Summer Survival Guide

How I plan to write when the kids are home

For me, summer means looser schedules, very little structure, and more family time. None of those are bad things. But when there are deadlines to meet, or a project calling for my attention, it can be hard to squeeze in creative work amongst all of the other things I have to do.

Here are some strategies I plan to use this summer and I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.

Find the snippets of time

Back when my kids were small and had (kind of) regular nap times, I was a pro at writing in those small snippets of time. This summer I plan to remember that way of working. Even if I can’t sit down at my laptop for an hour, I can write notes on my phone about my work-in-progress while I sit at the pool.

By the way, I heard that novelist Abby Jimenez writes entire novels on her phone using her thumbs. That sounds painful to me but whatever works!

Add some structure…

We have some summer camps booked this summer so I will utilize those weeks to focus on writing. I plan to find places (coffee shops, libraries) to write outside the house so I’m not tempted to do all the other jobs that need attention. They can wait until we’re all home in the afternoon and my kids (aged 10 & 12) can help with those tasks. On the weeks there aren’t any camps, I’ll set my alarm and spend some time writing before everyone gets up.

Coffee and treats are essential while working

… and some space

I used to have a study all to myself but I realized that space would work better as a den for the kids. Not least because we can close the door! So we rearranged it and added a television and cozy seating. That leaves me my preferred writing space—my living room couch, where I am writing this very newsletter—quiet and distraction free.

I spy AVA LIN next to me while I write this newsletter in my favorite writing spot

Lean on my village

I don’t have any family nearby (or even in the same country) but I do have a lovely local community of friends. I had a meeting this morning so I asked a friend if I could drop the kids off with her so I could focus. I’ll return the favor for her when she needs a hand with her kids. And often, having other kids in the house means my own two are occupied and it frees me up to do some work.

Don’t stress

I know that summer is a harder time to get work done so I plan to accept that and not stress if I don’t get much done. Even thinking about a project for a few minutes a day counts as writing.

Communicate

I have a deadline coming up so communicating with my editor to let them know if I need extra time or if I won’t be as prompt on email replies is important. And I need to communicate to my family where I need their help to ensure I hit my deadline. One summer I went away to a hotel for 24 hours and wrote an entire first draft of a chapter book! Now the kids are older I don’t think I’ll need to take that kind of action but I may need them to fend for themselves, make their own dinner, or head out to the park to give me some quiet time.

Take a break

I have a vacation planned and I won't be working in that time. I’m even going to delete social media at the end of June for a while (now that I’ve said that I need everyone to hold me accountable!)

No work, just rest, on vacation

Even in the non-vacation weeks I plan to take regular breaks, enjoy the time with my kids, and re-fill my creative well ready for the end of August when school starts.

Over to you, what are your plans to keep writing this summer?

P.S. Educators, if summer is when you get chance to do you own creative work, have you seen Kate Messner’s Teachers Write program? Details on her Facebook post or signup here.