Faith, I’m sorry you had that experience. If you write, you should absolutely call yourself a writer. I say this as someone who doesn’t yet call herself a writer either even though I, like Sarah, write in every pocket I can find in my day being a single mom of 3 and a full time teacher as well. So this reminder is for me too!
Encouragement is so important to any creative endeavour. I’m sure your words had an impact on the new writer you were speaking to. You deserve the same. We can cheer each other on here, at least! 😊
As a full-time teacher and dad of two toddlers, this is really helpful and relatable. As you point out here, I’ve had to make a habit of writing during the small gaps that present themselves throughout the day whether that’s during my lunch break or while the kids nap on a Saturday afternoon. I imagine my schedule will continue to be full as they get older, so your post is a great, actionable reminder of what it takes to keep our writing dreams alive as parents. In a way, the business and responsibilities just makes the writing feel that much more special. Thanks David and Sarah!
I called myself a writer once, as I was complementing a new writer. I told her that the speech she wrote for the wedding we were at was creative, fun and that I was saying that as a writer myself. As the words came out of my mouth officially for the first time, I caught a glimpse of my husband giving me the side-eye in front of this new writer that I was hoping to encourage. I didn’t allow myself to feel embarrassed until after we left and I was disappointed in his lack of support. I’ve learned the unfortunate truth that there are some dreams that I will just have to keep quiet about until I’m a published author because not everyone can see my vision. I’m a dreamer and sometimes it’s hard for others to take us seriously.
Thanks for writing this blog. It’s an encouragement to me.
Twinsies! Seriously, there are a lot of parallels between your story and mine. I have one flown-and-grown now, and one nearly done with high school, and I can tell you that it does ease up a little when you're freed from some of the sports-and-activities grind.
I feel so much of this!! I also write on school breaks, during kid’s drum lessons and cheer practice, and in tiny spaces of time. The weird thing though: I’m WAY more productive than before I had kids. It’s like having less time forces me to make good use of the moments I DO have.
For me it was finally putting something out there after a long drought. Today there is Medium and Substack that allow us to be published writers without publishing houses and mainstream newspapers gate keeping the operation. As a writer who has been published traditionally, I say writing makes you a writer. Just putting yourself out there is a big step. There are many who want to do it, but won’t because they are afraid
"We spend a lot of stolen moments on social media. How about you spend those moments on your writing instead."
I justified myself because my idle time wasn't on social media but on brain games. I'm aging and trying to stay sharp. But I finally figured out that if I spent all that time writing instead of playing brain games, my brain would actually be doing something much more productive plus sharpening the old tool box.
This is a great article. I’m a stay-at-home dad taking care of my son and it’s a struggle trying to find the time to write. Thanks for the tips and the reminder that if I believe I’m a writer, then I am a writer.
Exactly my predicament. Instead of writing in pockets of time, I try to do it more regularly. Admittedly, I have a long way to go but I just keep writing. Happy Easter!
OMG...I feel so rejuvinated after reading this. I am a single mother, a teacher and a writer at my heart. I write during my recess and when I can wake up early before my kid wakes up...that's my struggle as a writer.
Faith, I’m sorry you had that experience. If you write, you should absolutely call yourself a writer. I say this as someone who doesn’t yet call herself a writer either even though I, like Sarah, write in every pocket I can find in my day being a single mom of 3 and a full time teacher as well. So this reminder is for me too!
Encouragement is so important to any creative endeavour. I’m sure your words had an impact on the new writer you were speaking to. You deserve the same. We can cheer each other on here, at least! 😊
As a full-time teacher and dad of two toddlers, this is really helpful and relatable. As you point out here, I’ve had to make a habit of writing during the small gaps that present themselves throughout the day whether that’s during my lunch break or while the kids nap on a Saturday afternoon. I imagine my schedule will continue to be full as they get older, so your post is a great, actionable reminder of what it takes to keep our writing dreams alive as parents. In a way, the business and responsibilities just makes the writing feel that much more special. Thanks David and Sarah!
Reading, writing, dreaming!
I called myself a writer once, as I was complementing a new writer. I told her that the speech she wrote for the wedding we were at was creative, fun and that I was saying that as a writer myself. As the words came out of my mouth officially for the first time, I caught a glimpse of my husband giving me the side-eye in front of this new writer that I was hoping to encourage. I didn’t allow myself to feel embarrassed until after we left and I was disappointed in his lack of support. I’ve learned the unfortunate truth that there are some dreams that I will just have to keep quiet about until I’m a published author because not everyone can see my vision. I’m a dreamer and sometimes it’s hard for others to take us seriously.
Thanks for writing this blog. It’s an encouragement to me.
Twinsies! Seriously, there are a lot of parallels between your story and mine. I have one flown-and-grown now, and one nearly done with high school, and I can tell you that it does ease up a little when you're freed from some of the sports-and-activities grind.
I feel so much of this!! I also write on school breaks, during kid’s drum lessons and cheer practice, and in tiny spaces of time. The weird thing though: I’m WAY more productive than before I had kids. It’s like having less time forces me to make good use of the moments I DO have.
For me it was finally putting something out there after a long drought. Today there is Medium and Substack that allow us to be published writers without publishing houses and mainstream newspapers gate keeping the operation. As a writer who has been published traditionally, I say writing makes you a writer. Just putting yourself out there is a big step. There are many who want to do it, but won’t because they are afraid
"We spend a lot of stolen moments on social media. How about you spend those moments on your writing instead."
I justified myself because my idle time wasn't on social media but on brain games. I'm aging and trying to stay sharp. But I finally figured out that if I spent all that time writing instead of playing brain games, my brain would actually be doing something much more productive plus sharpening the old tool box.
This is a great article. I’m a stay-at-home dad taking care of my son and it’s a struggle trying to find the time to write. Thanks for the tips and the reminder that if I believe I’m a writer, then I am a writer.
Exactly my predicament. Instead of writing in pockets of time, I try to do it more regularly. Admittedly, I have a long way to go but I just keep writing. Happy Easter!
OMG...I feel so rejuvinated after reading this. I am a single mother, a teacher and a writer at my heart. I write during my recess and when I can wake up early before my kid wakes up...that's my struggle as a writer.
Thank you! Oh my, so hope-giving to me !