Writer Mama Riffs on Raising A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids

Happy summer/almost summer, moms!

I sent this list of tips out in my Writer Mama e-zine the other day. If you don’t want to miss a single writer mama tip, click on the little envelope at the top right of my blog and join my e-mail list.

And please, share your suggestions for getting work done with kids at home by commenting here.

I realize that spring-into-summer is a bittersweet transition for many mamas, who may be wondering, “How the heck am I going to get my work done with the kids off from school?”

So, here are a few tips:

1. Make sure you know what you need and don’t need to accomplish. If you are like me, you need a break as much as you need to get more done. So be sure to prioritize vacation and down time. Then prioritize what you will write this summer in a numbered list. You may not get it all done, but aim to get your top priorities done, at the very least.

2. Communicate how things will be to the tribe. No doubt the kids are curious about what’s happening this summer. Resist the urge to just highlight the fun stuff. Instead tell them about the fun stuff AND THEN paint them a clear picture of how they can help you accomplish your goals. If they don’t know what you have in mind, they can’t help you (in an age-appropriate manner, of course).

3. Build in a system of rewards. For example, if the kids go out to play in the backyard in the morning, you can write on the back porch (or whatever works). Then they can watch a movie or you’ll take them to a movie in the afternoon (or whatever reward they’d appreciate). That’s win-win-win.

4. When you get an assignmnet due to their cooperation, celebrate! Cupcakes after dinner or some such achknowledgement of your hard work and their cooperation really just means more excuses for parties. And it’s summer, so there’s nothing wrong with that!

5. A deal is a deal. Speaking of deal-making…get your partner to double-dog dare you to make a certain amount of money this summer from writing to help keep you focused on the bottom line when a day at the beach sounds more fun than a query letter. But after you send it, go and enjoy the beach!

Yes, writing is often hard work. But it’s deeply satisfying too. And mothering is fun + summers are wonderful. So let some of the playful spirit of summer spill over into your writing career instead of putting it aside for three months!

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

And if all else fails, go ahead and take a break. But first sign up for one of my classes that begns in August or October. I’ll help you get your writing career in gear, so you can rekindle your writing rhythm.