I went to school to be a teacher. In fact, I have a B.S. in Education, not journalism.
Due to the hours and holidays, teaching is traditionally thought to be the best work for a mother who wants to keep one foot in the mommy-door and one foot in the career-door. This thought, paired with my love for children and learning, led me to life inside the schoolhouse doors.
Soon though, writing, not teaching, became my real "full time job," and it's been years since I set foot behind a teacher's podium.
There are times I miss teaching and regret I haven't used my diploma more, but who am I kidding? -- freelance writing has to be the best situation for a stay-at-home mother: I get paid, I do something I love, and I don't leave the kids. What's more? I can stay in my pajamas all morning!
Sometimes people ask if the lack of structure and absence of a physical "office" bother me and make it hard to concentrate. Sure, I get sidetracked watching a great episode of Rolie Polie Olie with my son every now and then, and I take long, leisurely breaks to chat on the phone or go to lunch, but this isn't because I "work at home," it's because I'm an artist.
I only write when inspired and when it "feels right." Even if I sat behind a desk all day, I'd still piddle around and get distracted -- it's my nature to jump from project-to-project, then zero-in on a particular piece when the mood strikes me. This is the artist in me. Just as a painter cannot be told, "Paint, now!" a writer cannot sit in front of a blank screen and expect great things to flow.
My best pieces, in fact, are written while I do such things as stand in line at the grocery store and wait at a red light, or during a commercial break from Oprah.
As I'm sure any artist can relate, I usually get a "feeling" when I have a great story brewing in my mind. This is, I think, the blessing and curse of creativity, because sometimes that "feeling" comes in the middle of a dinner party or at two o'clock in the morning and I have to race to find paper and jot my thoughts down. My husband has grown accustomed to me running in the door, heading straight to the computer and yelling as I go, "Can't talk....got a story on my mind....need to get it on paper!"
So, while I love this profession for its adaptability with the children and being a mother, sometimes the unpredictable nature of my creativity poses a few problems. For instance, if inspiration causes me to stay up until 3 a.m. writing a great column, I'm little use to my high-energy children a few hours later when they get up at the crack-of-dawn.
Yes, I have the luxury of lounging in my pajamas and not going to an "office," but I struggle with the spontaneous nature of this business and the chaotic schedule it sometimes poses for my children and me.
I guess though, even if things were different and my life was more structured, I'd still be a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl...that's just the life of an artist.
About The Author
++You may reprint the above column on your website so long as the following is included the URL address is actively hyperlinked back++
THIS MUST BE INCLUDED: Copyright 2004 Sarah Smiley http://www.SarahSmiley.com - Sarah Smiley's syndicated column Shore Duty appears weekly in newspapers across the country.
It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I... Read More
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
You've decided to write your very own Newsletter to promote... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
A frequent conversation I have with my writing clients is... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More
William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, "The tools I... Read More
Writing for the web is very different from writing for... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even... Read More
1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members... Read More
This is the ideal topic for us all to think... Read More
The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More
When we think of writing it triggers many thoughts and... Read More
1. No one else will do it for you.2. No... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Complete a character questionnaire for each of... Read More
Just about every marketer on the Internet claims to be... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
These are some of the snapshots I carry with me:... Read More
All the famous writers I heard of could paper the... Read More
1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More
ESSAY 3Writing an autobiography involves a matching up of a... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
My bookcase take up one whole wall in the family... Read More
Writing leads to reading. Therefore, it's only fair to supply... Read More
What's the best way to plot?Quick answer: the best way... Read More
More and more good authors are turning to the Internet... Read More
WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT TO GET INTO UK UNIVERSITYHOW DO... Read More
When my first book "Starting Your Own Business" was published... Read More
Whether you are writing a magazine article, composing a press... Read More
Remember back in the dark days of your school years... Read More
Think of writing like karate...it's about DISCIPLINE.Writing, like other forms... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
The first step in the writing process is to put... Read More
A poet isn't born; you must work at crafting your... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits... Read More
You send me an e-mail. You tell me you've written... Read More
Mindmapping is better than linear outlining because authors can use... Read More
Based on the feedback that I have been getting from... Read More
Eight or nine times out of ten, picking up and... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
How long should your chapters be?I can't resist... I have... Read More
Peter Abrahams is the author of thirteen novels, including "The... Read More
Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More
Have you been guilty of procrastinating on your book project,... Read More
Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
Writing |