This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
By Anna Bell
Before I was a writer and working from home, I used to fantasise about maternity leave and the break (cough) that it would be from work. Yet now, as a writer, I’ve realised that it’s nothing like I expected maternity leave to be. Here’s what I’ve learnt:
1. There’s no such thing as full maternity leave when you’re a writer
It was always going to be ambitious with my first book being published a month after my baby was due. No matter how organised I was before the birth, there would be promo work to do close to the launch. Then there’s the matter of the sequel. I’d already written it, but with a June launch scheduled, I was knee deep in copy edits over Christmas. I also received news from my publishers that my third book is now scheduled for release in October, and my deadline to give them the book has moved from December to June. Which means (as of yesterday), work on book three has started in earnest. And that’s before we talk about maintaining my author platform; writing this column, for example, tweeting and blogging, and working on my self-published books.
2. Twitter is really boring at night
Nighttime feeds are lonely. You might have a babe in arms, but they’re no company at 3am, and if they are, you’re probably in for a rough rest of the night. I had previously thought this time would be put to great use by interacting with those across the pond in a different time zone. I would be able to reach out to the audience I usually miss when I’m sleeping. But it’s as dull as dishwater at night, apart from Lindsey Kelk’s tweets, that is.3. The ideas are free flowing, if only I had the time…
It is during those boring night feeds, that I am almost guaranteed to have an amazing idea for a book. A book, which because of the little bundle of joy in my arms, I won’t have time to write for quite some time.
4. I don’t want to write when the baby is awake
I’m very lucky in that my husband is at home too, which means we can divide the babysitting between us. Only when he suggests I go upstairs and write, I hate it, unless the baby is asleep. I’m jealous over missing out on play time, and find myself listening to all the noise, just in case the milk lady is needed.
5. Books and TV are your friends
On the days when the baby has been permanently attached to me feeding, I’ve had to embrace the fact that I have to sit down on the sofa and be distracted by either Breaking Bad or Grey’s Anatomy. Watching so much TV (I’ve nearly watched all five series of Breaking Bad and eight and a half series of Grey’s Anatomy), has actually helped remind me about dramatic tension, suspense, the element of twists, what makes a character sexy and what makes me cry (almost everything). In short, it has reminded me of the roller coaster you go on when you make an investment in characters, and I’ve trying to work out how to use that in my writing.
6. I no longer procrastinate when I’m working
During that brief hour or two hour slot when my little one is playing with Daddy or sleeping, and I am actually in front of my PC, I no longer ride the internet wave. I am more focused than I’ve ever been. If my work hat is on – I’m working. After all, I’ve got time during those night time feeds to look at IMDB to see what else that day’s guest actor on Grey’s Anatomy has appeared in.
Are you an author who’s managed to have a maternity leave? Are you an aspiring author who’s still trying to get published whilst looking after a newborn?