8 Busy Moms Who Published Novels
By Suzannah Windsor Freeman | January 8, 2012 |
By all accounts, I’m a busy mom.
I gave up my teaching career a couple of years ago so I could stay home with my children—one school-aged, and one who has just turned two.
Soon, I’ll no longer be a mom of two, but a mom of four. We’re expecting a set of twins in early March, which means I’m as big as a house and every inch of my body hurts.
But, just because I’m ‘staying-at-home’ doesn’t mean I don’t work. In addition to all my normal mommy duties, I run a blog and regularly write for other blogs, write short fiction (some published) and novels (not published yet), and dabble in freelancing.
Still, I have worries and doubts. I ask myself questions like:
- How long can I keep up with my writing routines while my children are young?
- What will happen when we welcome more children to the family?
- Will I have to give up writing until my youngest children are in school?
Over the past six months, I’ve been writing an eBook about balancing motherhood and writing. As part of the research process, I interviewed busy moms who were also published novelists. Some of them are not only novelists, but also freelance writers or editors.
I wanted to use these interviews to show other aspiring novelist-moms (and myself) that parenthood, though challenging, isn’t a death sentence for creativity or writing success.
Here are just eight of the many moms who’ve managed to combine their passions for parenthood with their passions for writing:
1. Therese Walsh
Yes, our very own Therese Walsh—co-founder of Writer Unboxed—has done her time as a busy writer-mom. In fact, it was motherhood that prompted her to start writing fiction.
She’s a mother of two, and the author of The Last Will of Moira Leahy.
(Read Writer Unboxed’s Interview with Therese Walsh)
2. Julie Buxbaum
Julie Buxbaum became a writer before she became a mother, but she’s now learned to adjust her writing life to accommodate parenthood, as she pens her third novel.
She’s a mother of one, and the author of The Opposite of Love and After You.
(Read Writer Unboxed’s Interview with Julie Buxbaum)
3. Camille Noe Pagan
Beginning her writing career as a freelance journalist, Camille Noe Pagan has now turned to writing fiction, in addition to caring for her children.
She’s a mother of two, and the author of The Art of Forgetting.
4. Kristina Riggle
Kristina Riggle is not only a published novelist, she’s also the co-editor of Literary Mama, an online literary journal.
She’s a mother of two, and the author of Things We Didn’t Say, The Life You’ve Imagined, and Real Life & Liars.
(Read Writer Unboxed’s Interview with Kristina Riggle)
5. Anna Elliott
Another regular contributor to Writer Unboxed, Anna Elliot wrote and sold her debut novel before her eldest daughter’s first birthday.
She’s a mother of two, and the author of Twilight of Avalon, Dark Moon of Avalon, and more.
(Read Writer Unboxed’s Interview with Anna Elliott)
6. Jody Hedlund
Jody Hedlund manages to balance homeschooling her children with writing historical fiction, and she maintains an inspiring blog for writers.
She’s a mother of five, and the author of The Preacher’s Bride and The Doctor’s Lady.
7. Elizabeth Spann Craig
Highly active in social media, Elizabeth Spann Craig (a.k.a Riley Adams) shares invaluable advice with writers through her blog and Twitter, all while writing and publishing cozy mysteries.
She’s a mother of two, and the author of Finger Lickin’ Dead, Hickory Smoked Homicide, and more.
8. Jodi Picoult
Who hasn’t heard of Jodi Picoult? She wrote many of her bestselling novels during her years as a young, busy mom.
She’s a mother of three, and the author of Sing You Home, House Rules, and more.
If you’re a busy mother who sometimes wonders if you’ll ever really have time to achieve your writing goals, I hope these amazing novelists will give you encouragement. I know I’ve been been inspired by learning more about them.
Until my children are older and more independent, I’ll use what time I do have wisely, and set reachable goals for my writing.
I’ll leave you with a handful of extra must-read articles for busy moms who write:
- How Can a Busy Mom Make Time for Writing? by Jody Hedlund
- Managing Your Time as a Writer, by Kristina Riggle
- Juggling Parenthood and Writing, by Elizabeth Spann Craig
- I Got Mommy-Tracked. And I’m Okay with It, by Camille Noe Pagan
Photo courtesy of PhotograTree
Suzannah Windsor Freeman is a Canadian freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in The Writer, Sou’wester, Grist, Saw Palm, Anderbo, The Best of the Sand Hill Review, and others. She is the managing editor of Compose: A Journal of Simply Good Writing and Writeitsideways.com. She lives in Ontario with her husband and four children.
Very inspirational list, Suzannah, and lots of fun links. I so admire successful authors and mothers. But to be both, there is something very admirable indeed. I wish you all the best in finding the proper balance during this exciting and rewarding time of your life!
