My writing schedule as a mother maker

Collection of creative processes from mothers

Hey friends,

I read a post here that sparked the conversation of “what’s my writing schedule”

I shared mine as a note, but I’m feeling like I’d love to set up a more permanent spot for this conversation

So,  I’ll share here for anyone curious about what my actual writing schedule looks like as a mother, and would love to invite you below to share more about your own creative process as a mother maker, it would be beautiful to have a collection of processes in the comments to refer back to and to connect over xx

“As a mother- the mother/maker journey of having creativity time separate to mothering, and mothering separate to creativity... is an interesting dance.

I’ve learned they actually can’t be separate.

They merge together.

Muse for each other.

Honestly, it took a while to figure that out.

It feels more natural now. Weaving, dancing with the two.

But for a long time it absolutely felt like a push and a pull. A never ending “choosing” and then “sacrificing” the other.

If I’m with my toddler son (he’s 3)

I do my best to be present with him.

I find myself often inspired BY being in the moment with him. For me, presence in my life breeds my creativity. If I’ve ever got a creative block, the best thing I can do is to. “Get back into my life” and away from twiddling thumbs at a keyboard.

Though there are absolutely times I’m jotting down notes in my phone for a later hour when I have some space.

I allow ideas and inner conversations to swirl, without the attachment of them needing to be fully formed.

Later, when he’s having quiet time, or playing outside with dad, or 7pm hits and he’s asleep,

I write

And I let myself go there.

I tend to be fast, words leave me and get onto paper quickly. It’s like my mind speaks and I write to keep up.

Once a week I have a morning or most of a day to get my bigger pieces done. (Normally Thursdays)

Though often what people see on my Substack have been written over a day, in tiny 5-10 minute pockets.

Then simply edited at night.

Sometimes posted in the 5 minutes while dad is reading books to him between bathtime and bedtime.

Sometimes I’d love it to be more intentional. Slower.

But reality is that it’s often not, and I make it work.

I sometimes prefer the blocked time of

Today I’m mum

Tomorrow I write

But it doesn’t really flow that way consistently.

Ideas meet me in the experiences I’m having.

I give them a safe space to land (hello phone notes)

And I come back to nurture them when I have space to do so.”

——-

Here is what a few of you have shared about your creative process as a mother maker:

“I write this way too Kat and I use @Suzy Walker writing hours twice a week to work in a focussed, intentional and often slower way.  Lovely to read about your process!”✨✨

• Claire Venus
  from “Sparkle on Substack”

“I love this so much. Before having a baby, I used to take all day to marinate on what I would write or create. Now, I find those little 5-10 minute pockets and make magic from there. If anything, motherhood has fueled my creativity more than ever before. I love seeing your process with your writing schedule, this should be a whole post of yours!”

• Hunter Burgtorf
  from “The Magically Mundane”

“Ahhh I adore seeing this… I try and be as present as I can with the girls… but I definitely always don’t achieve it perfectly! Notes on my phone have so many pieces of my writing that I download while walking with the baby… while waiting in the room until she has fully dropped to sleep enough to transfer into her crib… when I’m sitting outside my eldest’s bedroom as she likes me to ‘sit for one minute’ once we have read stories… little snapshots of time… and then, like you when I get larger blocks of time I edit and piece it all together. Sometimes I feel frustrated by it… but most of the time I’m accepting that this is a season and that the time will come when I can immerse myself in it a bit more. Teaching me patience and also to let go of perfectionism!!!! X”

• Lauren Barber
  from The Mother Well

Would love to hear how other mothers navigate this too!

Feel free to comment and share below, including if your craft is writing,  or perhaps making something else. Also would love you to restack if you think your community here would be inspired to get in the comments. I’d love to see a whole collection of creative processes from mamas and have us the space to connect with each other - how lush

Love Kat xx