put my kids down at 1PM and write for about an hour.
Once I got close to finishing my manuscript, I started getting a sitter on Wednesdays in addition to Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am almost done with my book - so exciting!

Permalink Reply by Meg Waite Clayton on April 30, 2010 at 3:32pm

>so exciting!

Indeed!

Permalink Reply by Ry Raman on April 30, 2010 at 4:43pm

I can't believe there's a group like this! I don't feel alone anymore. I used to wake up at 4 am to write before I went to work. This would give me about 2 hours before the family woke up so I could write. Then my youngest started waking up with me. Plus, I would be so exhausted at the end of the night, every morning became tougher. Now, I'm trying to work at night, after the kids sleep. I listen to music and read a little first. It seems to help me get back to the writing. It's really slow going - but the more the story escapes my brain, the easier it is to get through the day.

Permalink Reply by Meg Waite Clayton on May 9, 2010 at 7:25am

>It's really slow going - but the more the story escapes my brain, the easier it is to get through the day.

This is the bottom line, isn't it? That as hard as it is to write, it's even harder NOT to write.

Permalink Reply by Alle C. Hall on May 12, 2010 at 11:20am

How is this for a privileged response: I pay someone to watch my children. If I do not then sit down and write, I imagine throwing fifty bucks out a window.

Permalink Reply by Brenda Coats on May 12, 2010 at 12:41pm

I don't really have anything profound to say. I am just glad that I'm not the only one who struggles for writing time. Ha!

My kids are older (19,18,13). But with homeschooling my son, taking him to baseball, etc, I have a rough time finding writing time. He's very high maintenance. ;)

I could never do the 4 am thing. I could stay up late, but that doesn't work for various reasons. Seems like the only writing time I get is when I get left at home alone for some reason.

Sigh .....

Permalink Reply by Lois Houston on May 14, 2010 at 2:30pm

I am fortunate that I work from home and my kids are in school most of the day... so I write when the inspiration strikes. Some days, that is more than others, but I try to do a little bit every day. I am able to flex my work hours around my life so I can work my writing in around that. Most of the time, though, it seems I am writing in the evenings after everyone has gone to bed. That is when I am most creative - and it is a great way to put the day aside and focus on myself for a little while before I go to bed.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Campbell on May 21, 2010 at 4:18pm

So funny. My head is usually full of thoughts as soon as my head hits the pillow, so I have to get up and jot them all down so I can remember them for later. My son is two, so he keeps me so busy that naptime and bedtime are pretty much the only times I get to write!

Permalink Reply by Meg Waite Clayton on May 28, 2010 at 8:20am

I do this, too, Michelle. Else can never sleep!

Permalink Reply by Deborah Siegel on May 28, 2010 at 1:28pm

I'm a novice at the writing-while-mamaing life still, and I'm still writing on the subway. Anya and Teo are 7 months old. Writing about them makes me feel like even when I'm not with them (and am on the subway), I'm kinda with them. You know?

Permalink Reply by Jules Carey on May 28, 2010 at 2:15pm

Hallelujah! Other women who know what it's like!

I am the mom of 5 kids (16,14,11,7, & 2) and am trying to finish my first novel. In the past, I have stuck with writing mostly flash fiction pieces but have had these ideas for novels floating around in my head that can no longer be ignored. Lately I've grown ever so frustrated with trying to keep the balance between family and writing.

Sleep is as precious as gold around here so I guard it with my life! But I have also fallen prey to the story, scene, or dialog in my head that won't let me sleep till it comes out. I have a hard time going other places to write because I still have a toddler at home and always have to be wondering where he is or what he is into. So, I am always open to ideas on how to get in that little extra time to write.