What is it about the shortest day that makes you ponder where you’re at? I’ve been reflecting on how life has changed this year (to distract from my freezing toes) and I think my writing has been a big learning curve not just for me, but for my kids.
Reading
My son eats books. By that, I mean he gets a 300-page book and snaps it shut by bedtime. I used to ask him what happened in the story and who the characters are.
Now, when I talk to my 10 year old son about books, I ask him things like; who is the author? Is it their first book? How many books in the series? Did it have a happy ending? What genre is it? How many pages does it have?
I am sure he must be gaining an understanding of what goes into writing and publishing a book. These conversations will give him a greater appreciation of what he reads and of what I do.
Hard work
Writing is hard work. I’ve been working on my manuscript for three years; researching French sources and writing and revising.
Blogging is hard work. It involves researching articles, writing the draft, proofreading the copy, adding pictures. After the post is published, it helps to share it in a few groups or on social media as well as interact with other posts.
I have a side project of a middle grade book that I started for my son. Alright, I wrote the first few chapters a year ago. He loved them and begs me to write the rest.
Anyway, the point is that the kids can see me sitting there at my computer, writing things, working on the same bloody thing piece for a big part of my life. They would never have seen that before.
Patience
Writing taught my family that I’m not always available. Sometimes, I have to finish a blog post or short story before I can think about what they need to pack for school or the last-minute poster they have to finish.
Resilience
Writing is hard work. Have I mentioned this before? I sent out a short fiction piece earlier this year to a competition. I thought it was amazing and mind-blowing. It was rejected with a generic ‘We enjoyed reading your story but…’ I told my kids about it and how I don’t let it faze me.
They asked why – surely if people don’t like your writing, you should stop. I explained that most of the well-known authors got rejected early on and it was only when they kept going, that they were inspired to write their oeuvre. Yes, I feel a little sad that I worked so hard and they didn’t like it. But different people like different things. Writing is, above all, subjective.
The week after, I entered another one, only to have the same response. This time, I asked the kids, ‘Why doesn’t it matter?’ They responded with ‘Because we don’t give up.’ Music to my ears.
Resilience is an important predictor of how children deal with stress throughout their lives.
The joy of creating
I have posted before about the joy I get from writing. On sick days or at bored times, I find interesting prompts and we write whatever comes. Afterwards, we discuss what they wrote. The five year old can write 2-3 sentences from a picture. My oldest can write a page or two. I hope to encourage creative freedom and an outlet for stress, kicking perfectionism and the rules to the kerb. Creativity helps children to come up with new ways to solve problems.
I think it is working. I am going to interview one of my son’s fave authors shortly and I asked him if he’d like to come up with a question. It took him all of about three minutes to ask, What inspired him to write the book?
Tune in next time for ‘How Writing Chews up my Family Time’.
Your turn: what has writing/ blogging changed for you?
Such a wonderful post. Yeah. Blogging does need a lot of hardwork. I wish my son learns something from it too, though he is still very small.
Very inspirational to read the daily triumphs and struggles of becoming a writer.
I’ve nominated you (back) for the Liebster Awards
https://pennyhooperblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/ive-been-nominated-for-the-liebster-awards/
Thankyou!
Thanks very much. I love it but it’s a slog.
Thank you for reading. I’m sure he will learn heaps from you.
A very interesting post, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Whilst blogging is lots of fun, it can be hard work too. It sounds like your children are learning a lot of from you and your writing though!
Thanks for that. I do really enjoy it but it takes up a lot of time.
I know what you mean, but it’s worth the effort!
I love this so much, I am totally with you about the joy of creating that writing gives you…people ask me how I manage to put out so much on the blog and it is that right there – the joy of creating – which enables it. Thanks so much for linking up with #coolmumclub x
Thank you – and yes I think people find it hard to understand how the love of the thing is it’s own reward ☺
This is great and what writing has taught us is not something I’ve thought about before. Yes, it does teach us patience, hard work and resilience. And you’re right, about the joy of creating, that’s totally why I do it! #CoolMumClub
Thanks Cheryl – yes it is totally worth it isn’t it?