A Time for New by Susan Tuttle

Most people think of the New Year as the beginning of things, but for me that’s always been fall. September ushers in the start of a new school year and the return of scheduled time. As my children have grown, those schedules have become more hectic and my time gets squeezed tighter and tighter. So as we are coming out of the carefree days of summer and staring down the scheduled days of fall, what’s a writer to do?

For me I start with looking at my calendar and match it with my kiddos’ needs. As a homeschooling mom and also leader of our women’s ministry at church, I know my writing time is limited. Summer gave me the freedom to write whenever I wanted. Fall blows in and I know I won’t write unless I schedule the time. So I sit down and find pockets where I can research or write.

I have to return to meal planning and a large reliance on our crock pot. I don’t enjoy grocery shopping, so I have been known to shop online and pick up my groceries—a service I love and that saves a lot of time. (Side note: our store just began delivery too! I may try that out this year.) My kids are old enough to pitch in with laundry, so that is a saver as well. Once I find pockets, I do my best to protect them but also maintain a fluidity that understands our family needs can change on a dime.  If I do make it to my writing room, however, I tell the kids that they cannot disturb me unless it’s life or death. While their idea of life or death isn’t always the same as mine, it works most of the timeJ

What about you? How do you handle the switch from summer to fall?

Susan L. Tuttle lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her best friend and is a homeschooling mom of three. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire, encourage, and grow women into who God created them to be. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. You can connect with Susan at her blog, Steps, Facebook, or Twitter.

Making Moments Matter by Angela K. Couch

During a workshop I took on training horses (Parelli Natural Horsemanship), our instructor explained that a horse reacts “in the moment” and there were about four “moments” in each and every second. If you go with this assertion, a moment really isn’t a very long amount of time. Often that’s about how long I feel I have to write at any given time. You see, I’m a stay at home mom with three kids aged 6, 4, 2 and -6 months. (Yep, number 4 is on his or her way!). And we homeschool.

I often get questioned how I get any writing done at all, never mind meeting deadlines left and right. For example, in March I had galleys from my publisher for the second book in my Hearts at War series, then edits back from the editor for book 3…all while trying to finish the last half of book 4’s rough draft…writing a little over 35,000 words in the month. All while making sure my kids were fed and happy. We had books to read and a couple trips to the zoo. Cuddles, crafts… and so forth. 

So how did I find the time?

In the moments.

Don’t underestimate the power of ten minutes spent writing. Or that two hundred words you pounded out in a hurry. They are small by themselves, but put many of those together and you will be amazed what you can accomplish!

Is it easy?

Not in the beginning.

I stopped writing for four years when I started my family. Honestly, I was too busy living. When I felt the need to pick up my pen again, I was intimidated by the prospects. Before getting married, I was used to having full days to sit by myself in the room I rented, with nothing to do but write. Usually it takes a good twenty minutes just to get to the flow of the words again. Now, I didn’t have time for that. I had to train myself not to need it.

Here are some tips that I have found helpful:

• Listen to music that fits the mood of your book. While doing dishes, playing with kids, or whatever else needs to be done, stay in the mood of your story.
• Daydream. First, you have to give yourself permission. Put aside the cares and worries of the day for a little while so you can picture the next scene you want to write. Spend time with your characters - chatting with them, putting them in different situations - so that when you have a couple of minutes to sit down at the keyboard, you already have the words.
• Collect appropriate visuals. I find this a good way to jolt myself back into the story. I have a Pinterest board and glance at it when I first sit down to write…while listening to one of my mood songs for the story. Remember, just a glance to ground yourself. Don’t get caught in the Pinterest trap. ;)
• Don’t waste your “moments” on social media. Make note that I didn’t say “don’t go there,” but only go there when you have a real reason. Do you have a promotion to run? A post to get up?  Something useful?  Or do you just feel like “checking it quickly” to see what everyone else is doing? I fall into that trap too often and then wonder where all my time went!
• Don’t forget your priorities. God, family…and then whatever comes next. When everything is in its order, life falls into place.

What tricks or suggestions do you have for making the most of the moments?

Completing his three years in the Continental Army, Daniel Reid still has no desire to return home—not after losing the woman he loves to a British Captain—so he volunteers to ride south through enemy lines and deliver a message to Colonel Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. With his temper needing a release and a dark haired beauty finding her way into his broken heart, Daniel decides to join the Swamp Fox’s efforts against the British. Little does he know the British still have the upper hand.

Lydia Reynolds has learned that love comes at a price, and she refuses to pay. Better to close her heart to everything and everyone. When her brother-in-law won't grant her passage to England, where she hopes to hide from her pain, New Englander, Daniel Reid, becomes her only hope—if she can induce him to give her information about the notorious Swamp Fox and his troops. When the British grow impatient and Daniel evades her questions, Lydia must decide how far to take her charade. The poor man, already gutted by love, hasn’t grown as wise as she. Or so she supposes…

Until the truth is known, the muskets are loaded…and it is time to decide where true loyalties lie.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Loyalist-Hearts-at-War-ebook/dp/B01J4KUKVK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/patriot-and-the-loyalist-angela-couch/1124227571?ean=9781611168877

 

Bio: To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after three munchkins.

How Do You Do It? by Susan Tuttle

Life has been crazy busy around my house lately. August raced past in a blur, and September has slammed me in the face. With our new schedule starting, I’m forced to find a new way to organize my time. See, I just returned from ACFW where I was rejuvenated and energized in my writing. In fact, I had the time there to brainstorm a new series I’m starting. But…it’s September and homeschool along with extracurricular fun is also starting. Whether you work full time, have kids starting school, or are watching your grandchildren, the writing life can be hard to squeeze in around the demands of our day-to-day life. So how do you do it?

Plan:
During one of the lunches at ACFW, I had the chance to sit with two women who use planners. I loved this idea! They purchase a planner with a layout that works for them and then build in time for everything from grocery shopping to exercise to plotting. These blocks of time are what they follow as closely as they can, readjusting on a weekly basis to accommodate any changes. With their days scheduled at a glance, they don’t waste time wondering what task to tackle next. It keeps them focused and moving forward.

Guard:
However you choose to block out your time, guarding it is important. As writers we often don’t have offices to commute to, and that means we are writing in the same space our family is living. Laundry piles can call to us. Kids can knock on our bedroom doors. A favorite television show can blare from the other room. While distractions come in all shapes and sizes, it’s up to you to guard your writing time. That may mean giving up on something else you love to do so that you can reach your word count for that day or week. Your book won’t magically transform from your mind onto the page—I know, I’ve tried many times. It takes time at your computer, pounding on those keys.

Attack:
Once you’ve planned your writing slot and guarded that time, attack your manuscript. Sit down and write. Even if it feels like a boulder instead of a block stunting your creativity, put words on the page. You can always, always, always change the words later. And without a doubt, even when they are unsalvageable, you’ve learned more about your story by simply writing them. A nugget you didn’t know about your character. A sentence that suddenly steers your plot in a new direction. Or a big neon sign that says NO, this isn’t the way your story should travel. Whatever the wisdom gleaned, words on a page are never wasted.

So there you have it! And since I’m at the plotting stage of something new, I’d love any advice you’ve found works for you. Happy writing, friendsJ

Susan L. Tuttle lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her best friend and is a homeschooling mom of three. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire, encourage, and grow women into who God created them to be. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. You can connect with Susan at her blog, Steps, Facebook, or Twitter.