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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sweet Dreams


With two kids and another full time job, finding the time to write isn't always easy. But somehow, I manage. During the school year, I get home from work only to rush off to football practice or ballet with my kiddos. When we return, I cook dinner, help with homework then get everyone ready for bed. Just thinking about it makes me tired already!

When the kids are tucked away and everything is set for the next days marathon, I can sit down and write. Usually I have notes from various ideas that I have scribbled down throughout the day and I use those as a starting point. But before I know it though my time for the day has run out...or at least other signs that I should retire for the day creep up.

So how do you know when it's time to give up for the day?
Here are a few of the telltale signs to look out for:


You find yourself fixated with the blinking cursor because your mind has drawn a blank.

You type the same thing over and over again or better yet type absolute nonsense.

Everything goes blurry and your lids grow heavy even with the pot of coffee you've just recently consumed.

The animals in the house give up on you and pass out on the floor. (My dog can be very dramatic!)


There's nothing but infomercials on television.

And my personal favorite...you fall asleep with the laptop clutched in your hands.


Anything sound familiar? When do you know it's time to throw in the towel for the day?

7 comments:

Theresa Milstein said...

I can relate to this! It's hard with all we need to do to squeeze in writing, and except for falling asleep at my laptop, have experienced all of the other signs of being too tired to write.

Candyland said...

I know these feelings all too well! I know it's time to give up when I'm nauseated. Yes, it's true. Staring at the screen too long makes me ill.

Hannah said...

if I've spaced out for a good fifteen minutes, it's time to sleep. My day job forces me to be a morning person so I'm not very productive once the sun goes down.

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

My poor cat starts doing that little me (instead of the full meow) thing, very quietly, at evenly spaced intervals. When I ignore him or shush him, he finally gives in and jumps up on the chair beside me and crashes.

The one that always gets me though, is the blurry eyed one.

OH, and the finding myself surfing and reading blogs endlessly. It's time!

~that rebel

Nikki said...

Renae, I'm right there with you!! I work full time and have 3 kiddos. Summer is the worst.

I try to blog during naptime or when they are all at school (my toddler goes to preschool 3 days a week in the fall). I have a hard time writing at night unless something really sparks my interest.

But sometimes I'll grab 5 minutes and write when I can!

Jemi Fraser said...

Have you been peeking?? This sounds EXACTLY like my life - right down to falling asleep on the laptop :)

Clara said...

My mind gets blank. Really! I can`t think of anything, my senses get really slow. It`s like Im numb, its so weird.