Thread by @llavoieauthor, I've seen a lot of tweets lately asking how people who have [...]

Laura LaVampire

llavoieauthor

I& #39;ve seen a lot of tweets lately asking how people who have young kids get any writing done, or how people with multiple jobs get writing done. I work a full-time job (typically over 40-hours a week), teach a college course as an adjunct, & have two daughters, 3 & 5... 1/?

I& #39;m lucky to have a very supportive husband, but we don& #39;t have family close by to help with the kids, so it& #39;s really just us most of the time. It isn& #39;t easy... at all... but it can be done! What I do:

I write in tiny gaps of time. 20 mins before the kids get up? Sure.

2/?

There is no chunk of time too small. I try to write after the kids go to bed 2 nights a week. The other 2 nights I& #39;m grading. The other 3, I hang with the hubs. Luckily he& #39;s an independent sort of dude.

I keep up with writing social media during quick breaks: making tea... 3/?

Eating lunch, etc. I plan my blog posts months in advance to minimize stress there, especially if I know a busy time at work is coming up.

I am always multitasking. I listen to podcasts & watch TED talks I& #39;m considering for my class while folding laundry. 4/?

If I can do 2 things at once, I do.

Is my house always clean? Not totally.

Do I work out as much as I& #39;d like? Not even close.

There are definitely sacrifices. Some days I feel like my head is going to explode from juggling so many things.

But, writing is my dream...
5/?

So I *make* the time for it, whenever & however I can.

Hopefully, *closes eyes & wishes hard* someday it will all pay off.

(You know, literally.)

One of the biggest things is forgiving yourself when you *can& #39;t* make the time. Be patient & kind to yourself.

Also...

6/?

Support is key. Find writing pals who will cheer you on (& understand when you don& #39;t email back for nearly a week).

It& #39;s definitely hard, but you can do it!

In fact, I& #39;m doing it right now. I work 9a-7p on Mondays, & have composed this thread between Zooms. Phew!

7/7

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