I hear a lot of writers talk about how supporting their
spouses or
significant others are about their writing time, but I'm sure there are quite a few who don't have that kind of support system. How do you deal with trying to find the time to write vs making your family happy?
11 comments:
Family, for me, always comes first. Being a caregiver, my writing time only comes in fragments, so unfortunately the same is true of the writing. I have lots of fragments, fewer finished stories.
I know all about the fragments, Naomi, I have files full of them myself.
What I've found is that writing in fragments is easier for the really short stories but a killer on the longer pieces. By the time I get back to a story, I've lost the momentum and by the time I've read through what I've written, I'm interrupted again.
When my son was young it was very very hard. I only wrote late at night most times and it was slow going. My son is out of the house now so I have more time, and my wife is also an artist and understands the need for time to be creative. So my position now is very good and that's a big reason my productivity has gone up so much these past 5 years or so.
I write after 9:00 PM in a room above or garage.
Yes, having children does put a crimp in the writing hours, Charles. They don't understand your need to write, but then neither do some spouses. :)
Having your own space away from interruptions is a major plus, Sean.
As and when for me, Sandra. I have a very understanding wife. I try and get most of it done when the kids are in bed and the wife watches her recorded programmes on TV. We're both self-employed too, so work is a 1st for us both. Now and then I'll get a good few hours to catch up on blogs and finish some WIP's. I repeat, now and then!
My husband writes too and he is greatly relieved that I no longer hand him a paintbrush or a wrench. Nor ask him to go to a sale at Macy's.
Seems most of us write on a now and then basis, David.
You're a very understanding wife, Patti! But does your husband hand you the frying pan when he's hungry and you're writing?
My husband is disabled & was a high-maintenance type of person even before he was disabled. We're both unemployed & at home all the time. A person might think this would give me time to write, but I'm a really slow writer, and can just about manage a couple of short stories a year. Not very encouraging, is it! I hope other people's situations are better than mine.
No, he's the cook. Although he leaves every dish for me to wash. Fair trade.
But Anonymous, at least you do manage a couple of stories a year, which is better than none at all. And yes, sigh, some husbands are more high maintenance than others but then they probably think the same of us. Good luck in your endeavors and keep writing and submitting.
You're a very lucky lady, Patti!! My husband does peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and occassionally a can of soup :) The dishes are always mine and there's always a pile in the sink - waiting.
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