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Serena Camacho's avatar

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! 😊

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Sarah Styf's avatar

Absolutely! I wrote this about that too! https://sarahstyf.substack.com/cp/141498554

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Jacob's avatar

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!

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Sarah Styf's avatar

And feel free to subscribe to my Substack. You can commiserate with my parenting stories 😂

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Sarah Styf's avatar

You're in good company ❤️

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Colin Devonshire's avatar

Reading, writing, dreaming!

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Sarah Styf's avatar

I refuse to give up the dream 😊

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Serena Camacho's avatar

Me too! Thanks so much for writing this article. It’s an important reminder. I also write in the pockets of my busy day as a single mom of 3 working full time as a Montessori teacher. It’s not easy, but it fills my cup. And I’m stubborn, so I’m not giving up!

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Sarah Styf's avatar

Yes!

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Faith Couper's avatar

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.

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Sarah Styf's avatar

Hugs. Keep writing. And consider indie publishing as you continue writing ❤️

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Samantha Bryant's avatar

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.

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Sarah Styf's avatar

But I'm not ready for that yet!!! I was talking to a friend about that not that long ago. She's just starting out, so her littles are super little, but I was saying that I'm not worried about empty nest syndrome because I know what I'm going to do to fill that time once my kids are gone. BUT I'm SO not ready for them to leave. Our freshman keeps reminding us that she only has three years before she's getting ready to graduate and no, just no.

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Samantha Bryant's avatar

It’s always too soon.

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Jenna Vandenberg's avatar

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.

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Rainey Mitchell (L.E.E)'s avatar

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

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Julian Denise Greene's avatar

"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.

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Ernest L. Ortiz's avatar

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.

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The Braver Mom's avatar

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!

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Kateryna Babkina's avatar

Thank you! Oh my, so hope-giving to me !

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