Thanks, Vaughn! I’m glad you feel inspired :)
My first novel comes out Tuesday (yay!), and my children are now 8 and 10. I started writing during summer vacation before they were born (during my teaching days). Some years I stayed home with them, some I taught and mothered, but all the while I wrote.
When they were really small, it was hard not to feel I wasn’t making much progress. I committed to three writing sessions a week (some just lasting 10m) to move my work forward and to also cut myself some slack. It’s not easy pulling it all off, but it can be done — in my case, slowly but surely.
Congratulations on your new book, Caroline! I love hearing from other moms who have been down the publishing path already. Wishing you all the best!
You forgot JK Rowling! good luck with the twins. I’m both jealous and sooo not. :)
Yes, J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer could also be included in a list of writer-moms, but I stuck with those I interviewed for this particular list :) Thanks for your best wishes!
Truly inspiring. Thank you. Now to check the links.
Have fun exploring the links, and thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations on your twins! I don’t have children, but I can imagine it would be difficult to balance writing and being a mother. Best of luck to you!
Thank you, Rachel! I’m getting close to the end of the pregnancy now, so things are really slowing down :)
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Thank you for this timely reminder not to allow excuses to stand in the way. I am also expecting my fourth child in early March (the eldest is 6), working part-time in teaching, and feeling frustrated that I’m not meeting my personal writing deadlines. It is good to be reminded that other people have and do manage it….but important not to be too hard on yourself also.
Thanks for sharing your story, Abigail, and congratulations on expecting your fourth child! The one thing I always keep in mind is that even though things can be tough when the kids are very young, they do grow up and become more independent quite quickly. All the best!
Thanks so much for the mention here—it’s an honor to be listed alongside these other ladies! And congratulations on your upcoming “launch.” :) You’ll be giving us all tips on keeping organized soon!
Elizabeth, the eBook wouldn’t be what it is without the fantastic interviews I received from writers like you! Thank you :)
Congrats on the twins!
Thanks, Nina! I believe you are/were expecting your fourth sometime around now? Hope all is well!
I’m so happy that WU is suddenly going to be bounding with babies! Congrats again, Suzannah. And thank you for the shout out here, and in your e-book. We’ll be eager to hear more about that when the book is available. Best of luck!
Thank you, as always, for everything, Therese! I’m looking forward to getting the book out there, too!
Suzannah, Congrats on having twins. My goodness you are an inspiration :-)
I think a writing career is such a great opportunity for moms but as you’ve mentioned, using your time wisely and setting reasonable goals for yourself is a big part of making your dream, whatever it is, attainable.
The nice thing about writing is that you can do it just about anywhere.
Thanks for the great resources and best of luck with your new little ones :-)
Liz
Liz, thank you so much for your kind words. What I think is the greatest thing about writing for moms is that it can give you the ability to be both a full-time parent and have a career you love at the same time!
Suzannah, thanks so much for the shout-out—and congratulations! Sending good thoughts for you and your little ones.
You’re so welcome, Camille :) And thank you for your best wishes. Hope all is well with you and your family!
Suzannah, thanks so much for putting this out there today. It’s Monday. I’m finally on holiday for the Winter break (which coincides with Spring Festival here in China) and I’m facing a month of time JUST FOR WRITING! It’s exciting to have so much time. But I also have a son home from school during this holiday. I needed some encouragement. I will find the balance between meeting his needs and keeping to my self-imposed deadlines! I will!
Thanks, Amalia! I’m in Australia, and my older son is home from school at the moment, too, which makes writing even more difficult. Here’s to both of us getting something done during the school holidays!
This was great! I am definitely not a mom, or nearing it anytime soon, but it weighs on my mind because I know I will never reach a point of NOT wanting–needing– to write.
I’m so glad you wrote this, I come across so many fellow writers online who are discouraged with trying to strike a balance, it is always encouraging to see those who have succeeded.
Lauren, I think you’re right. Discouragement abounds for writers, whether it be because of parenthood, illness, or some other responsibility. It’s always nice to know that my own experience can give other writers some hope for striking a balance!
Thanks, Suzannah, for this. Reading this made me sigh with relief. I’d love to hear more about the “reachable goals” you mention, and how you use time wisely in a future blog post. I’ve devised a system/schedule for myself and my two kids, but it’s always inspiring to hear tricks and wisdom from other writer moms. I think there’s plenty more to explore here, and I’m grateful for the extra must-read articles too. Congratulations on your twins!
Thanks, Rose! There’ll be plenty of material about reachable goals and making time over the next few weeks at my own blog, writeitsideways.com, as we lead up to the eBook launch.
Thanks for pulling this post together. It couldn’t come at a better time for me since the revisions to my first novel and my first baby are both due in less than ten weeks! Although it’s always been hard for me to set boundaries while working from home (writing always seems to creep in), I’m determined to think of it as a “real job” and take proper maternity leave.
