This week I have been back to work after eight weeks off for summer break. For any new readers, I’m not a full-time author. Whilst it is nice to get a supplementary pay check every month from my writing royalties (hurray) it’s not enough to pay the bills. I rely on my day work in secondary education to keep a roof over my head.
Anyone who has a full-time day job knows how much of the week you spend at your work. If you have a family, the rest of your time is spending quality time with them.
Working in a school is great for family time. Thirteen weeks of holidays across the year maximises quality of life. During the eight week summer break, in between going on family holidays (Liverpool and Dublin), going to festivals (Belfast Pride, Feile na Habhann river festival, the Wickerman festival and Belfast Mela), day trips, playdates for my son and catch ups with my friends, there wasn’t a lot of time for other things. For the first time ever, I think, I didn’t write very much this summer.
Now, when I say that, it’s not a cause for worry. I’ve been prolific enough this year already. Love you to Death came out on 1st February and The Wabi-sabi Doll is due for release soon on 15th September. I’m also reading submissions for Bindweed Anthologies, as we (I run Bindweed with my hubby, Joseph Robert) will be releasing a Yuletide ghost story anthology in November, and I’m working on a contributory story for that too. I’ve had a busy year so far, so taking time off over the summer break wasn’t a bad thing.
Well meaning people always jump in with unsolicited advice when I say that I haven’t been writing. They mention how hard it must be to write while doing childcare. My son is no barrier to my writing – in fact he enhances it, as we often make up stories together or bounce ideas off each other. As for the time factor involved in childcare, that’s no issue either. He would love nothing more than for me to tell him to play Minecraft or watch YouTube for hours while I write – which I don’t do, btw. Over the summer I chose to spend time away on day trips with him than being at home writing. My point is, the only person responsible for me not writing is… me!
Yes, this summer I chose adventures with my family and my closest friends instead of writing. Now that I’m back into my day work routine, I’ll be back to scheduling writing time on my lunch breaks or after school ends. Eighteen days off writing barely made a dent in my novel WIP progress this summer. The story is already in my head anyway, it just needs to come out.
Leilanie Stewart 