I’m often asked how I manage
to write at least two books a year as well as editing a third and promoting a
current release… I can safely say my answer has changed MANY times over my
twelve years of being a published author.
My daughters were just six and
four when I started writing my first novel, Searching
For Sophie. Before my youngest started school full-time that year, I wrote short
stories and articles when I could (which wasn’t often!) and held tight to the
dream of being a published novelist one day.
As soon as the house was empty
between the hours of 8.30am and 3pm, I came up with a schedule to write at
least 1,000 words a day. Were these words any good? Probably not. Would my
first book have been looked at by an editor if I’d submitted the completed
first draft? Probably not. If I hadn’t told people I was writing my first
novel, would I have finished it? Probably not.
There are plenty of people who
work part or full time and still manage a house and kids. If I was lucky enough
to be able to stay home and be a full-time mum, I wasn’t going to ignore that
opportunity, and took the decision to treat my writing as I would any other
part-time job. I worked the hours day in, day out and, when I (eventually) finish
my first ever book. SEVERAL drafts later, I took a leap of faith and submitted
it to a publisher.
The Wild Rose Press offered me
a contract which I wholeheartedly accepted.
I was a published author!
Twelve years and twenty-three
novels later, I still love my job, still get the same thrill every time I’m
offered a contract and still work every available hour around my family. My
daughters are now 20 and almost 18. Their demands today, as opposed to when
they were growing up, are practically non-existent as they pursue their new
lives studying in Plymouth and London.
Does this mean I have more
time to write? Definitely. Does it mean I still have to ensure I treat my work
as I would any other job? Definitely.
These days, I’m more
productive than ever, and not just because I have more time – something
incredible happens when you start unapologetically pursuing your passion. I
used to occasionally talk about my work if I was asked about it, but God forbid
should I stand up and proudly announced I’m a published author. What right did
I have when I am lucky enough to work from home? Can start or finish the day
when I choose? Or take a week off at the drop of a hat? That wasn’t a real job
to my ears so why would it be to anyone else’s?
But when I started getting
regular contracts and deadlines – a switch flicked inside of me and I decided
enough was enough. I work…HARD!
I started to claim and protect
my work time. Made it clear to family and friends when it was my work or play
time. I started to leave the laundry, ironing and shopping until I was ready to
do these things.
And guess what? The world didn’t end. My kids and husband
still looked decent enough walking out of the door to work and school…no one
starved.
These days, I write more words
per week than ever, more blog posts as well as writing and submitting non-fiction
articles.
How? I share my struggles and
times when I can’t do it all. I ask for help. I extend delivery times and don’t
say yes to everything. Family or no family – our lives are our own to do with
as we will.
Sometimes, a parent who is a writer has to alter their priorities.
Sometimes they have to say, ‘Hey! This is MY time…’
Rachel x
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