Turning In the Full Draft of Your First Book

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Permalink Reply by Old West Mom on March 25, 2009 at 6:14am

That's the million dollar question, isn't it???

I haven't been able to find that balance yet, and unfortunately it's my writing that's been sacrificed at the time altar.

I second Judy's question. Does anyone have any advice? I realize I need to try to wean myself off sleep, but it's been tough. No sleep makes me a nonsensical blabbering idiot.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Pope on March 25, 2009 at 9:19am

There's the old thing of just writing a line a day, even just a word a day. That's what a lot of writers say because if you write just one word a day at least you feel like you have done something! For me, I try to commit to one evening a week, maybe not to write my novel, PB or whatever, but perhaps just to jot down ideas. I do keep an ideas journal with connective information about publishers that might be right for each idea. Some writers love their critique group because it gives them a deadline. Once a month meetings can force you to write something, but this didn't work for me. I felt uncomfortable in the critique meetings since everyone else is really vying for their own stuff to get attention. Probably not suitable for the "quiet" writer but more for outgoing types.

What does work for me is when I have one of those moments that really grab me and I think "this is book material" so I write it down immediately. Then as soon as I can I get the kids occupied in a craft activity I'll go and write for 20 - 30 minutes. It might be bare bones, but at least I feel like I've accomplished something.

Another thought - have you joined a writers association in your area? They are fabulous. I belong to SCBWI in Seattle and this has made me finalize one of my ideas into producing a dummy book for critique. If I wasn't on a deadline to submit it I probably would never have written it at all!

I'm a photographer, I love to write kids books (not published yet), a Mom of 3 kids under 9, I volunteer a lot at school, I work every Sunday and now I'm moving house. Yes, it is hard to write and everyone has the same issues - time and space. My new house is giving me the space with a lovely office, so now I have to organize my life to find the time. Phew! And sleep? What is that again? Good luck to you with finding your own time and space and sleep (yes you need it!). Think I'll stop now...

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Permalink Reply by A. B. England on March 27, 2009 at 9:43am

I've been struggling a lot with this myself the past year or so. As soon as I got my oldest into a good routine where I had some time each day, I became pregnant again. My youngest is eight-months-old now, and both girls' naps have finally started to coincide. I'm slowly getting the girls into a daily routine where they each get a bit of time, I get a half hour or so twice in the morning to keep up with the chores. With that out of the way, I have an hour block to blog or whatever and then another hour block to work on one of the two Works-In-Progress I have going at the moment.

It's imperfect, yes. I don't know how well it would work for a mom who works outside the home, but the girls seem happier. I know I'm a ton happier, not only getting in time with my girls and the occasional household chore, but getting in a little time for myself now and again. I intend to enjoy it and get as much writing done as I can before the girls outgrow nap time.

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Permalink Reply by April Hayman on March 29, 2009 at 9:32pm

After the kids are in bed, I aim for 300 words. Just 300. Usually I by that time I can get into the groove of writing and churn out 1k+. But its a tough balance, no doubt about it. I work full time, am mom to three boys (one with special needs), wife to a great hubby, artist and writer. I'd make a million dollars figuring out that question.

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Permalink Reply by DeAnna S. on April 8, 2009 at 1:48pm

It is very difficult to find the time you need to write when you have young children. When my kids were little I got very little sleep in order to have an hour or two at night to write. When you are trying to write a novel you need the time to get back into what you last wrote so you can continue in the direction you were going. It isn't always easy to just sit right down and write a bunch a words just because you only have 30 minutes to yourself. It wasn't until my children were in school full-time that I finally had a couple of hours a day to write and finish my books. One book I had been thinking about and trying to write for 5 years! Ugg.

I did try to find little bits of time here and there, though. In summers when I was sitting at my children's sports practices I'd bring along a notebook and write, later I'd type what I'd written into the computer. By hand-writing it first, I got the basic ideas on paper and then as I typed it I could do a first edit. It's actually a very productive way to write. Naptime was also a good time to sit quietly and get some writing time. Luckily, I had kids who would get tired and want a nap! Sometimes I'd have my husband take the kids out with him somewhere for an hour or two and use that time for writing too.

I was lucky, I only worked part-time around my husband's schedule so I was home most days with the kids and therefore didn't have to find free time around a full-time job and home. I give kudos to anyone who can work, raise their family and find time to write!

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Permalink Reply by Sula Lee on April 17, 2009 at 9:12am

My kids are just now 3 and 6 and I am only now finding any free time to write. While they were little however, I did keep a journal, and plan to go back to that for tidbits. I also kept some very good Word files with ideas and some pretty great writing...now that both my kids are in school for 3 hours a day, I plan to write a lot more!

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