Family first...

This week has been a bit of an eye opener and I have realised just how much I'd lost sight of my priorities. Here they are, right here...

They have been somewhat neglected of late whilst I carried on with my WIP, pinching every possible moment and taking myself upstairs every evening and at weekends to crack on with it. 

So why am I trying my hand at writing in the first place?

Firstly because I love it, but secondly, because I would one day like to contribute to the household income whilst still being able to be at home for my kids. But what's the use in being at home for them  if I'm here in body only? I've already achieved my year's goal of completing the first draft of a manuscript so why am I busting a gut to get published at the expense of everything else?

I only have two hours a day during term-time to write, and that's also the time I like to get out on big walks with the dog. This next year and the past seven months were only ever meant to be about seeing if I could write, and then if I could, learning my craft and getting some ideas down. From next September, my youngest will be at school full-time and I'll have much more time to write, and maybe even get to make use of my study instead of sitting with my laptop on my knee.

I'm still going to write - I don't think I could stop even if I wanted to - but it's not going to be the be-all-and-end-all anymore. I have plenty of years ahead for writing and getting published whereas the clock is ticking and my children are getting bigger and growing up every single minute of every single day. I don't want to look back and regret locking myself away when I could (should?) have been making the most of my family.

There is always next year for my Christmas story, and maybe I'll have another manuscript or two to back it up. I've already been offered a contract so there must be potential in my writing and plenty of time to realise it.

Anyway, it's the summer holidays and the start of the Olympics so I know what I'll be doing over the next few weeks, with a bit of writing on the side.

Happy holidays!