Blogger: Michelle Ule
Sitting in for Wendy Lawton who is at the Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference.
I am living the dream writer‘s life this summer.
I’m on hiatus from the church choir, Bible study teaching and my part-time job (sort of).
All I have to do is spend my days writing.
#Am Writing?
Sort of.
For those of you itching to quit your day job and stay home with your computer, this blog’s for you.
It’s 1:06pm and I haven’t started my writing yet.
As it happens, 1 o’clock is my prime writing time–for whatever reason, that’s when I sit down and really work on my manuscript.
However, I have to write this blog first.
Already this morning I’ve done the following:
Exercised (Very important for writers to get exercise, see my personal blog-– Exercise and the Writer’s Mind; Exercise and the Writer’s Body).
Grocery shopped. (That’s my end of the household chores)
Done two loads of laundry (My husband believes laundry is my “hobby,” so I’ve been “playing” all morning. Ha!)
Got dinner started in the crock pot.
Cleaned up the kitchen, etc.
Everybody has to do stuff like that.
Wrote emails and then cleared email (Down to two!)
Checked on facebook, my website, Twitter, and in with some friends.
Writing Stuff (Finally!)
Read through emails and sorted them into appropriate spots, from seven of my co-writers on A Pioneer Christmas Collection.
The best-selling book is rereleasing in September and we’ve been discussing and gearing up for the new edition.
I’ve been spearheading the marketing. I wrote blog posts on all nine authors in 2013 when the book first came out. I’m updating those blog posts and needed more information.
To that end, two weeks ago I sent the writers a detailed list of ideas and things to do.
I’ve heard from all but one and I need to get started on the materials I have.
So I did.
I wrote out 70 tweets.
I ate lunch and now I’m writing this blog. Once I’m done here, I’ll get down to real work.
The Actual Writing
Part of the reason I take a summer hiatus is so I can do research. I spent a week at Wheaton College’s Special Collections Library in July.
Once I returned home, I spent the next two weeks’ worth of writing time following up on details from that research.
Last week, I began outlining and sketching out the project.
This week I’ll be reviewing all the research and putting it into the specific chapters I’ve planned.
I have a lot of material.
As I sift through and sort it, I’ve been writing notes into my large Word document (and wondering if this would work in Scrivener, but I don’t have time to master the program this week).
I’ve been noting where I found the information, or just cutting and pasting it straight into the document.
I’ll start some actual writing this week, the ideas are swirling in my head and demanding to be written.
Fine. I can do that.
I hope to have the proposal ready by the end of August.
We’ll see.
But that’s why I need to use my afternoons strategically and well.
I’ll write until about 5. Two sons are coming for dinner tonight, so I’ll be cooking.
Tonight
Because I’m on hiatus as noted above, I don’t “work” in the evenings during the summer.
(Folding laundry, which some think is “play” is done at night).
However, if we’re watching a movie, I pull out the laptop and either work on tweets or update my website.
I’ll be transforming this morning’s tweets into a spreadsheet for Hootsuite tonight, which I then will share with my Pioneer Christmas cowriters.
The rest of the week
This is what’s on my work list–things that need to be handled during the morning:
Write a B&S blog post
Write my own blog post
Set up two contests on Goodreads: A Pioneer Christmas and The 12 Brides of Christmas
Answer questions and provide material for an interview on Stitches Through Time
Answer questions and provide material for an interview with Novel Pastimes
Frame out all the personal blog posts for Pioneer Christmas.
Write personal newsletter
Contact a coordinator about a speaking engagement.
Work on tweets for The 12 Brides of Christmas
And of course, I’ll be following the comments here and on Thursday.
It’s 1:59. I get to hang laundry on the line (play!) and then it’s back to the real work–only an hour late!
What do you imagine a writer’s full time life looks like?
Tweetables
A day in the life of a full time stay-at-home writer. Click to Tweet
Marketing, laundry, tweeting and eventually writing: life as a writer. Click to Tweet
It’s good that you have the summer off to work on marketing. And research. Are the elves coming in overnight night to write the book?
“Dear husband, I have decided to change hobbies. I am giving up laundry and taking up shopping. From here on out, I won’t wash old clothes. I’ll just buy new ones.”
