A Day in the Life

Even though being a writer is something I’ve always wanted to do, I can’t say I ever stopped to think what that might look like. (Now, it’s possible I just don’t put as much thought into these things as other people. And that’s ok.) If I did consider it, I probably had visions of Emily Dickinson up in her garret, surrounded by crumpled paper cloaked in a peaceful silence. Now that I have a book coming out (which seems to put some sort of reality onto the idea that I’m a Writer (vs. someone who writes a lot)) I thought you might enjoy seeing a snapshot of what a day in the life of this writer looks like. (I suppose here would be where we put a standard disclaimer: results not typical, your actual experience may vary based on circumstances.)

So, what’s a day in my life? I’m usually awakened between 6:30 and 7:30 (and honestly, it’s always closer to 6:30) by the 7 month old who has kept up his end of the bargain and slept through the night and is now in desperate need of nourishment. (Usually I’m happy that I managed to sleep through my hubby going to work at 4:30. Cause that’s just too early.) Going to retrieve him has me passing by the 4 and a half year old’s room, which means that he is now up as well. Some days I try to encourage him to stay in bed until his clock turns green…but most days I just let him get up too. Then begins the breakfast madness. Bottle for the baby, something for the older one (and he has to go through many options before settling on something), and coffee…sweet, glorious coffee…for me.

We try to have a little family devotion during breakfast most days. Some days all I manage is a prayer for patience, but I figure that counts.

After that, we play some, I check my email on my phone if there’s some down time, maybe call and chat with my mom and sister if there’s not too much chaos. If I’m lucky, I can get the baby down for a nap and the older one settled in with a book or game on the Kindle and then I get a shower. If I’m really lucky, that happens before it’s 10:30. Then it’s time for school!

We’ve just started homeschooling the oldest. While technically he’s not old enough for Kindergarten, he’s very ready. So we decided to just run with it. Usually I can accomplish the school I want to get done while the baby is napping. Sometimes I run out of time and he joins us. And that brings us to lunch. (And now we’re half-way through the day and I’ve still not actually written anything – but I promise you, there has been thought and plotting going on. The shower seems to be a particularly useful place for thinking. Probably because it’s quieter.)

More playing or errands and then it’s that blessed time of the day: quiet time. The older one lays down with a book (or twenty) and the younger sleeps. If I’m currently teaching (and most of the time, I am) this is when I try to do the bulk of that work. Usually, that doesn’t use up all my time and I can squeeze in an hour (ish) of actual writing or editing.

Then comes the afternoon playing, fixing supper, hubby getting home, eating supper, playing, cleaning up, getting the kiddos to bed and a big sigh. By 7:30 or 8 pm, I’m usually back at the computer tying up loose teaching ends for the night and settling down for another hour or two of writing. (Though sometimes I sneak away from the keyboard to watch some TV with the hubby or read a book, usually he’s at his computer playing a game, so we hang out in the office together for the evening.)

And then it’s off to bed, inevitably about an hour later than I intended to get there, gearing up for a repeat of the same. Which is why coffee is a necessity in this house. (It’s a far cry from the garret, but I love every minute of it.)