Summer Survival Guide for Writer Moms

The kids are out of school, we’ve had a few days of down time, fun time, relaxation time. Now it’s time for them to settle into their own fun and let mom get in some large amounts of UNINTERRUPTED writing time. Yes?

Well, not for me today. Today, mom’s internal volcano erupted. I don’t remember what happened, but whatever lit my fuse this morning was small and insignificant and left my children thinking “Mom’s gone crazy!” Or at least, that’s what their faces peeking around the corner looked like they were thinking.

You see, not only is summer made for kids, but it was also made for writers.

I want my time. My writing time. UNINTERRUPTED.

And to that end, I’ve come up with a plan. <rubs hands like a mad scientist>

1. Keep them busy with outside activities.
I’ve already got the summer activities plugged in the schedule. Swim lessons, music camp, VBS, vacation. Took me forever and was as complicated as figuring out my university courses back in the day. Having activities to look forward to lets the kids know they will get out of the house and you don’t have to be their sole source of entertainment.

Here are some activities to get you thinking:

Camps: science, music, dance, theater, community, summer school, local colleges,VBS, Scouts, Girl Scouts, church camps

Recreation: pools, water parks, zoo, aquarium, beach, parks, YMCA

Building/Craft programs: Lowes, Home Depot, Lakeshore Learning, Joanne’s, Michaels, Hobby Lobby

Movies: Many theaters offer early morning kids movies for cheap.

Playdates/sleepovers

Libraries/museums: summer reading programs, summer enrichment programs

Teach them classic outdoor neighborhood games: capture the flag, kick the can, water fights, blow-up pools and sprinklers etc.

Teach them classic skills: knitting, sewing, woodworking (swapping with other moms/dads)

2. Have writing tools ready for on-the-go opportunities.
Hello AlphaSmart! Haven’t seen you since last summer. Since buying a laptop I don’t use my AlphaSmart like I used to, but if you prefer typing to pen and paper, this little beauty works great outside during swim lessons.

Keep a well-stoked tote bag: genre books for research, a how-to writing book, notebook, pens, printout of your WIP, iPod to block out everyone else (even if you don’t listen, just put the earphones in your ears so you are less approachable by other chatty moms—don’t they know you have work to do?)

3. Keep a list of Independent Home Activities
I wrote a whole blog on this during NaNoWriMo one year. Over 30 Ways to Keep Kids Busy so You can Write. (A list of everything from LEGOs to perler beads.) and another blog called 25 Ways to Write While Distracted. Yes, I think about these things a lot.

4. Create INTERRUPT CARDS.
Explain to your kids that when you are on the computer you are not playing. You are writing and you need to concentrate. Now, just telling them this will not work. If anything it will only make them more curious about what you are doing and/or aware that you are not paying attention to them.

But I’ve created a new tool to help with this. While researching the workbox system, an organization tool for homeschooling, I came across this great tip. Don’t know what they are officially called, but I am calling them INTERRUPT CARDS.

Make 3 cards decorated however you want (maybe with a pic of you and the child) and give them to each child. This is their ticket to come and ask you a question or tell you something or show you something. Once they have used all their tickets they are no longer allowed to come and tap you on the shoulder. Or stand there staring at you. Or say your name.

If they are out of cards, they have to wait until you step away from the computer before they talk to you again. Up the ante and offer something extra for unused cards: readaloud time with mom, a game, extra Wii time, etc.

I think this is brilliant! I tried using it on my husband just now as he came in to talk to me. He just laughed. But he did leave the room.

Sidebar: If you want to know more about the workbox system, check out the official site here http://www.workboxsystem.com/ and then samples of how homeschoolers have used the system here: http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/workbox-directory/ I’m sure if you are not a homeschooler, you can glean lots of great ideas to organize your summer from these creative ladies. Instead of putting curriculum in the boxes you could put in games, etc.

5. Blow everything off and go for ice cream.
Some days are just not going to go as planned. Instead of blowing your temper, change things up and go out for a treat. (This is summer, after all.) Try writing again when you get home.

UPDATE: Here’s what happened one week later: The Summer of Great Writing