Later, I clicked and clacked away at a keyboard, trying desperately to get back that eloquent writer. I couldn’t figure out where she went. Of course, e-mail, surfing the Net, and children (my own and the ones I babysat) distracted me. And I had a one-track mind by then: to sell my writing. Dollar signs were clearly visible in my eyes, if you looked at me just right. I wanted the almighty dollar, and I was willing to write anything to get it. I was also willing to rearrange my house to get what I wanted.

My little workspace grew in a corner of the living room until I brilliantly had the idea to move my sons into one room together, move my bedroom into one of theirs, and create a whole office in the garage. I thought it was a fail-proof plan. Except, it was cold. And lonely. And I couldn’t keep an eye on my work and my kids all at the same time. One or both would suffer.

Some months later, I devised a new plan. The garage was plenty big enough for both my sons to stretch out, and so we moved bedrooms all over again. This new move involved yet another person, when I decided it was only fair that I take the smallest bedroom as my office. And so we all traded rooms again. I was pleased for a while. After all, this new place not only allowed me to see the children playing in backyard without problem, but it was also closer to the center of the busyness of the house – and I could close a door on it, if I wanted.

And then…we all realized this was still bad. With small children, you can’t always show up at the office and make them understand. I spent more days than not simply sitting on my couch and writing longhand or using the AlphaSmart. I needed to be near my family and vice-versa, and as time went on, I not only got used to working with children surrounding me, maybe leaning over my shoulder, but I longed for it.

Our final room changing ended with me right back where I started…in a corner of the living room, in a small space. Because I need my family to be part of my writing process. I need to be able to see them and allow them to see me. And how much room do I need to just be able to write? One does not need to have a room of his or her own to be a writer. One just needs the right attitude, to find the right family comfort level, and to just write.

When you’re a writer, you write. You do so whether you have your own room or not, whether there’s a check attached or not, and you write no matter what anyone else says. I thought I needed to make money in order to be a writer. I thought I needed peace and quiet. I thought I needed a room of my own away from my children. The truth is, all I needed was the desire to write. Desire stays with you, even if the kids are standing over your shoulder, even when cartoons play in the background, even when no one is paying you. It is that desire to write, despite any obstacles that will lead you to the success you dream of.

About the Author

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Chapter 2 The Other Excuses

Chapter 3 Fighting the Fear

Chapter 4 Getting the Kids to Help

Chapter 5 Best Times to Write

Chapter 6 Sometimes You Have to Say No

Chapter 7 The Process of Brainstorming

Chapter 8 Start Your Own Newsletter

Chapter 9 Where, Oh Where Did My Muse Go?

Chapter 10 Never Run Out of Ideas

Chapter 11 My Own Story – Up and Running Again

Chapter 12 Interview With a Successful Writing Parent – Angela Adair-Hoy

Chapter 13 Tales & Advice From Other Writing Parents

Chapter 14 Bonus Articles – Over 20 articles written especially for parent writers.

Chapter 15 VERY Quick Tips to Help You Write Today

Chapter 16 Resources and Web Sites Worth Checking Out

Closing

Taken from chapter in e-book…

Getting Started

Anyone who has ever wanted to write longs for the opportunity to have nothing to do but write. If only there wasn’t a job they had to go to. If only there wasn’t class. If only the kids would be quiet. If only . . . But these are aspects of our lives and we must deal with them. We can either use them as excuses or get past them.

Many, many writers use their children as excuses to procrastinate. I know this because I am guilty of such. I have always said that it would be easier for me to write once my son started school. But then, by the time that day arrived, I had a new son. So I had lost valuable time. And I still lose this kind of time when I let my mind tell me there’s no way I can write with the kids in the house.

What has to be done now is you must make yourself sit down and write. Sounds simple enough, right? Try it. Find ten minutes and sit down and write. Is it working? Have you found the time yet? Probably not. You’re waiting for free time, aren’t you? That’s too bad because chances are, it won’t come. –

“I’ll Write When the Kids Are Grown” was written in an effort to help parents, grandparents and others who procrastinate and blame the kids for not being able to write. Each chapter offers ideas and tips to find more productive time and to utilize even the most minor moments to capture thoughts.

WRITE TODAY! Balancing Writing WITH Parenting was written not only to prove to the author that she could do it herself like all those other writers, but also to help all of the other parents who need to realize that they can do it, too. Written in bite-sized offerings, Angela gives the reader ideas to try or incorporate into their own writing schedules and habits. Ideas and advice are spread throughout with a touch of humor just for fun. Too many writers procrastinate about their careers and usually blame the kids for their lack of time. This book offers many ways to get around blaming the kids and making time for what’s important — writing.

