National Novel Writing Month is almost here and with
it comes the challenge to write a novel in a month. That’s a big enough
challenge all by itself, but as a Mom, it is even more difficult.
It’s hard to write 2,000-3,000 words a day while
you’re chasing toddlers across the playground, shuttling kids to ball games,
and attending band concerts. Then there is the whole hour after everyone goes
to bed for you to reconnect with your brain cells.
How can I possibly know what it’s like to be at your
house? Because I’ve been at my own with three boys and one girl. No matter how
great my kids are it is still difficult to get to everything.
My first year doing NaNoWriMoI chased my own
schedule at least two hours behind and a load of guilt on my back. It doesn’t
have to be that way.
Show your children that you chase your dreams and
let them be part of the adventure.
3
Tips For Writing Moms To NaNoWriMo With Success:
This first tip is age universal:
*Enlist the help of family and friends to schedule a
writing session for Saturday and possibly Sunday. Make these fun outings to
celebrate a month we chase dreams.
Moms realize that the age of children vastly changes
what strategies will work, so the following ideas will be age specific.
Ages
Birth - 4 years
*Schedule your writing around naptime. Have
everything ready to go before you lay your little one down. Do your brain
warm-ups and think about what you will write during that last play time before
you put your child to bed.
*Plan sensory activities that are highly stimulating
for your child while you bullet point some of the basics for your next scenes. Some
sensory activities like whipped cream from their high chair, rice and trucks in
a bin, or even pudding and wax paper can be fun.
Age:
5 - 11 years
*Card Making or Postcard Creation to send
encouraging mail. Either use the postcards
for purchase on Amazon (You can even get them in
watercolor painting paper). They can do this activity while you write with soft
music playing. When the music is finished they can talk to you again.
*Discovery bin with favorites inside. Either get
some new things that your child might delight in playing with, or gather toys
plenty before so they feel like new. They can only play in this toy bin during
your writing time.
Ages:
12-18
*Quiet activity- reading, writing, or other
nonelectronic idea that is quiet. Make it 30min-1 hour a day. On the weekend
reward its success with a fun activity with Dad (movies, laser tag, etc.).
*Enlist their friends. Rotate an activity to your
house another weekend and then enlist your teenagers friends’ parents to take a
rotation during NaNoWriMo.
What
NaNoWriMo tips do you have?
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