Advice for Writers, from a Writer:
Writing with Kids in the House
L comments:
[Gwen, you write] with three kids. And may I ask you: How is that possible? I can’t imagine my daughter letting me work when she is awake. (I write but after she is asleep or when she is in daycare.) Is there some technique you used? Does it change when they get older? Do you have any tips? (Hope I don’t sound too desperate–even though I am.)
It does change when your kids get older, yes. Now that mine are 14, 12, and 9, I can scream at them to be quiet while I work and, half the time, they actually listen.
No, just kidding. What I mean is that, now that they’re older, they know how to microwave their own dinner, so cooking doesn’t cut into my valuable writing time.
No, just kidding. Seriously, what I mean is that, now that they’re all in school, I can take the day off work once in a while and write at home, blessedly alone.
Okay, so I’m not kidding about any of that.
As soon as your kids get old enough to understand, tell them what you’re doing and why. If they want, have them sit next to you and write their own stories.
When they’re a little younger? Tell them, “Come here. Mommy’s going to tell you a story.” Then, read your work to them as you’re writing it. It’s a good way to revise as you go, and it usually bores my kids to tears, so that they never interrupt my writing time again.
(Works on the boyfriend, too.)
