Hard to Believe.

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Monday 30 November 2009

Hard to Believe.

It's been over a year, and yet, hard to believe it's only been about a year. But there it is. My first release with Freya's Bower came out October 1, 2008. Just over a year ago. I'm going to guess I didn't spend nearly enough time in the interval sleeping. And yet. I'm not really a prolific writer, as these things go. There are writers who put out a far sight more work than I do. Lots of them even have day jobs and families, as I do. So how do they do it? How do they find the time to write so many words and do so much promotion?




I can't answer the question for them, I only know, in my life, there has to be a balance. I have two extremely competent young children. A nine year old who can, in a pinch, or just when she feels like it, cook supper for the entire family. And we aren't talking about bowls of cereal, either. I mean slicing, dicing, and cooking up a mess of Sheppard's Pie. We're talking full course meal. Then there is the six year old who knows, if he's going to eat, he's going to have to fend for himself during the day. And he's recently graduated from Rice Crispies to toasting himself a bagel.



I know. I'm lucky. All I have to do is sit at the kitchen table and supervise, and things get done around me. Because I taught them to be self sufficient. I want my job with them to be over. Much as I love them, I am just the mother. Not the life support system, and they are coming to realize that.



So I sit at the kitchen table and write while they learn stuff around me. Now, the trick becomes finding meaningful time alone with my other children. The made up ones. The ones who really cannot exist without my input. The characters who wander in and out of my life and onto the pages of my stories are as much a drain on my resources as the children of my loins. I don't know how it is for other writers. I just know how it is for me. When I get into the throes of a writing binge, the rest of the world falls away, and heaven help anyone who comes tapping on my shoulder looking for a missing sock or a snack or spouting any problem short of oozing blood.



The trick, I've been told, is balance. I've never been much of one for balance. All or nothing. Multi-tasking ends when writing starts. The more quiet and distraction free my environment, the happier I am. But to write prolifically means shutting out more of the world more often. Hard to do when there is the constant "Mommy, Mom, Ma!!!" going on in the background, just under the skin of concentration. And really, they are young, still, they do need attention after a sort, and so cannot be shut out. Not really.



So how do you find the balance between one set of children and the other? How do you do it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

7 comments

Emma Lai said...

Hi, Jaime. As a new mother, I'm still trying to find my balance. I'm typing with one hand as I type with the other. I capture story ideas during nap time and hope that one day I'll actually get to flesh them out. I also use nap time to stay up to date on email, blogging, and promotion.

Sarah Simas said...

HI Jaime!

I'm a stay at home mom with two toddlers and I've yet to figure out how to make it all work. LOL When you figure it out, let me know! I'm either writing till O'Dark Thirty or up with the chickens. I carry noteboooks with me all the time. *heehee* Makes me feel productive. :o)

Great post! I love your graphic, it's so pretty!

Jaime Samms said...

Ah, Emma. I remember thos days. Sort of. My oldest was never really a napper, and by the time the youngest came along, she was three...

Sarah, nine years later, I still haven't got a handle on it. Thanks for the comment about the graphic. It's a photo of a little corner of my garden. I'm kind of fond of both the little angel, and the photo.

Andy Taylor said...

I struggle with this all the time. I think I am more like you and need to ignore one world to exist in the other.

I am fortunate enough that my wife supports my writing and allows me time away from the family to write (on occasion). I am still trying to find a method that works for me.

Good luck and keep writing.

Jaime Samms said...

Hey, Andy. You are fortunate. I get that support from my partners, too, (most of the time) except when Hubbs is tired and grumpy. Nix is a writer, too, and so understands, so that helps.

Kids, though...kids are kids. They need what they need. NOW!!! lol!

Dakota Trace said...

Finding time with kids is hard. I've learned to set aside certain times, usually after bed for my writing. It doesn't always work but I try. Like you Jaime, I have a tendency to shut the entire world out while writing. The house could burn down around me or a tornado could roll through and I'd be oblivious. Thank god, I have a wonderful husband who puts up with my incessant need to create.

Jaime Samms said...

I've had hubs tap on my computer screen, Dakota, and and ask "can you at least acknowledge them?" Only to find the kids have been trying to get my attention for half an hour or more. I tend not to tune them out that thoroughly unless he's home, but still. It's a little odd to know I completey missed it...

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