Shirlee, you made me giggle! If I didn’t do laundry, my boys would wear the same clothes over . . . and over . . . and over, until they were sticking together with dirt. 😉
Love that, Shirlee!
Still waiting for them to show, Shirlee . . . 🙂
Snowflakes. No two alike, nor are writers’ lives ‘alike’ (or even very similar).
* I would guess though, that social media and platform building/maintaining play a very large role in the life of every writer who is published, or wants to be published. I know that I spend about 6-8 hours a day on social media – writing, commenting, looking for trends in the way people see and interpret their world. I don’t browse; I can’t afford the time, nor the energy.
* I thought, when I started, that I could “save that social media stuff for later”; but it seems I could not have been more wrong. What I find there has to inform my writing, that it may remain relevant, for one thing. And every writer needs a platform; the accessibility of the tools that allow platform-building have made it a requirement for all.
* Actual writing time is a lot more limited than I would like, and illness limits it more, but I try to make best use of what I have, and that means that I write in the still of the night. Somehow things seems clearer, and I feel closer to God, when I can step out under a star-filled sky to take a break.
I write in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep–I did it more when the kids were home and the computer was free.
That’s a lot of time on social media, you must be an expert by now! I noted you changed your blog focus–sadly but provoking great interest–was that in part because of the information you gleaned on social media?
The new focus – though it still remains within the bounds of the ‘marriage mission’ – came primarily from the realization that there was very little information out there for caregivers within the marriage relationship. Dying creates a new dynamic that intrudes into almost everything…and the caregiver is so often left out of the ‘blanket of compassion’ that friends, family, and society offer. It’s a lonely job, and I see that loneliness in Barbara.
* So I wanted to give them a resource, written from the other side of the fence, and perhaps dispel some of the puzzlement that many caregivers feel when they see their spouse’s outlook, and their marriage, changing.
* The changes can be for the better, but that requires a clear and informed heart. Hence, the new focus, and the book I hope it will become (not just a collection of essays, but a substantially rewritten and reorganized work in itself).
* I do use social media – a lot – to widen my understanding of how hard it is to be a caregiver, and was struck by how bad many caregivers feel when they think they’re not measuring up. I wanted, first and foremost, to assuage that. We can only do our best, and compassion has to begin with ourselves. That’s not selfishness, that’s the first rule of lifesaving – you can’t save a drowning swimmer while you’re drowning yourself.
* And caregivers are people too. They deserve love for who they are, and not just for the role they play.
Michelle, it’s amazing how, even when you stay home, it’s hard to work actual time spent writing into the schedule. As a stay-at-home mom, I don’t get nearly the writing time in each day that I thought I would.
Between building social media relationships, blogging and trying to work on my story, along with family and home responsibilities, it’s challenging to make focused time for writing. As you mentioned, that time has come through saying no to other good things.
That’s why it’s important at the end of the day, Jeanne, to thank God for what was accomplished and leave the rest in his hands to do. Raising your children, loving your husband, ministering where God has called you, are far more important tasks than the real job of writing a book–unless that’s the book God has called you to write.
It’s amazing how much more time you’ll have when your primary task is done–but it’s just as easy to let it slip away if you’re not vigilant. So, I pray the day to God and watch to see what will happen next.
It’s a great life. 🙂
That’s all so true Jeanne and Michelle. I’ve been a stay at home mum for the past five months after finishing up full-time work as a physio to have my first child. I thought I’d get more time during the day to write and really get my teeth into my second novel. But the days seem to slip by so fast. I’ve had to write in my diary what I’ve actually done each day otherwise it feels like nothing has been achieved. This week felt particularly frustrating, having almost no time to get writing done. Then, I was reminded of that wonderful quote by C. S. Lewis: “Children aren’t a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
It’s August 11th. The kids go back to school a week from today. My summer writing to do list is still sitting here unmarked. The book I need to do major revisions on is still waiting to be revised. The other two ideas that are swirling in my mind are still swirling, waiting to be captured on paper. What I have done is take my soon to be 9th grader to NYC (we live in the FL panhandle) for a week for surviving middle school (it’s crazy hard now), go to NOLA for a weekend (never been), go to ICRS in Orlando and meet up with another adoptive families who understands the crazy things that happen on a daily basis, go to Indiana to visit family and ironically, meet up with another adoptive family I know from the internet from SC who happened to be in the same town in IN at the same time. We’ve also certified scuba, started open water swimming, did a play with the traveling Missoula Children’s theater people, visited with an adult child in KY, read almost 100 picture books (never too old!), read two novels aloud, struggled with summer work packets and cursed (quietly) the teachers that assigned them, taken the dogs kayaking, survived marching band camp, pushed to reach ten summer goals/wishes etc. I think I will just call it all “research” and work it into a book once I start writing again.
