Back in January, when I asked readers here to tell me about their biggest challenges of writing and motherhood, they said:
“Energy! Sleepless nights, demanding children. Giving due attention to children, house & writing.” ~Rebecca
“…finding a block of time when I can get into my creative flow.” ~Catherine
“[I]t has been a constant juggling act to keep the boundaries around my “work” self and my “mommy” self.”~ Cindi
“I feel my daughter should come first, so stealing time away for my writing feels selfish.”~Andrea
“Negotiating tactics are what I need help on. How do [my husband and I] both get our own destress time, time together and take care of the house and children??” ~Asrai
I’ve got to juggle the schedules of three children in different stages–a kindergartener, a grade school and a high schooler. I’m married. I work full-time. I volunteer at church. So time is the biggest thing for me.” ~Patricia
“I feel guilty because my husband goes to work and if I did too then we would have our house paid off sooner. I beat myself up because my kids ask me why Dad’s tucking them in why aren’t I.” ~E.J.
The post was meant to feel out readers with regard to an eBook I planned to write—a productivity guide for moms (or dads, grandparents or other people who spend a lot of time caring for young children) who also want to find time to write a novel or collection of short stories. At this point, the eBook is outlined, and I’m doing some research in order to make this guide the most helpful product it can possibly be for you.
My plan for this eBook includes:
- Interviews with bestselling authors who are also mothers of young children
- Guest content written by published authors and prolific bloggers
- A fiction-writing toolkit with printable worksheets
- A gigantic list of time savers
- Tips for keeping kids busy (organized by age group, from newborn to high school)
- Templates designed to streamline your home routines
- Ultra-quick recipes for busy parents
The book will also teach you how to:
- set reachable writing goals
- use time-tracking to design a writing schedule
- help family members support your writing
- set up an effective writing space
- find mental space and motivation to write
Here’s where I need your help.
You can make this eBook everything you want it to be.
Type your email into the form below, and I’ll show you how you can help me make this eBook address exactly the problems you’re facing at this moment. You’ll also be among the first to receive updates about when the eBook will be released, and you’ll be eligible for special offers and giveaways during the book launch.
I can’t wait to hear more about the challenges you’re facing, and work with you to ensure the finished product will genuinely make a difference in your life.I look forward to hearing from you very soon!
UPDATE: I’ve closed the form for now. Thanks to everyone who responded, I look forward to hearing more from you!
-Suzannah
This sounds so great! When I am finally a mother, I will most definitely be getting this.
And just out of curiosity, I am not a parent, but when I lived at home, I used to take care of my younger sisters, one 11 and one four. I had to balance taking care of them, writing, and school. (This was my junior and senior year of high school.) Would I be eligible in offering help or would you rather stick to parents?
Even though the book is geared directly toward moms, I still think you’d find a lot of the material applicable to the situation you experienced in caring for your younger sisters. So, I’d love if you’d sign up and give me your input! We all have a lot to learn from one another’s different experiences. Thanks, Ashley!
Yay! I just submitted my survey. I am looking forward to reading your book. 🙂
Hi – I’m a long time reader, first time commenter. Just finished the survey! It was very easy to complete, took less than five minutes. I have two preschoolers and can’t wait to see the survey results & your upcoming book. Thanks so much for the steady stream of interesting and useful information.
Thanks, Krissy! I appreciate your feedback. The survey is just the beginning point, just a basic way to feel out who’s interested in this eBook. Very soon, I’ll be looking for more personalized feedback from writers like you, which will help me hone the content further. Look forward to hearing more from you soon!
This is a GREAT idea! I’m constantly trying to find time here and there to write, but I’m always so … all over the place … I can’t focus or pick up where I left off. I heard that Jodi Picoult wrote her early books while having three small children running around in 15 minute chunks. How? How could she focus and find the energy?
Thank you for this! I can’t wait until it comes out!
I’m excited that you’re excited about this, Brandi! I get on such a roll when I sit down to work on it. I’ll have to do a bit of research on Jodi Picoult, too. Thanks!
Um, are you only looking for the perspective of young families. I have four teens, my freelance business is suddenly picking up, and I have more (seriously good, need-to-be-written) writing ideas than I can juggle. Thus far, my only solution is to give up sleeping.
Susan, that’s wonderful that your business is taking off!
The book will be primarily geared towards how moms can streamline their days in order to make more time for writing fiction. There’ll be a fiction-writing toolkit that might not apply to you, but a lot of the material will still be applicable to your situation. You’d probably find the section on time savers quite helpful, and there’ll be a section about how to keep kids (newborn to high school) busy and engaged, and how to get them to help out around the house.
If you’d like to give me your perspective, I’d love to take it into account!
I don’t have any kids, but this book sounds like it’ll be useful for any writer who struggles with time management (and I sure do). I can’t imagine trying to go through the process of writing, reivising, rewriting & trying to get published while raising a family at the same time.
You’re right, David. A lot of the material will be applicable to anyone who struggles with time management!