A long time ago. . . and in a place not so far away, I could write anywhere. Give me a scrap of paper, a pen, or a computer and I could weave the magic.
Nowadays, I can hardly string a sentence together. Why? Kids! With each additional child, I lost a little more of my time and attention span. I’m not sure if it washed down the drain with water after baths, or if I accidently dropped it in the washer along with the mounds of dirty laundry. For instance, just in trying to write this short post, I’ve had to get up from the computer twice. Once to remind a potty-training youngster that we poop IN the potty, then to change the channel on the television, and now thoughts of breakfast are intruding.
And as Lisa Gardner says in the latest Writer’s Digest. . . you can’t write a bestseller three words at a time.
But, I have to think to write and have time to write. . .
I have a lovely writing space at home — but it isn’t working for me at this time of my life. My preschool-aged boys demand attention, my teenager is bored, and the dog thinks I’m his personal door person and the no-barking police (which I guess I am). And the cat. . . we won’t even mention how many times a day I have to shove her off my lap as I type.
So, when my birthday rolled around this year, my gift was TIME! I can’t thank my husband enough. Two days a week, a neighborhood teen comes over to help my daughter babysit “the boys” and I grab my Alphasmart and a table in the very back of the library.
For two weeks now, I’ve been able to write almost 2000 words in the couple of hours I spend on those library excursions! I may actually get my Christmas novella done and submitted before the deadline this year!
My muse is happy (okay, she’d be happier at the beach with a frou-frou drink, sun umbrella, and cabana boys in thongs but I digress). I am happy, and amazingly, my kids are happier because I’m happier (funny how that works, huh?) The dog. . . well, he doesn’t care who opens the door and I’m sure he’s happier because the babysitter doesn’t care if he barks.
So. . . when life intrudes, where do you go to work?
June 24th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Luckily I’m single and child-free. I can do it anywhere. *loves double entendres*
June 24th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Yep. . . those were the days. In bed, on the kitchen table, the living room floor, the coffee shop ~ Going back to dreaming about kitchen table sex. . . I mean, um, writing, yeah, writing.
June 24th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
When my kids were little I would hang an alphabet-bead necklace on the door of my office. The necklace says “I love you but I am working now. Please leave me alone. I will be out when I am done.”
Now I wait until they are in school. It’s summer vacation? No wonder I can’t get anything done.
Alice
June 24th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Hey Ericka! That’s so cool. I’m very happy that you’ve got more time to write. I don’t know how you all do it. I’ve got one child and one kitten, and that sucks up a hell of a lot of time! I can’t imagine how much harder it would be with more kids and pets. Yikes!
Good luck on that X-Mas submission too.
Oh, and I work best when the hubby’s at work and my daughter’s at school. Which reminds me, she’s got school holidays next week. :/
June 25th, 2007 at 1:56 am
OMG! Ericka, I so hear you. I cannot WAIT for preschool next year. That’s twice a week, three hours a day. HEAVEN.
I’m glad you found a way to get a break. Hugs!