Kathy–you are describing my life for years. My children are grown now and that’s what has freed me to really work on a writing career. I could never have done this task when my children were home. I used to have the summer hiatus and I would write a novel, but I could not have done any of the marketing or social media required to keep the career going.
I thank God, now, that I wasn’t published until after my last child went to college. I’ve written before, how I got that first contract the day we drove her to college!
My two birth children are grown—but we adopted five younger ones over the years! My last ones will graduate when I’m 61!!!
Michelle, how do you manage to keep from feeling overwhelmed? I would imagine strategy helps. And I love that you use a clothes line outside. I had one once … I miss it! Something about sheets hanging on a line, flapping in the breeze, is beautiful. And reminds me of my grandmother… 🙂 and my girls running through the sheets outside when they were small.
For now, I usually keep the calendar near and a mental note of things. But I know eventually, I’ll need to strategize better.
I work the list, Shelli. That’s the only way I can keep track of what I need to do and where I’m headed.
I’ve never done a manuscript like this one before–it’s a biography–so we’ll see if putting all the materials in one document before I write work. It makes logical sense to me–sticking everything where I’ll need it when I write the chapter, or giving the “address.” I’m sure I’ll write a post when this experiment is over!
Thanks for this post, especially the two very motivating links about exercise and the writer’s brain/body. I begin exercise programs with the best of intentions but soon slack off as other more “important” things (read: more fun) take precedence. Loved reading about your day. I should track mine–no doubt would be eye-opening to see exactly where my time goes.
Eye-opening and a bit surprising.
Once in a fit of frustration (when all four kids were home), when I felt like I accomplished nothing, I asked my husband to watch and observe where I was wasting time.
At the end of several days he said, “I notice you spend a lot of time cooking, but otherwise I’d say you’re pretty efficient.”
Great. I should have given up cooking while I had his sympathy!
Not. 🙂
I agree, Michelle–no way could I begin to manage a writer’s life when all my children were at home! But the empty-nest, full-time writer often encounters more subtle demands that leak away writing time. Right now, I’m fighting the urge to help at a church funeral dinner because no one else will. To say “yes” to needy friends when I need to focus on my WIP. Elderly parents and in-laws often take the place of children when it comes to spending time on family. Not to mention the delightful distraction of six awesome grandkids! Oh, yeah, and a husband who’s been waiting in line for my attention for maybe, um, thirty-five years. There’s never a season of life in which taking time for writing is easy. Maybe in heaven. . . .
We’re tracking! I turned in a guest post for Seekerville yesterday that is very similar to what you shared here today. Whew – I’m tired already!
Yep.
And maybe I’ll send you an email with a list of things to do for 12 Brides of Christmas? LOL
Oh yes – you have such great ideas!
I think I just broke out in hives reading this post. It’s mind melting. I write in the early morning, then homeschool my three middle schoolers, and try to live life. I check in social media at least some (but not a ton). As my career advances, I hope I can hang with it. I just hope…
You know, Hannah, somehow Tricia Goyer gets everything done well. We’re all different people with different strengths, talents and callings. I’m a linear personality–I need to know where I’m headed and I’m pretty efficient about getting the tasks done.
Others, however, work completely differently and God enables them to do what he’s called them to do with the lives he’s given them. I couldn’t be Tricia, she probably couldn’t be me.
So, be yourself, enjoy your children and this season of your life and believe that if God has called you to do something, the timing will work out perfectly in his will.
