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!
I'm in a similar boat -- my writing was never "really" a priority until I had an actual book coming out and I had to take myself sort of seriously. I'm really struggling with the balance pre-summer, to be honest, and I think occupying those dead zones will be key. Good luck!
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!
I can't say micro writing is quite as satisfying as settling in for a full hour or two, but it does keep me in that headspace, which makes it easier to work on something bigger when I have the time and energy for it.
Co-writing with Kimberly McElhatten and Focus & Flow with Jeffrey Davis will keep me on track; even if they take a pause, I’ll be trained to keep appointments with myself 2-4 times a week. Solo parenting and home schooling two kids 11 and 15 who need my continual attention and food. I’ve grown used to it.
Such good advice here but I think the most helpful takeaway is that it's very common to struggle during the summer with getting any writing done. Somehow a magical delusion always shows up where I think everyone else is doing fine. Thanks Julie!
These are all good ideas. I definitely struggled with this when my girls were younger. But I'd encourage all parents by saying that one good thing about the teen years is that you are wanted and needed less, and therefore have more time to write! And if you are a morning writer, like I am, the house is quiet then because if they are home, they are sleeping!
Thanks for all the tips! I'm a middle school art teacher, and I rely on summer break to get ahead with my projects. I do my best to wake up at 5:30 in the summer to write and draw before my daughter wakes up. She's a teenager now, so she sleeps pretty late. I aim to finish focused work by 9-10 am and spend the rest of the day with family. It also helps to cut what I think I can get done in half, so if I do more, it feels like a win!
That sounds like a great schedule. I keep waiting for my kids to start sleeping in more. One will but the other one still gets up around 6, but hopefully will more in the future 🤞.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with how to do this! Productivity goes way down whenever my kids are home! And my youngest cannot/ does not/ will not create silently next to me. I’m always so optimistic about having creativity dates, but the reality is that she loooooves collaboration and wants my opinion on EVERYTHING. Coincidentally or not, she is the youngest of five, so…
Yes my youngest also wants my opinion on things and even if he is watching a show so I can do something else he wants me to watch certain parts, so now I try to be out of eyesight if I’m trying to do something else. Anyway, wishing us luck this summer in doing what we can!
When I was a lad my mum would open the door after breakfast and say, “Come home for supper when Mrs. Kettering rings her bell. Be off with you then or stay and pull weeds with Mr. Gottswald.”
I am an empty nester so don't have to juggle schedules with kids. However, there is so much more to do outside in summer (I live in the Chicago area), particularly this month of May which is the peak of bird migration.
While I might not be actively writing memoir pieces, I always try to keep my antennae out for interesting writing prompts which can suddenly burble up out of nowhere.
Just the other day I recalled a car ride with 12 year old son (now 40) who wanted to know if I was a "loser" when I was a kid. I tossed that memory around for a while and created most recent post on lizabluehumorist.substack.com.
I try to embrace Nora Ephron's famous quote, "Everything is copy."
I think paying attention to these types of things when they pop up is really helpful and I am definitely going to try to take time to enjoy the outdoors this summer :)
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!
I think "doing what we can" and letting the rest go is the perfect motto for the summer!
Agreed!
Yes! Making that my motto, for sure!
I'm in a similar boat -- my writing was never "really" a priority until I had an actual book coming out and I had to take myself sort of seriously. I'm really struggling with the balance pre-summer, to be honest, and I think occupying those dead zones will be key. Good luck!
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!
I can't say micro writing is quite as satisfying as settling in for a full hour or two, but it does keep me in that headspace, which makes it easier to work on something bigger when I have the time and energy for it.
Yes I think it at least can spark ideas that sometimes lead to bigger pieces. But I also like it on its own at times.
Finally reading this nearly a month after you posted it because I needed some new tips! :)
I get that!
Co-writing with Kimberly McElhatten and Focus & Flow with Jeffrey Davis will keep me on track; even if they take a pause, I’ll be trained to keep appointments with myself 2-4 times a week. Solo parenting and home schooling two kids 11 and 15 who need my continual attention and food. I’ve grown used to it.
I think co-writing sessions can be great.
I'm setting my expectations low And will I try to take a social media break
I think social media breaks are always good for me :)
Such good advice here but I think the most helpful takeaway is that it's very common to struggle during the summer with getting any writing done. Somehow a magical delusion always shows up where I think everyone else is doing fine. Thanks Julie!
Yes, I think just normalizing that you are not alone in it being hard is so helpful for me too!
These are all good ideas. I definitely struggled with this when my girls were younger. But I'd encourage all parents by saying that one good thing about the teen years is that you are wanted and needed less, and therefore have more time to write! And if you are a morning writer, like I am, the house is quiet then because if they are home, they are sleeping!
This is encouraging and I look forward to the day that both my kids sleep in more!
Love the idea of artist hour! Sometimes it’s all about the branding when we pitch an idea to our kids 😂
So true in branding with kids!
I love these tips, Julie! Thank you for including mine. Here's to a semi-productive summer!
I love your tip and yes, semi-productive for the win!
Thanks for all the tips! I'm a middle school art teacher, and I rely on summer break to get ahead with my projects. I do my best to wake up at 5:30 in the summer to write and draw before my daughter wakes up. She's a teenager now, so she sleeps pretty late. I aim to finish focused work by 9-10 am and spend the rest of the day with family. It also helps to cut what I think I can get done in half, so if I do more, it feels like a win!
That sounds like a great schedule. I keep waiting for my kids to start sleeping in more. One will but the other one still gets up around 6, but hopefully will more in the future 🤞.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with how to do this! Productivity goes way down whenever my kids are home! And my youngest cannot/ does not/ will not create silently next to me. I’m always so optimistic about having creativity dates, but the reality is that she loooooves collaboration and wants my opinion on EVERYTHING. Coincidentally or not, she is the youngest of five, so…
Yes my youngest also wants my opinion on things and even if he is watching a show so I can do something else he wants me to watch certain parts, so now I try to be out of eyesight if I’m trying to do something else. Anyway, wishing us luck this summer in doing what we can!
I had not heard about Italian cappuccino brainrot, but I'll take it over a talking toilet anyday!
Yes me too 😂
These are such fantastic tips, even if you don't have kids! Cuz summer just be crazy like that.
True. I think summer can be tricky all around!
When I was a lad my mum would open the door after breakfast and say, “Come home for supper when Mrs. Kettering rings her bell. Be off with you then or stay and pull weeds with Mr. Gottswald.”
I will have some weeds that will need pulling!
So much good advice here!
❤️ Thanks for contributing!
I am an empty nester so don't have to juggle schedules with kids. However, there is so much more to do outside in summer (I live in the Chicago area), particularly this month of May which is the peak of bird migration.
While I might not be actively writing memoir pieces, I always try to keep my antennae out for interesting writing prompts which can suddenly burble up out of nowhere.
Just the other day I recalled a car ride with 12 year old son (now 40) who wanted to know if I was a "loser" when I was a kid. I tossed that memory around for a while and created most recent post on lizabluehumorist.substack.com.
I try to embrace Nora Ephron's famous quote, "Everything is copy."
I think paying attention to these types of things when they pop up is really helpful and I am definitely going to try to take time to enjoy the outdoors this summer :)