Congratulations on your twins. We’ll both have a lot to celebrate in March!
Congratulations on your book and pregnancy! Wow, a double blessing :) Wishing you all the best in the coming months!
Hugs on the aching body–but hooray on the twins!
Count me as a writer who was also a super busy mom. I sold my first book when my boys were 4 & 6, and I often had giant crowds of boys, cousins, friends (and dogs) ravaging my kitchens. It was not a big house, either. My office was right off the kitchen so I could keep an eye on everybody.
My best trick was/is a soundtrack for each book, so no matter how much time I have, I can get back into the mood super fast and maximize writing time.
Thank you, Barbara! It’s great to hear from another busy writer-mom whose ‘been there, done that.’ I agree that music is one of the best ways to get yourself in the mood to write!
Thank you for a wonderful post! Although we don’t have children yet, my husband and I are hoping to start a family. It’s wonderful to read how others have balanced motherhood and writing. Congratulations on your twins!
Many thanks, Heather. All the best with striking a balance between writing and other responsibilities in your life!
I once heard Zadie Smith speak and she said there comes a point in writing your novel when you feel like everything you see, hear, or come across is somehow linked to your book…that the universe is sending you signs that everything relates to your work. I felt that way about this post! I’m a journalist whose first novel, OTHER WATERS, is being published on February 14th by St. Martin’s Press, and I’m the mother of a four-month-old. A former colleague asked me how I managed to produce a baby and a novel at the same time and I said, “that’s easy; the secret is to finish the novel before you start the baby.”
But now that the novel is coming out I’m torn between working on my next novel, working to publicize this one, and doing the freelance assignments that pay the bills, all while trying to care for–and enjoy–the baby. I can’t wait to check out your ebook, but in the meantime, one thing that I’ve found helps me, when I feel like I work all the time and get nothing done, and why haven’t the thank you notes for Christmas gone out yet, is to say (out loud, to the baby, and internally to myself) “mama’s doing the best that she can.” It sounds a little Dr. Phil, but it helps. Plus, for me, one of the great joys of motherhood is the ability to talk about myself in the third person. It cracks me up every time. OK, mama’s getting back to work now. And good luck with those twins! Rock on!
Oh, that’s funny, Eleni :) A lot of the time I feel like saying, “Mama’s doing the best she can,” too! It seems like we women are great at producing books and babies at the same time, and I wouldn’ t have it any other way. Thanks for your best wishes, and I wish you peace and productivity as you attempt to strike a balance between motherhood and writing!
Shannon Hale should definitely be included on here. Mother of four…including twins, and author of 11 books. Woohoo. :)
Thanks for the recommendation, Alex! I’ll have to look her up. Those included in the list here are writers I actually interviewed, but I’d love to do more interviews in the future.
Now, I certainly don’t have any excuses, now, do I? Im not a mom, when I come home from work I can actually spend good three or four hours writing… Which, I should probably do. Now.
Jane, if it’s not motherhood, it’s some other responsibility that makes writing difficult! I do sometimes find it helpful to tell myself, “Just start.” Once I get started, I can go for hours, but the getting started part is difficult. Good luck!
Wow, congratulations on the twins, Susannah!! You are an inspiration, and I’m honored to have been among the busy-mom writers you chose to interview! All best wishes to you!
Many thanks for being one of my first writer-moms to agree to an interview! You’ve certainly shared some great tips for balancing motherhood and writing, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with others!
Kids are a long way off in my future, if they happen at all, but balancing writing and kids was at one point one of those silly things I worried about during 3 a.m. bouts of insomnia. Now I figure that if I can balance a full-time job and grad school with the writing, I can probably find a way to adapt to kids, too, if needed. Thanks for a post that shows it can be done!
Kristin, having children is a sink or swim type of arrangement (although we almost always swim)! It’s one of those things you can plan for all you like, but until you get there, you can’t really see how life is going to be. For example, my 2-year-old was a terrible sleeper and ate constantly for the first 16 months of his life, while my sister-in-law just had her first baby and her little girl is a complete angel! Somehow, no matter how bad it gets, you find a way to deal with it. If you can do grad school, you can do motherhood!
Suzahnna,
It’s amazing you get all of your writing done while having two kids, let alone soon to have four on the way. I have a question for you on why you think you’re able to maintain all of your passion for writing.
For myself, I was never a better writing than my senior year of college, when I crammed six classes into my schedule, a job that left me working deep into the night and early morning, balancing friendships, and still trying to find time for sleep. What my question is, is do you think that having to schedule time to write as opposed to having plenty of time for it keeps you disciplined and keeps your mind ready to write when you need it ready to write? Or maybe the adrenaline from constantly being busy transfers over?
