So Many Things...

And so little time.

Really, that's how my life feels these days. I have so much to do, I need probably another ten hours in my day. Once the school year gets underway, my days have a way of filling up within the matter of a few hours. I'll look at the calendar on Sunday and see a mostly free week (YAY!) but then by Monday morning, this has been penciled in and all of the sudden I'm committed to that and doncha know it? BAM! Week's entirely taken up.

But I have a routine. And that helps.

I wish I had a nickel for the number of times someone has said to me, "You know, I would love to write a book. But I just don't have the time."

Excuse me whilst I call 'bullshit' on that.

Yep - I said it.

Bullshit.

I could use another 10-12 hours in my day but you know what? I don't get them. I have the same 24 hours as everyone else. Now, I'll admit, I don't work outside the home. I'm a full-time mom, but when I did work, I still managed to write.

What's my secret?

I wanted to write.

When my daughter was an infant, I would get up with my husband at 5AM every morning (he's in construction, so his day begins and ends early) and after he went to work, I'd put a fresh pot of coffee on, go down into my office (baby monitor in hand) and I'd write from 5:30 or so every morning, until she got up. I was fortunate. Once I managed to convince her that she wasn't really missing much by sleeping, she'd snooze until 9 or 10AM most days. Which gave me 5 hours of writing time.

By the time my son was born (almost 5 years later), I had to deal with getting the Girl to preschool and a newborn. There went getting up at 5AM. I was just too tired and I am NOT someone who does tired real well. So, I wrote after the kidlets went to bed. I'm a night owl by nature, so that was easier for me right from the get go.

Well now, they are 11 and 6 and in school. The Boy will go full days next year, when he starts first grade, so he's half days now. And now my routine is something like this:

7:50AM - roll out of bed, shower, dress, etc.

8:20AM - stagger downstairs for much needed coffee

8:40AM - take Girl to bus stop. Usually with Boy in tow.

8:50-11:45AM - do morning chores and hang with the Boy.

11:45AM - Wait outside with Boy for bus.

12PM - Boy goes off to school

12:01PM- BICFOK (Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keys)

12:01 - 3PM - Write. Research. Revise (it all depends on what stage in what project I'm at, or what deadlines I have.)

3-5PM - hang with kids.

5PM - start getting dinner ready

7PM- Clean up

8-9PM - Get kids in bed

9:01PM - BICFOK and I'll write until I can't see straight or I want to kill the characters.

The thing is, I want to write. I need to write. And in some cases, I can get sued if I don't, so it's in my best interest to write. So for anyone who claims they would write if only they had the time, I say:

Put up or shut up. You have the time. It's up to you what you choose to do with that time.

It isn't that we writers have magical extra time packed into our days. It's important to us, so we find a way to fit it in. Before my kids were old enough, I would write whenever I could squeeze it in - during naptimes, or I'd bring my Alphasmart and write while my daughter was at gymnastics or swimming or whatever. I still do it. I get strange looks sometimes, but who cares?

And now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get dinner started. CCD tonight. :D