The kids are grown and gone but since my husband retired I’m finding more time is spent fixing a mid-day meal, doing extra laundry, and other fetch and tote tasks.

I stapled twine into both sides of a block of wood and painted “Writer at Work” on one side. When the door to my writing room is shut and the sign is up, there is no trespassing. (Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I just hide in there and take a nap!)

Ginger B.
http://coppertopcollins.blogspot.com
http://www.gingerbcollins.com
.-= Ginger B. Collins´s last blog .. =-.

[Reply]

By Ginger B. Collins on 10.19.09 12:38 pm | Permalink

I don’t know how you adults deal with us teens, but I do know that with the intense schoolwork, 2 am writing sessions are the only plausible times to write!

Good luck everyone!
Ceylan
.-= Ceylan´s last blog ..19 October 2009 =-.

[Reply]

By Ceylan on 10.19.09 5:41 pm | Permalink

I’ve got 8 kids, most of them mildly autistic. I also work 20 – 30 hours per week. Writing is my therapy. I’ve told my husband I need a wife to deal with the household tasks (laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, bill paying, etc.) and kid stuff (car pools, homework, chores, etc.) so I have time to write. He thinks I’m joking. If I could afford it, I’d clone Alice from The Brady Bunch.

I’ve noticed that the writers I see at conventions who are just breaking into the field, most with 1 to 3 books published, are either young females with no children or male. Where does that leave those of us with families? My first novel is due to hit the shelves next month. The original draft was written 15 years ago. It’s taken me that long to get where I feel ready for publication. Since my editor and publisher agree, it’s been a long journey but worthwhile.

I have to say that teens are harder to deal with than toddlers. Toddlers are easier to corral and the worst they usually do is spill toys and food on the floor. I’ve got a house full of teens now and almost no time to write.

And as far as 2 am writing sessions go, I’m too old to stay up that late!

[Reply]

By Jaleta Clegg on 10.19.09 10:41 pm | Permalink

And the mess in the picture? That’s nothing compared to what my whole house looks like after I spend a morning locked in my bedroom to write!

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By Jaleta Clegg on 10.19.09 10:43 pm | Permalink

Now I’m more scared.
My kids are 12-4 and the youngest destroys everything he touches.
I write because if I don’t they all are unhappy.

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By Sarah on 10.19.09 11:39 pm | Permalink

Ginger — I love that you have a sign. And it’s even better that you don’t always write. I need to come up with something like that!!!

And yeah, my house only stays clean b/c I have someone bugging me about it lol
If others didn’t care what the house looked like, I’m sure there would be toys and such Everywhere….
.-= eden´s last blog ..I’m stuck :/ =-.

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By eden on 10.20.09 9:39 am | Permalink