Daily writing
Today it is now 11.30am as I start writing. The stress of school dramas and life’s pressures of unhappy children that are bored. This morning also included a visit to the doctors with my eight-year-old. He is back at school now but says he missed his early learning. He would have missed forty-five minutes, so I’m sure he will be fine.
Life’s pressures are all around me, my mug of tea is keeping me calm while my head is racing. Housework is calling and so is my garden. It’s a lovely sunny day here in the UK, I should be outside enjoying it. However, if I take my lap-top outside I will then be complaining about the sun.
How as a writer do you deal with life’s pressures? I find writing cathartic but it is also a huge commitment. Trying to write daily amongst everything else going on is a lot. Late nights are also not helping with my reading which for the moment has fallen by the wayside.
Right now, I’m feeling hypocritical telling my children that they must read as I’m not doing as much as I should. I read about other bloggers who are voracious readers, I’d love to be, but I am struggling with balance.
I was in trouble last night as I struggled into bed at midnight. How do other writers manage this? And no, I can’t get up at 5am to write before work, I know some of you do. I get to the weekend or a day when my husband is home and then just lie there. If I don’t have to get up at 6.30am then I rarely will.
Social media
Social media is a huge drain on time as well, it adds to life’s pressures. I still do my best to social share on Twitter, to manage my Facebook page and manage both my blogs, but I’ve given up on sharing Instagram, Mix and Flipboard. I’m aware that I should make more effort with Pinterest but that requires a lot of effort and time, which I have not got.
Reading
I am still reading ‘GX Todd – Hunted’, see this is how far behind I am with my reading. It honestly is not the book, I’m just struggling with time. I spent Saturday with my six-year-old, catching up on her reading. We learned why Flamingos are pink, when they are born grey. I didn’t know this and it took my six-year-olds reading book to teach me. They are pink because of what they eat. Their food, shrimp and algae larvae, contain’s beta- carotene which consequently dye’s them pink.
My son is still arguing with me over his reading, however after I’ve battled with him over boy’s books, he asked me last night for ‘The animals of Farthing Wood’. He said his teacher is reading it to them and he wants to know what happens next. This was one purchase I didn’t argue over, I want him to read, however, I’m not sure what age range it is aimed at, I’m assuming if his teacher is reading it to them then it is his level. He has asked me to bring it to him when I collect him from school today. He then asked for the ‘Wind in the Willows’. So, that is arriving tomorrow.
It appears that for now, animal books are the preference, rather than fantasy books about wizards or ‘Beast quest’. However, if his teacher read him the ‘Wizards of Once’ he might then ask to read it. I’m not getting far by myself.
My novel
Now at nearly 75000 words, I added a prologue a few nights ago. It was pointed out to me that there are things at the beginning that I need to explain hence the prologue. Trying to grab the reader in the first paragraphs is crucial and as a writer, this is hard to write.
Every evening it draws closer to the conclusion. My head is swimming with my characters, but I still need to get to know them. I have started to watch people trying to think about my characters. It is hard shaping people in my head, but it is all part of the author/creator’s job.
Facebook Live
Here are my latest Facebook Lives.
New blog post and my writing part 1 – 10th September 2019
Blog post and my writing part 2 – 10th September 2019
New blog post today and children – 13th September 2019
Newsletter
I am still doing my newsletter linking to my new blog posts. I hope to do my next one at the beginning of October. Please subscribe if you are interested.
Today
After I’ve published this, I have my daughter’s bedroom to tidy again. I have a sea of bears to sort through, and somewhere I have yesterday’s dirty grey tights to find, plus a house to tidy. Yes, the fun never ends, life’s pressures continue. I am now going to make more tea and then on with the day.
For more see, Reading, writing, life balance and family