It happened to me. 🙂
I appreciate that. Thanks. I’m thinking of this season as more of an intense, focused honing of my craft so that when it’s time to pursue bigger things, I will be ready. If it’s supposed to happen, it will. But I’m putting the work in now so that I’m up for what comes next. 🙂
I agree, Hannah. I think this moment of our lives is the laying of the foundation for what is to come. Take care of the kids, do what we can, and we will continue to make progress.
Sounds like the real world to me Michelle. A life filled with a family that brings you joy. I think the question can be answered in a different way if the “dream job” as a writer was sitting in a High tower office sipping on Starbucks followed by dinner out on the town with a friend. Yet the single life is one that I would not want to trade. Well maybe on laundry days lol. I think writing is a commitment that is beyond what most readers realize. The time and energy in creating something good is appreciated so much more now that I have been researching what it takes to write well. The good news is your to do list was made for you to follow so you dont forget with so many tasks at hand. You are making progress! I will look forward to your new best seller coming out!
Thanks, Jeanette,
The trick is to hold it all loosely in your hand. For all I know, the writing career is over today. I try to savor the experience, do the work, and enjoy the process. We can do not less.
Now, on to that list! 🙂
This is so me!! I was excited about spending more time working on my manuscript when I became a stay-at-home mom 2 years ago, but there are SO many things that claim those hours at home! I do a lot of writing for projects I’m involved with, but novel-writing time is almost non-existent.
It’s the season of life, Jennifer. I remember thinking I’d get more writing done when my first baby came because I’d HAVE to be more organized.
I didn’t know anything about being a mother . . .
I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum from most of the others who have posted. I’m retired and live alone, so I get lonesome. I’ve joined lots of groups, spend too much time social networking, and have to do everything around the house myself. My time is so scattered I get less accomplished than when I had a job and was raising kids.
That can be a problem, Janet, and I sympathize. That’s why I write out a list of things to do otherwise I get lost. I also have been operating on the junior high school technique: an hour for this class/bit of work, and then do a chore and move to the next class/bit of work. Breaks it up better and I get more done.
I think. 🙂
Thanks, Michelle. I write out To Do lists on a whiteboard every day, but seldom finish them all. Bad me.
Michelle, overwhelming and amazing all wrapped together with nice, pretty, satin bow. It’s obvious you have this down. 70 tweets! I’m impressed… and on vacation, besides! I guess we can morph into Wonder Woman when we need to. Through this post, you show me a glimpse into the future and where it may take me. The book looks wonderful. Good for you.
Thanks, Norma. I should add my co-writers sent me quotes, I just had to turn them into tweets. I actually like the puzzle of editing sentences down to . . . . pixels? 🙂
Am curious: what makes 1pm your prime writing time?
I’ve had the occasional month off the Day Job to be a professional author. I love it. For me, however, writing must be the absolute first thing I do, even before email. Only breakfast and the school run can come before writing.
I have found that everything else I have to do will find a way to fill up my time and prevent me from writing if I don’t schedule it first.
But if I put writing first, I can get as much done as I need (minimum four hours), and then whatever time’s left I can spend on email, laundry, marketing, etc.
Other than time constraints, writing in the morning works best for me because my brain is fresh and quick. Also, my heart is lighter because I can legitimately ignore everything else that’s on my To Do list and this is reflected in my writing.
Heidi–
An excellent question and the answer is I don’t know. It’s been true before I children and after I had children.
Perhaps because of the way my mind works, I have to get the obvious work done before I, personally, can sit down and be creative–otherwise in the back of my head the questions grow: what’s for dinner, did I get the laundry on the line? Once I clear that, I can concentrate.
Many times my children would come home from school to find me at the computer. “What’s for dinner?”
I’d rise from 18–whenever and stare. “Dinner. I made dinner.”
“What is it?”
I couldn’t remember.
I’d shake my head and wave at the refrigerator. “It’s in there.”
And so it was. He was satisfied and I returned to the past. 🙂
I can totally relate to a writer’s schedule. During the school year, I teach full time as a high school English teacher…there goes much of my time. During the summer, my three little ones demand my time! Maybe I need a vacation…to an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere for one month:) I’d probably still end up wasting time admiring the outdoors and talking to squirrels!