What on earth is a writing life? How can a body make that work in a day where a million things come at you all at once? Well, I am a good waiter, in both senses of the word! I can wait on everyone in my house, clean and cook, walk and toss the ball to the dog…heck I could even do that while raising three kids and  teaching two groups of twenty four kids. But I can put things off and wait for the time to be right, the inspiration to crowd my being, for the foggy day or sunny day, or…you get it, forever. Sunny dreams, no plan.

The trick then is to make a plan and commit. Set myself up, coffee set on a timer the night before, cup in hand first thing, and then get my butt to that one private space. Could be a corner of the couch, the dining room table or my fave, the little mahogany desk in my very own writing cottage. God, I loved that space…until the bat came down the chimney one day, and poisoned it for me! I could not for the life of me get that thing out, even with the door left open! And even when it truly was apparently gone, I was haunted by it, and never used it for my writing again. But I persevered. What I was really looking for was time, space and privacy to write.

I thought I needed to write in silence, but after committing for a while…months at least,  I realized I could write with my husband’s rock and roll blaring from the speakers. I could write in a crowded Starbuck’s, or my new fave, Port City Java up the street. I simply couldn’t write when people were talking to me, my very Catholic guilt making me way too much of a people pleaser. Even now, I can spot the people who want to ask me that question we get all the time…”So, what are you writing?” As soon as I tell them I write middle grade fiction, they always say, “I’m going to write a picture book when I retire,” or “I’ve got a great story for you…” I follow the advice of my friend Bob, ‘smile and wave.’ But I don’t smile, and I don’t wave, I just keep myself engaged and focused on the screen or my journal. It’s all about keeping healthy boundaries.

The message for new writers or student writers or even teacher writers (especially those who can’t see themselves as writers, but yet have to teach writing to kids), LET THE WORLD FALL AWAY! Be prepared, set time aside every day for three weeks…yes, EVERY DAY! You are that important! And let the sleeping dogs in your midst, lie down…move along and be about their own business. It’s your time. You’ll be dripping ink before you know it! And this very large, very active puppy will be awake and ready to snag those sneakers lying on the floor next to him, drawing me away from my writing and into his time sucking world of fetch and chase!

Teachers: 3 weeks; daily…before you head off to set up those classrooms! It will make you the best writing teacher you can be, because you’ll understand the hurdles your kids climb every day as writers in your classroom. Bonus: you’ll learn a little bit about yourself and your life stories!