The author has firsthand experience in the area of procrastination, and has found many, many ways to beat it. This book will show you how you can, too.

Readers’ Comments

Hi, Angela. I finally got your book in readable form just a little while ago, and I am so impressed!!! You did a terrific job of motivating the reader with practical information, buoyed with personal experience to show that you’re a writer too who has struggled with the same things. I thought the little “assignments” at the end of each chapter were a great idea as well. You get the reader writing before he or she even finishes the book. I laughed out loud at the “Talk to the hand part.” (I’m even chuckling as I type this sentence.) I could relate to so many things in this book, as I’m sure many parents who write will relate as well. Your chapter breakdown was good and allowed you to cover the full range of writing while parenting. I am truly impressed. You go, girl! ~ Janet Bouy

She’s done it again. Who, you ask? Angela Giles Klocke. If you are still asking who, you must not be subscribed to any of her newsletters, all of which are for writers, parents, or writing parents. And what she has done again is found a way to inspire, motivate and educate, all in the pages of her new e-book, I’ll Write When the Kids Are Grown*. This book inspires with stories of Angela’s on-again/off-again relationship with writing, and shows, by example, what you can do if you set your mind to it, regardless of how many children are in your care. It motivates by showing that others have overcome the same obstacles that block our path to fulfilling our dreams of being a writer. And shows us ways of getting up, over, and around those obstacles. And, finally, it educates, with tips from how to get the kids to help out, both with our writing and around the house, to getting over the guilt we sometimes feel when we have to put other obligations aside and just write. There are also exercises mixed in to get our minds back into writing gear and on the right (write?) track. This book will get you, (to steal a few of Angela’s words), “up and running again,” and “you will be on your way, wondering what kept you from doing so sooner!” ~ Debbie Stauffer

*This book has been revised and renamed.

Enter a new theory: Now it seems I can’t edit a book. What good is a first draft if I never look at it again? Every time I attempt to begin edits, I feel the call to write something new. So much for “writer’s block.” Want to break through it? Attempt to edit something else.

The worst for me is watching writers around me getting published. I’m not jealous; it’s more like, “Hey! How did they make it through editing? No fair!” Like it’s some secret that no one has shared with me yet.

And my family waits. They know I’ve written a few books. The question is no longer about when I will write one, but now when will I edit one and can they read it now? They’re cheering me on, but at this point, they have no clue for what they are still cheering. “Wait. She wrote a book. Why aren’t we rich yet?” OK, maybe not, but you know kids think about that kind of thing. Even non-writers have this notion that once a person writes a book, fame and fortune will follow.

I just want to hold in my hands a book with my name on it. And so I will, because I’ve got a few to choose from to work on. I should get started. Right after I finish this scene in book six… -AGK

January 10, 2005
And so…we are back. The Writing Parent has returned. It’s not what you remember, though. Oh sure, I’m the same…sort of…and the name is the same, and even the main goal is the same – to show you that you CAN follow your writing dreams while being a parent – but other things have changed.

Now, if things look pretty bare bones to you, well, you’re seeing things right. TWP is a work in progress, really. The ideas are huge; the window of time to get them all done by this date was not. Granted, the site would continue to grow anyway, regardless of if I could have rolled everything out in one day. The point is, in my return letter, I stated what the future holds for TWP, and it still does. I just hope that you didn’t get the impression that I meant *right now.* I would hope for right now, of course, but best laid plans and all.

Most importantly, I didn’t want to miss this ever-so-important deadline — getting TWP back out and open. The welcome mat is out and waiting. The site is open and inviting you right on in. I’m working on making it as interactive, inspiring, motivating and fun as I can.

The plan at present is to send one actual zine once a month, and then an update zine every Monday. Your Monday issues will feature snippets of motivation, drawings, the current Creative Theme, and whatever else special going on. The site itself will be updated frequently with writing news, markets, tidbits of advice, links, whatever, via blogging format on the main page.

Still to come:

*One-on-one coaching
*Workshops by qualified and accomplished writers
*Writing kick-starts
*Printable worksheets to organize and manage your life
*Support Connections
*Series: Choose Your Writing Career

At this time, I still do not believe we will be accepting freelance submissions. Frankly, there is no budget right now. I just want to see where we go from here right now, and then make decisions. So please, no column or article queries. If we can’t pay, we don’t ask or accept (though we do barter).

It is my hope that you will like the new direction and will stay on to watch us grow from the ground up, all over again. Your support has meant so much, and I want to in turn support you. As a community of supportive parent writers, we CAN achieve our dreams.

Write well, write often…
Angela Giles Klocke