How to Be a Writer Mom

The words flow with silky ease. Thought after uninterrupted thought jumps onto the computer screen before you. Your fingers dance across your keyboard as you express your ideas. The article is coming together. The angelic voice of your muse caresses your ear. And then suddenly, "MOMMY, HE'S TOUCHING ME!" That's it. Muse has left the building. You are now frustrated as you tend to the demands of sibling rivalry between your kids. It will take you some time to get back into that creative mode again. Your job as a writing mother is hard, but you know there must be an easier way. Here are some tips that can help.

Get Up Early

One way that you can have some private time with your muse is to get up before your household. A good quiet hour to write a query letter or outline an article or even complete an article may be easily accomplished. I get up at 5AM. This works best for me. I have no interruptions. I have the radio set to the classical music station and I just write. That is when I get most of my ideas down and complete article rough drafts. It is a peaceful moment before a hectic day.

Stay Up Late

Taking the time to write once your household has settled for the evening is an option. Use this quiet time to let those creative juices flow.

Help yourself to relax after a busy day by taking a long hot shower or bath. This should aid in getting your muse to speak to you. If you feel pressured in the morning to get things done before your household wakes up, this may be a better time for you. You can spend as much time to write as needed without having to stop to tend a busy morning household.

Burn That Extra Energy

If you are a homemaker and you have little ones that are not currently in school, help them burn off some energy so that they may be a little calmer later. I take my kids outside and let them ride their bikes or scooters. We may even play a good old fashion game of tag. Not only does this burn off some energy, but it also is good exercise for everyone. Even as a working mom you can enjoy some play time with your child before settling down to write.

If there is inclement weather, don't worry. You can play tag in your house too. What about hide and seek? This may end up as a game of tag, but it is a lot of fun to interact with your children in this way. Playing board games are fun too. Chutes and Ladders and Candyland are among my kids favorites.

Another activity I do with my children is turn on the radio or pop in a CD and just dance. Dancing is good for the soul and tremendous fun. I'm not a professional dancer and you don't have to be. Just have a good time. We end up being silly and burn up excess energy laughing.

You can always exercise with your child by putting in an exercise DVD. My kids and I use a basic palates DVD. They don't do the exercises perfectly, but it's hilarious to watch them try.

It's always exciting spending time with your children, so, make the best of it. You are getting some much needed physical activity and laying a foundation for the kids to settle down later.

Quiet Time

Encouraging physical activity is a good way to prepare your little one for quiet time. Quiet time in my house has multiple meanings. It can either mean a time to actual take a nap or a time to just be quiet and look at books. It can also mean a chance to sit quietly and watch a children's video or play a hand held video game. I often will read a story to help my little ones to settle down. Once all is at least semi-quiet, I take the time to get something done like proofreading a previously written article.

Free Play

If your child is at the stage where she can play independently, allow her to play in a different room that is child proof. I allow my son to play in the playroom. He will often play at least a couple of hours. This is beneficial to me because it gives me time to get even more writing done. Every precious moment counts.

Having multiple children is wonderful. They can play together until they start to fight that is. Take advantage of the time they are playing peacefully together.

I also keep coloring books, construction paper, drawing pads, markers, crayons, color pencils, paint brushes, and paints on hand. For any little one art is fun. My children enjoy being little artists. They get lost in a world of creativity drawing or painting or making up stories. I get a chance to get lost in my world of creativity too.

Ask for Help

Don't be afraid to solicit help from your spouse or other family members. Express to them how important your writing is to you. A family member can take your child to a park or simply to the backyard or another part of the house so that you can concentrate.

Consider hiring a babysitter or asking a friend for help. They can also aid in getting your little one out of the house so you can have some quiet time to write.

Always Have a Schedule

As a first time mother with a brand new baby girl, it was a challenge to find the time to write. I had all the stresses of being a new mom with a demanding infant. After my daughter was about four months old, I was able to get her on a schedule. I'd feed her at certain times, bathed her, and even read to her at roughly the same time each day. By doing this, I was able to know more of when she would nap or at least be content enough for me to put her down. I'd spend those rare moments each day writing an article or emailing a query letter.

Having a schedule works well with an older child too. Schedule the activities that you and your little one do together. That way when it is time for you to work on your writing, you child will have some understanding that it's mommy's time to write.

Writing with an Infant

As I mentioned earlier, having your baby on a schedule helps free up some writing time for you. But, what if your baby wants to be held all the time in those early months?

You may want to consider investing in a baby carrier like a Baby Bjorn or the Evenflo Snugli. A baby carrier gives your baby that physical closeness she needs and gives you the freedom of using both your hands to type. I used a carrier some of the time. Other times I just held my baby in one arm and typed with one hand. Either way I was able to get some writing done.

Whether you have only one child or many, being a writing mother can be difficult. It is a difficulty, however, that you can overcome. Stay focused on your goals and take advantage of every writing opportunity that comes your way.