Not all outcomes will be great, and that is okay. Sometimes failure makes a writer even more motivated. Also ask for feedback, Cause this will lead and guide you for the betterment of your composition.

hma_writes

Russell T. Davies

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This was the worried-but-trying-to-smile face I wore for most of this school year (or maybe the whole pandemic?). I sat with a laptop on my thighs in a playroom while Zoom kindergarten was conducted behind me (Baby Shark “brain breaks” and all). I served snacks and lunches, set Alexa to remind us about flute practice and reading logs, cleared space so my daughter could jump rope indoors for virtual gym, and did more Art Hubs than I care to count. ✨ I also woke up at 6am to write/edit Small Town Monsters, and I worked most weekends. ✨ And now as my kids celebrate their last day, I realize the one skill we all learned this year: resilience. Forget psychologists preaching about the “growth mindset,” and “helicopter parenting,” and a “participation trophies,” and a lack of independence in today’s youth. What these kids went through this year deserves respect and a round of applause. ✨ They went from virtual, to hybrid half days, back to virtual, back to hybrid, then finally fully in-person 6 feet apart —all with no snow days, sleepovers, birthday parties, or school plays, very little sports, extremely few play dates, and 8 hours of mask-wearing. No one can say they lack resilience anymore. I’ll fight you if you try. ✨ So cheers to all the educators, parents, guardians, and students reading this. Back in September, June felt very very far away, but we made it! ✨ QOTD: Are you celebrating the end of the school year? If so, how? . . . . . . . . . . . . . #aspiringwriters #authorsofInstagram #authoring #momlife #writermoms #workingmomlife #writermom #bookaholic #yaauthor #booknerd #authortube #authorlife #publishing #bookaddict #ireadYA #publishedauthor #deskselfie #amwriting #authorselfie #amwriting #YAlit #writing #instawriters #writinglife #instawriting #writersofinstagram #writersofig #bookstagram #IreadYA , #bookstagrammer https://www.instagram.com/p/CQPEQdhLCc3/?utm_medium=tumblr

“The inside of a working woman’s head is like the control tower of O’Hare airport.” That quote repeats in my brain a lot. It’s from the movie (based on the book) “I Don’t Know How She Does It” with SJP. ✨ I watched it recently and deeply identify with the portrayal of the multitasking #workingmom—especially this year, when we’ve been asked to juggle crystal heirlooms while standing in tree pose and listening to Baby Shark. ✨ “Mom! Didn’t you see that email from my teacher? I needed my white binder!” “The next round of edits is coming next week.” “GG’s 100th birthday is coming up, can you finish writing her biography?” “COVID shot eligibility for the state of Pennsylvania…” “Ms. Wallach, I’ve always admired you as a writing teacher and I’d love it if you would read my novel…” “Google: How to build your social media platform…” “When was the last time we took the cat to the vet?” “Are you interested in teaching a course this summer, if so, please fill out employment form…” “Summer camp registration for Early Bird rates need to be returned by…” ✨ On and on it goes. Normally, #multitasking is like washing your hair, something you do but don’t talk about. But in the past twelve months, I feel like the tasks we’ve all undertaken (whether you’re a parent or not) are not only plentiful but heavy. Unexpectedly, someone secretly replaced the crystal heirlooms we’d gotten used to juggling with lead balls. And we all need to figure out how to put a few of them down. If that summer camp fills up before you get around to booking, you know what? Your kids will go somewhere else. If you don’t have time to take on another project, job, gig, say no. It’s okay. It’s not easy, but we’ve got to start looking at what’s really important to us before our arms give out and drop we drop everything. ✨ QOTD: Have you started saying ‘no’ this past year? Feel like you’ve dropped anything? . . . . . . #aspiringwriters #authorsofInstagram #authoring #momlife #writermoms #findmywritingcommunity #workingmomlife #workingmomproblems #writermom #motherhood #bookaholic #yaauthor #YA #booknerd #authortube #authorlife #publishing #bookaddict #ireadYA #publishedauthor #deskselfie https://www.instagram.com/p/CMAtu_SgBfj/?igshid=13fpeo54wh9xq

This is what I do when I’m not writing—I’m a #workingmom. As I imagine are many #aspiringwriters or #authorsofInstragram. But trying to balance #authoring and #momlife right now, during COVID, is a daily struggle of “am I doing absolutely anything okay?” I have my son’s birthday this week, making it my second kid’s socially-distanced, coronavirus, how-can-I-make-this-not-suck birthday celebration. I can’t send cupcakes into school, I can’t go in to read a book, and we’ve opted to only have two friends over—in the backyard, wearing masks, and order 3 separate pizzas (one per family) with individually bagged chips. Then on Saturday, I’m organizing a socially-distanced Halloween with tables in the neighbors’ driveways and masks that match my kids costumes. Did I mention I just sold a new book and got my first edit letter on Friday? First round of edits is due back in a month (oddly, I still need to sign the contract). I also got new author photos taken and have to sift through 1,200 proofs; then I need to complete a 5-page author questionnaire; I’m about to launch my newly revamped website; and I now need to put the adult thriller I’ve been writing on hold. It’s one of those times where you wonder if the inside of your brain looks like the commuter map for Grand Central Station. So who are my fellow #workingmoms out there? My #writermoms? You know what I’m feeling? #findmywritingcommunity . . . . . . . #workingmomlife #workingmomproblems #writermom #motherhood #bookaholic #yaauthor @instagram #YA #booknerd #authortube #authorlife #publishing #bookaddict #IreadYA #publishedauthor #fall #fallleaves #fallvibes (at Radnor, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGz-N-lAZmW/?igshid=hfn5h7931o0b