How to Write and Parent During the Summer
Writer parents share strategies for getting creative work done during the summer
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Trying to write or create over the summer while also trying to parent can be a challenge. Every summer, I feel ambitious about the writing I’m going to get done while I’m not teaching, but every summer it feels difficult to get much done when my kids aren’t in school.
Summer break is almost upon us where I live, so I asked for tips from other parents handling the summer creating conundrum, and I’m sharing those today.
, who writes the Substack Nebula Notebook, said:
I give myself permission to skip marketing during the summer. I can still work with clients if they come to me and it's a good fit, but I'm not actively networking, speaking at conferences, going on podcasts, hanging out on Instagram, or posting on Substack.
It frees up a shocking amount of mental energy and time, but I think it's also helpful because once I make the decision to skip those things, I feel less pressure to do it all. It's also a chance to reset and decide how I want to market my work when I come back in the fall.
Liz Alterman, who is the author of several books, including the upcoming Claire Casey's Had Enough, said:
Though I hate this phrase because of how much it reminds me of corporate America, I try to "manage my expectations" and accept that I may get less done in the summer….When my kids were younger, I'd try to institute "artist hour" in the afternoons where I'd bust out Play-Doh, markers, construction paper, and I even went as far as to buy a giant inflatable easel, which I'd set up in the backyard with watercolors and finger paints. I'd tell them we were going to each work on our own projects, and when the timer went off, we'd share our art.
I'd be lucky if I got 15 minutes in (it typically took me longer to gather supplies and inflate the easel!), which I guess goes back to managing expectations, lol.
, who writes the Substack Heretic Hereafter, offered this sage advice:
I write in the morning and let my kids brainrot in front of screens for a few hours before dragging us all (unwillingly) out of the house.
[Editor’s note: My kids tell me the current brain rot of choice is Italian Brain rot.]
Author Amran Gowani’s debut novel Leverage comes out this summer, and he outlined these plans:
I've got a unique challenge this summer in trying to promote my forthcoming novel Leverage while also maintaining forward momentum on my current novel-in-progress and email newsletter.
My expectation is failure on all fronts, but my delusional plan relies on two key tactics. For Leverage promotion, I've enrolled my kids in a "full-day" (e.g., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) summer camp for the all-important two weeks leading up to pub day. This should free up crucial bandwidth without breaking the bank.
As for continuing to create new material during the summer, I intend to maintain a vampire schedule, writing from either 9 p.m. to midnight or 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., depending on my insomnia.
, who writes the Substack Not Normal, said:
I call them “baby bites” or “snacks”- writing for tiny chunks of 15-20 minutes at a time and (most importantly) being OK with that. I used to think I could only write if I had 2-3 hours, but that’s just not possible much of the time, especially in the summer.
Along with “done is better than perfect,” “something is better than nothing” is the mantra I live by! I do try to get one “snack” in before the kids wake up—but if it doesn’t happen, that’s okay. That just means more time to accumulate life, which ultimately turns into the stories that fuel my writing.
, who writes the Substack One Tired Mother, said:
I'm a huge fan of waking up early. I know it's difficult, but waking up 90 minutes before my daughter does ensures I have half an hour for coffee/yoga/staring at the sunrise/doomscrolling... and then a solid hour once I'm awake to get my creative work in.
I start the day feeling good about what I've accomplished and ready to take on the chaos (and fun) that is having a child home for the whole summer.
Julie Vick, who writes this Substack, is still trying to figure out her best plan of attack, although I think it may involve a combination of a lot of the above tips.
I’m going to try to work on some things, but I also want to take some time to recharge a bit. It helps me to think about the summer as a whole and realize that certain portions of it (like July) are not going to be super productive because of travel and holidays. August is also hard with back-to-school. So basically, I’m looking at you, June.
But even when things are busy, I’m going to try to fit in what I can. I have been interested in writing more micro, and that seems doable in small chunks of time, so I think I’m going to try to follow along with some of the prompts that Darien Gee shares on her Substack.
I’ve got a long list of other potential things to work on that I’ll try to whittle down and prioritize at the beginning of the summer so that when I do get a bit of time, I’m not spending it trying to figure out what to work on.
But I am also going to embrace the fact that I won’t be able to get everything I want done.
How do you handle writing (or creating) in the summer? Feel free to share in the comments.
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Definitely appreciate all the tips, as I’m also trying to figure this summer out with a five and seven year old (one of which is special needs). It’s also my first year actually writing full time, so I haven’t had to balance much work in the summers thus far in my parenting life. Here’s to early mornings and just doing what we can!
This will actually be my first summer where I am actively writing. Couple that with driving around a very active teenager on a daily basis and I am a little wary.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about the micro writing and have been skeptical about it working for me. I’m thinking I’ll find out one way or the other over the next few months!