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.”
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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!”✨✨
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!”
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”
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
Ahh what a breath of fresh air hearing that the snippet drop ins getting quickly scribble into the phone notes isn’t uncommon. As a photographer I often find myself getting burn out from simply having SO much inspiration drop in, yet such little space to excerpt it. Same goes with the words dropping into my brain constantly.. yet how is it getting to the long forms here when the little hands and voices are constantly taking me somewhere else!?! It will happen more slowly! But bringing light to the fact we are allowed to work around our children AND in presence of them is so important!! Giving every mother the permission to get the words out, to simply better their being as a mother 🤍
I recently discovered that I tend to “write” poetry when I’m out on a run. Maybe something about the cadence lends itself to verse and rhyme?
My 24 month old is still mostly taking two naps so I use that time to write and/or clean. We also have a babysitter several mornings a week and sometimes I’ll go to a coffee shop and do more of my multitasking- answering emails, figuring out my writing schedule, getting a draft done.
The weird thing about being a new mom is I feel more creative than ever- figuring out what ideas and projects to prioritize with my limited time is the biggest challenge. I tend to vacillate between them given my level of enthusiasm or if I have a deadline I’ll focus there.
It’s definitely a dance and I’m not as present with my kiddo as I wish I could be. It’s a practice and I definitely ask myself- in moments of distraction when I’m on my phone- where am I trying to go? What am I escaping in this moment?
I feel grateful to other mamas for being here and taking up space, sharing their own journey.