I had a hard time titling this blog.  At first, I called it ‘How Much Time Do You Need?’ because I really wanted to know how much time other mom-writers required to write well.

Kris Kennedy

Kris Kennedy

Then I titled it something about a plotting method.  Then I tried something like,  ‘Writing Hot vs. Writing Smart.’

But eventually I realized it needed to be titled Hunting Down The Muse, because really, that’s what it was about.

I suspect I’ll be writing along this theme more in the future, because being a mom with writing contracts (yay!) it’s far too easy to let my muse go skinnydipping on her own.   And  far too difficult to write a good book that way.  :-)

My debut book came out last month from Kensington, THE CONQUEROR.  Before that, my life was as different as it was before having a child.  I had time.  I could write when the mood struck.  There would always be more of it.  Time that is.

Not now.

Now, there are deadlines.  Now there are sleepless nights to disrupt not only schedules but the various Creative Well access-points, so the most I can do is grunt when my mouse won’t work, until I realize I haven’t plugged it in.   Now, there are promotional demands.   Now, there is someone requiring my time and attention and love and devotion to help build a solid foundation for his life.

These are all good things.  (Well, okay.  The last, and maybe the first, are good things.)  But this new life, of mommy-writer, doesn’t lend itself to a lassez-faire, hands-off type relationship with my Muse.

sadie

Couldn't find a grizzly picture, so I'm giving you my dog. But that's just how I used to (metaphorically) sit, staring into the distance, waiting for the muse to arrive.

Therefore, my methods have changed.

I used to sit on a far ridge and observe my muse from a distance, like you might a grizzly bear.  Oh, hello over there.  Nice day, hmm?    Those berries you eating?  Yummm.  Well, I’ll be over here, playing with old paragraphs.  You know, whenever you’re ready . . .

Nowadays, I pull on my boots and go hunting.

Don’t worry, I won’t belabor the metaphor any more than that.  :-)

But, as moms and writers, we all know there’s the Ideal World, and there’s the Practical World.  The one with husbands who actually want to see you, the kids who want your hugs, and who you want to hug back.   You know: our lives.

In an Ideal World, I’d write in bunches.  I’d write ‘hot.’  I could write 22 hours a day for 3 days straight, if I was moved.  I’d still write regularly, but not every day, and that would consist of more editing.  This was my preferred method.  Things got done, pre-child.  Lots of writing, lots of ‘writing hot’, lots of excitement.

Now, I am a mom, and things are oh so different.  :-) My Practical World requires me to write every day, preferably NOT in the evening, after everyone’s in bed.  It’s just not my best time.

In my Practical World, I have to plot out my stories, which I never did before.   Took pride in not plotting, I think.   But in my Practical World, I can’t simply wait to write ‘hot.’   I can’t wait for the passion to find me, I have to go hunt it down.

So, while my son is in preschool, or playing another friend, or the couple days of day care I have, I smush all my writing into those chunks, and aim to be fantastically productive.  For the most part, I write every single day.

And to my surprise, I’m discovering this might be a better method.

England, 1152: After seventeen years of civil war, things are about to change...

England, 1152: After seventeen years of civil war, things are about to change...

Writing begets writing.  Being a writer means I really should be writing, shouldn’t I?  And not only when hot.  Discipline matters.  I get better when I do things that are difficult.  I get better as a writer, better as a person.

I think. LOL   I hope!

One thing I know for sure: Writing only when ‘hot’ is a luxury I cannot afford.

And maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

What about you?

Have you ever needed to hunt down your muse?  How do you do it?