When I first started seriously writing (as in submitting and publishing my work), my kids were a huge influence on my work. In fact, most of my early successes came from pieces, essays mostly, that I wrote about my kids and how it felt to be a mother. Sometimes I ask myself why I don’t write that type of stuff anymore… or at least, why I don’t put that writing out there. Most of it stays in my computer or in emails to the hubby. Occasionally some of it still slips into the blog, but for the most part I’ve grown rather silent about the act of mothering.
In some instances it is a privacy thing. There’s a huge difference between writing about the antics of a four year old and writing about an incident with a pre-teen (who now reads everything you write!). Other times I see that the material is still there, but my focus is elsewhere. Some days I spend so much time with my butt in this chair in front of the computer (okay, I’m sitting on a big yoga ball right now, but you get the idea) that I’d much rather spend the rest of my time with my kids than spend yet more time sitting in front of the computer writing about them.
Sometimes I get in this odd sort of place where I wonder where my writing career would have taken me if I’d been a different kind of mom. What if all my kids were in school right now and I was dedicating full days to writing? Would I be a full-time novelist now? Would I be working regular gigs for all the parenting magazines? Publishing essays about the world and the way things look to me on the final pages of national publications? Running my own small press magazine? Working for the local newspaper? Have my own printing shop? Doing something else entirely?
All these things are things I’ve dreamed about or contemplated from time to time. I’m not unhappy about the pace or the meandering path my writing career has taken. I’m entirely content that it sits on a lesser track than being a mother right now. But sometimes, I still wonder. Where would another path have taken me?
In some instances it is a privacy thing. There’s a huge difference between writing about the antics of a four year old and writing about an incident with a pre-teen (who now reads everything you write!). Other times I see that the material is still there, but my focus is elsewhere. Some days I spend so much time with my butt in this chair in front of the computer (okay, I’m sitting on a big yoga ball right now, but you get the idea) that I’d much rather spend the rest of my time with my kids than spend yet more time sitting in front of the computer writing about them.
Sometimes I get in this odd sort of place where I wonder where my writing career would have taken me if I’d been a different kind of mom. What if all my kids were in school right now and I was dedicating full days to writing? Would I be a full-time novelist now? Would I be working regular gigs for all the parenting magazines? Publishing essays about the world and the way things look to me on the final pages of national publications? Running my own small press magazine? Working for the local newspaper? Have my own printing shop? Doing something else entirely?
All these things are things I’ve dreamed about or contemplated from time to time. I’m not unhappy about the pace or the meandering path my writing career has taken. I’m entirely content that it sits on a lesser track than being a mother right now. But sometimes, I still wonder. Where would another path have taken me?
~*~*~*~*
If you live in the Kansas City area, I believe Kansas City Voices is now available in area bookstores. Pick up your copy and turn to page 22!
If you live further south, pick up a copy of the November/December issue (coming soon!) of Southern Families Magazine. It’s not about my current life with kids, but it is a reprint of an article inspired by my early life with kid (yes, that’s singular). It was written a long time ago. A lesson to any writer about the value of what’s gone before. While you’re focusing on getting fresh stuff out there, take time to sort through the old stuff, as well.
If you live further south, pick up a copy of the November/December issue (coming soon!) of Southern Families Magazine. It’s not about my current life with kids, but it is a reprint of an article inspired by my early life with kid (yes, that’s singular). It was written a long time ago. A lesson to any writer about the value of what’s gone before. While you’re focusing on getting fresh stuff out there, take time to sort through the old stuff, as well.
2 comments:
Congrats on the publications! Yay!
Today will be the yesterday you write
about tomorrow, so just write on!
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