I for one always thought that it was the second but it could be neither of them as well.
David, I’m not really sure, except that I think I’m at a point in my life where I know writing is what I want to do. Years ago, I could have said writing was something I would ‘like’ to do, or even would ‘love’ to do, but because I’ve immersed myself in it for so many years now, I just can’t imagine giving it up. It’s that important to me now that I’ll make time for it, even when there doesn’t appear to be any. I’ve gone as far as to give up watching TV for months on end to make it happen. Before I was sure of what I wanted to do, I wouldn’t have had that discipline. Hope that explains it a bit better!
Great list! Thanks so much for compiling such an inspirational group of women.
I’m a full-time stay-at-home mum to 4 kids. My eldest is 6 and my baby girl has just turned 1. I have 3.5 yo old twins in the middle, so I totally relate to being as large as a house! (Twins are THE BEST…even though they can be frightfully hard work at times!!) Finding time to write doesn’t work for me. I have to MAKE time to write. This means scheduling my days so I know exactly what I’m working on writing-wise.
I’ve had a couple of picture books published, have a completed first-draft of a MG novel waiting for my attention and I’m in the middle of writing the first draft of a YA novel. When people ask me how I find time to write I always tell them that writing is what keeps me sane. When the kids were newborns it was trickier, but now they are all good sleepers it just requires discipline from me. If I get up an hour earlier than them four mornings a week, I can get four scenes of my novel written. That means in three months I will have written the first draft of an entire novel.
I don’t get a whole lot of time to sit at the computer, except when the kids are sleeping, but I do have a lot of thinking time during the day which, used wisely, has a big impact on my writing. While I’m hanging out the washing or cooking dinner, I’m secretly plotting my character’s demise or coming up with just the phrase I was looking for. I love being home with my kids but I love being a writer too. I’m so thankful I can do both at the same time :)
Karen, you make a great point about how your youngest is only 1-year-old, but your kids are all good sleepers now so it makes things easier. While my youngest still wakes up several nights a week, the fact that he’s sleeping a lot better than when he was little makes it a whole lot easier to get stuff done. Motherhood is always busy, but once you get past the up-all-night stages, it’s much easier to make time for writing. All the best with your writing!
What a wonderful list of reminders that it can be done! I love the first line in Claire Cook’s Twitter bio: Wrote 1st novel in minivan at 45. I remember this on short nap days. Good luck with the twins. I have an identical twin and she remains my best buddy.
Thanks for the quotation! Very Inspiring!
What a great post. I would add to your list Nichole Bernier, mother of 5 whose first novel “The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D” will be published by Crown/Random House in June. She is never too busy to help others, and now I know there are other moms out there too somehow balancing it all.
Congratulations on the twins!
Thanks for your congrats, Carol, and I will have to look up Nichole Bernier!
Thanks for the shout-out Carol, and great piece on a great topic, Suzannah. Having many little ones doesn’t have to bring things to a screeching halt — but it might slow it down some.
Which isn’t always a bad thing: Most writers I know feel that giving a novel time in “the drawer” lets it air out a little and freshens your perspective when you come back to it. I kissed mine goodnight for a few months after my fourth was born, and sold it two years later after my 5th came along.
Congratulations in advance on your twins! Lucky you.
Best,
Nichole
Thanks for stopping by, Nichole! You’re an inspiration to all of us, and thank you for pointing out that while things might slow down during parenthood, they don’t have to stop.
Very inspirational! I’m also due in March, a second girl. Our first girl will be 3 in April, so I’ve got my hands full at the moment! But I’m trying my best to keep up my writing, too! This was a really great post for me to read at this point in my life!
All the best with keeping up with writing and your two little girls, Missy :) And congratulations!
Thank you so much for this post. I’m the mother of a 3 year old girl and 1 year old son. I’m writing my first novel and like everyone else I hope to have it published. The past few weeks I’ve been feeling like giving up on writing. Actually, as I type this comment my 1 year is on my lap turning the light on and off, grabbing the pens and last but not least trying to help me type. :) Thanks again for your inspirational post.
Shari, don’t give up! So much has changed between my youngest son being 1-year-old and him being 2-years old now. Hang in there, and things will settle down in a few months :)
Wow, this is quite amazing to write a book while being a full time mom with 2 kids. I know how difficult it is, I raised a child myself. You need to be very brave woman and truly believe in your success to do that! Thanks for sharing with us! It’s greatly appreciated!
It’s difficult, but rewarding! Writing is the perfect hobby for a busy mom because it provides an excellent emotional outlet, costs little, and can be done anywhere. Thanks!
I went on a similar journey several years ago to discover how busy moms juggled writing and family. Great examples here.