by Vikki McMahon

Created on: August 24, 2008

Writing, to me, is like breathing. I need it in order to live and to thrive. I am a writer, and I am a mother. In my experience, the two roles are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, motherhood has honed my focus like nothing else has. I find I am more prudent with my free time and am able to prioritize my goals more efficiently. Becoming a mother has enhanced my writing rather than detracting from it.

Before my son was born, I was a total free spirit. I could come and go as I pleased, spending my spare time however I wanted. I dreamed of being a full time writer, but was content to fit it into the nooks and crannies of my life while working a day job.

With no children demanding my attention, one would think I wrote all the time. Nothing could be further than the truth. I wrote sporadically, when "inspiration struck", and not at all consistently. I had a novel in progress for almost ten years, and three others sitting unfinished in my desk drawer. And I never tried anything new. What I did have was a massive case of writer's block that I had no idea how to break.

When I found out I was pregnant, it was such shock. Never mind that I was not supposed to be able to get pregnant, but how would I ever balance work, motherhood, and my writing dream? I was afraid something would have to go, and I thought it would be my writing.

After my son was born, I went through a dry spell of about six months. But even though I was not writing, all the new experiences of being a mother were percolating in my mind. Starting to write again after so long was such a hard thing to do. Everything sounded stilted and wrong. And juggling my free time in order to write was no picnic either.

But then a strange thing happened. My son settled into a nice routine with predictable naps and I was able to focus my energy on writing, if not for long periods of time, then at least consistently. The product of my persistence was a completed first draft of my novel, several personal essays written, and a how-to article sold to a web content publisher. I was able to write more in six months than I had in the last six years.

Becoming a mother does not have to end your writing dreams. If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you will find the needed time. Persistence is the key, and if you want to be a writer, you will do the one thing that is necessary to achieve that goal. You will write!

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