Today, I'm honored to have my good friend Tara Tyler stop by my blog as she continues on her Broken Branch Falls Summer Blog Tour. She'll be sharing some wonderful tips for finding time to write in the midst of our busy lives. Her ideas are also great for people who want to pursue other creative endeavors but always seem to find themselves asking, "How do I make time?"
Thanks so much for being here, Tara. Take it away!
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Writing in the Game of Life!Dana was one of my first blog buddies. I met her way back when I was still figuring out how to improve my writing and what to do with it, on Absolute Write. (It's okay for getting advice, but it's more of a distraction with lots of word game threads...)
Dana and I are both busy moms (but that statement is redundant, isn't it?). Her three kids are much smaller and more needy while mine are bigger and self-sufficient, but still needy. No matter the ages of kids, they always take up a ton of your time—silly kids, needing stuff from their moms! And there's always work to be done, in and out of the house.
So how do busy, hard-working moms find time to write?
Well, here's a glimpse at my writing schedule...
- Weekends and Days Off
- I usually wake up a good two hours before the monkeys, and this is my favorite time to write.
- Unfortunately, half of this time is used on blogging, emails, etc.
- Work Days
- I take every spare moment
- lunch, coffee breaks, waiting for stuff
- not only to write, but to read, blog, jot notes, edit printouts.
- Waiting is a great time to get stuff done, if I remember to bring it!
- for kids at practices
- for water to boil
- at a restaurant
- at games (halftime, between innings, when we have to be early, etc)
- Bedtime
- My kids sometimes stay up later than me! But they are supposed to have quiet time in their rooms...
- I'm always tired, but I try to get at least an hour of work done.
- Then I read a few pages of the book on my night table, and... zzzzzzz
When is your favorite time to write? Morning? Evening? Throughout the day?
Dana always has something special to share—from laughs, to art, to sweetness.
If you aren't following her, you should! Thanks for hosting me, girl!
NEW! Try this BEASTLY SURVEY and find out which beast you are!
NEW! Try this BEASTLY SURVEY and find out which beast you are!
(And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!)
by Tara TylerRelease Date: June 24, 2014 (NOW!)
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. But Gabe wants to break out of his nerdy stereotype and try other things. He has his eye on the new ogress at school. Though it’s against all beastly rules, there’s just something about her.
Gabe starts a fad of mingling with other species, forcing the High Council to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest to save his town. They'll show 'em what different friends can do together!
Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy). She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!
Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,
The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL
I really need to check this book out, I've been seeing it everywhere! :D
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, doesn't it? :)
DeleteI'm a nighttime writer, myself. I'm usually out the door before my kiddos wake up, even during the school year.
ReplyDeleteI usually do my creative work at night as well.
DeleteI take my writing to my kid's practices. I seem to get the most done there (although I probably seem very anti-social to all the other parents!).
ReplyDeleteLOL Maybe they just find you mysterious. :)
DeleteSounds a lot like the schedule I kept when my kids were home and I worked the day job. I usually used my lunch time at work to catch up on blogging and the wrote at night between loads of laundry.
ReplyDeleteExactly! We can definitely find the time if we want to!
DeleteYes, I think everyone passes us like Tara Tyler to find time for creativity. I take some dawn Saturday!
ReplyDeleteI love working at dawn! The house is so peaceful then.
DeleteI like your tip about writing while you're waiting. I always stash a spiral notebook in my purse for such an occasion. I'm notorious for pulling out my pen and paper at practices or at half-time during a game.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
I like that idea, too. My problem is that I usually forget the notebook, so I usually end up sending myself emails filled with story ideas and notes!
DeleteGood time management advice. Sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteWaving to Dana:)
Waving back. :)
DeleteIt must be challenging to find the time to write with family around and the many "distractions" that can happen. She listed great tools to try to find that extra time!
ReplyDeletebetty
I agree. Tara has some great tips!
DeleteI work two jobs but I don't have any kids. If I'm not working, I'm usually cleaning or cooking or sleeping. I usually write when I have time and don't think I'm going to collapse from exhaustion.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! If it's truly a passion (as it is for you), you fit it in when you can.
DeleteFantastic post! I'm a fit it in when I can mom too. Some days, that's just a few minutes here and a few minutes there, but a few minutes is more than none. Inch by inch, we get it done. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true!
DeleteTara and Dana - I didn't know you knew one another. The blogging world is such a small world indeed :)
ReplyDeleteIt sure is. Now I have that song in my head! :)
DeleteI used to stay up and write after the kids went to bed, but they go to bed too late now. I want to go to bed too. One I could probably have him be in his room, but the other is too young. She needs to be tucked in and told--it's bed time.
ReplyDeleteI do my creative work after the kids go to bed. Right now, that's not too difficult because they're young, but I can see how it will be harder as they get older. Good luck finding the time you need.
DeleteHappy Tuesday, Dana:)
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great Tuesday, Sandra. Happy Thursday!
DeleteVery nice. Sounds great. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteTara always has great ideas!
DeleteThanks for sharing your personal strategy Tara. I am always amazed at how productive parents can be--give them 30 minutes of quiet time and oh the productivity that occurs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I wish I could be as productive as Tara. Maybe someday. :)
DeleteHI, Dana, Hi, Tara!
ReplyDeleteHow perfect is this post for me today. LOL. I just posted on how to deal with time restraints today. What a coincidence...
Some good tips here. Thankfully I don't have kids so they frees up time for me but I have tons of other crap to deal with. LOL.
CONGRATS TARA on you book.... YOU KNOW I LOVED IT!!!!!!
That's a pretty cool coincidence! Happy Thursday, Michael. :)
DeleteYou know, I read while on the road. Well, not technically, but when stopped at lights. It's a TON of time that gets wasted otherwise. You really do have to figure out how to utilize the seconds if you want to accomplish anything while raising littles.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really great idea! There are so many long lights here. That's a ton of wasted time...
DeleteYou guys really made my weekend! Thanks so much for your input and support!
ReplyDeleteDana, thanks for letting me come over for a visit. I really value your friendship! Thank you!
You're very welcome, friend. Come back anytime. :)
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