July 4, 2007 7:44 AM
Notes from a writer being lately consumed by daily life
I have missed you. I know that sounds funny, but seriously. . . .
During two and a half years of blogging here, I have built up some close relationships with people all over the country. When God called me to be a writer at the age of 46, I had no idea where it would lead. All I knew was I wanted to write a book. And then another book. And people said write magazine articles and so when I didn't get a contract for a third book I wrote magazine articles and newspaper columns - hundreds of them. And then the book contracts came. And then along came blogging.
I knew a budding writer who began a blog and was very successful (remember Marla?) I warned her that a blog could consume a writer's creativity and might just become a way to avoid writing the "real" stuff. Boy, was I wrong. Because what I've found is that for a writer, blogging is like tending a garden. Blogging is the place where you can build real relationships with readers rather than launching your ideas into a vast realm where you hear little back.
For me today, my blog is the "real" stuff.
In the community we've created here, you all have helped me by sharing your experience and wisdom too. The books I was asked to write after I began MommyLife have had so much more to offer because of what I've gained as a writer here.
Writing is no longer a discipline for me, but more of a default position. I would rather write than anything - although it's easier to write what I want than to produce an assigned article on a specific topic :). The discipline for me is to turn away from writing to practice what I preach - making my family top priority.
So I've been missing in action - literally - the past few days as it seems this summer is full of demands. Ben and Zach are home from school so there's more food-gathering, cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Sophia has a job as assistant director for a kids' summer musical. Next week she and Maddy start a two-week Governor's School program in Winchester - Sophia for drama, Maddy for voice.
Jesse, Daniel, and Justin (my 12, 11, and 7 year old sons (through adoption) with Down syndrome) are going to a half-day summer school aimed at helping them retain the skills they've built during the past year. With the older kids all working, they need some down time too - which is hard to come by in a full house.
I don't have as much time to myself these days. And what little time I have has been spent in a completely unsuccessful attempt to keep up with my email and a much more successful attempt to prepare a new website which I will formally announce next Monday. I'm certainly glad that when I went looking for a book contract last spring I didn't get one! God certainly has this timing thing down and I don't.
But as I make the mad rounds of Costco, dentist, doctors - and try to keep the boys busy every afternoon - I think of my blog as though I was traveling away from home and I just want to send a postcard or something. There are so many things I want to share with you and so little time to do so! It's like being on a whirlwind vacation: I'm having fun but I wish you were here so we could talk about it all.
And I'm reminded of something I tell writers when I teach at Mt. Hermon each year: Writing doesn't mean you should cut back on life, but that you should embrace it even more passionately. That's where the energy comes from.
Anyway, I'm here and I hope you are still checking in. And I receive so many emails that say, "I hesitated to write because I know you're busy." Don't let my kvetching about being busy keep you from writing me. That's what I'm here for. It does sometimes take a while for me to get to everything (but maybe God has a hand in that too?), but I do eventually get my Inbox clear now and then. If you send me something that is urgent, put that in the subject line. Also please let me know if I can share it with readers for more response, and whether to use your name or not.
Finally, thanks to all of you who remember to shop Amazon by linking through my site
It helps keep this site going! I'm grateful for that.
Posted in Blogging, Writing | Permalink
Comments
Missed you too,Barbara. But have a great time and write when you can. Postcards are great. :)
Posted by: Holly | July 4, 2007 8:02 PM
