Alrighty Then

Let's kick this writing blog back into high gear.

Yes, I am still getting up early to write. It's a matter of survival, really. Many days, if I don't climb out of bed at 4:30 or 5:00, I don't get much other time to myself. And I need to peace and quiet, the long stretch of time to work on my novel or write a blog post. When I write first thing, then I can handle the day with more patience and good humour.

Each month I have a new goal on the way to my commitment for 2009, which is to write for two hours in the morning. I continue to post my progress at the Power of Less forums, which have been really valuable in keeping me focused on entrenching this new habit. My record isn't perfect but it's a darn sight better than nothing.

In fact, in late May and early June I was able to write a short story (an excerpt from the novel) even though we were travelling and my son had surgery. What I like most is that I can trust myself to get a certain amount of work done, no matter what life is throwing at me. I don't have to get anxious about moving my novel forward because it almost happens automatically.

Life will take a dramatic shift in a few weeks. Shawn starts parental leave on July 13, and I will be getting out of the house in order to write and do contract work. I got another writing grant (happy happy joy joy!) so for five months I will be working on the children's novel and then the adult novel. I'm thrilled and a little nervous about the new schedule. Will I have the stamina to write for four hours a day? Will I be able to keep my procrastination under control? How will I handle being away from the kids so much?--the thought makes me relieved and sad at the same time.

Every so often I look at the entries I wrote here last July and August, when I was posting almost daily. There's some good stuff there, and I liked the accountability of reporting on my progress. I plan to do that again this summer.

It's a challenging time of life, parenting two preschoolers. There's the sheer physical work of manhandling them through the day, hauling them up stairs and into highchairs and strollers and around playgrounds. There's the mental work of figuring out what they need, how to get them to eat and use the potty and not injure me or each other. Plus the psychological work of enduring boredom and tantrums and the feeling of being trapped. I'm really proud that I haven't thrown up my hands in the middle of this and given up writing. It would be very easy to justify. But staying connected with my own creative projects has actually made the job more bearable.