OK. I'm a writer. And, a mom. And, a wife. And, I have two little girls, with ADD, and a husband with ADHD.

I've been reading Stephen King's book on writing for the umpteenth time-great book-really awesome. However, as he's discussing his daily writing routine, I'm wondering, how did his wife do it? I mean he could lock himself into the garage, bedroom, shed, wherever and, just WRITE.

I can't. If I try to hide, they find me. If I try to leave, they call or they argue or they blow up the house.

Suddenly, it occurred to me...Jane Austen-never married/no children, Eudora Welty-same, Louisa May Alcott-ditto, Hemingway-spent each morning in his office from like 5 am to noon Without children.

I need to hear from women writers and I know you are out there on this ADD web site-how do you do it?

I'm tired. And, I'm broke. And, I live with the Village Idiots-not the Village People mind you-and, what's worse, I'm one of them. How is it remotely possible for me to make this work? I have to make this work because I've tried everything else and I pretty much stink at everything but writing.

Tabitha King if you're out there-tell me, how did you continue to write while your husband was perfecting his craft and the kids were setting the house on fire?

Thanks for listening. Heather

Heather, wow, that's adventurous and brave, writing; rather than taking a job where you get a paycheck from the company every two weeks, like mine. My parents did it, sold the house and business and took the 4 (!) daughters and cat (!) and dog(!) to Spain to live as romantic expatriate authors a la Hemingway et al.

Two years later... fabulous adventures ... wrote the book and it didn't sell. Came back to the States to resume workaday life.

But that doesn't earn one a living does it? So it doesn't help you.

All I write is emails. Or term papers when I'm in school.

How do they do it? I wonder, too. Hope someone here can tell us!

A few ideas here and there. . . . .

When leaving "forget" the cell phone.

People managed to live an amazingly long time before the cell phone was invented.

ADHD fathers can learn how to parent for a short period of time if they have to.

ADHD children that are older can learn to not blow things up when they are home alone or restrict their use of explosives use to out side of the home, perhaps a neighbor’s yard.


Finding a time in the middle of the night when all are in bed and the house is quiet

Waiting until the children are grown and have children of their own, then moving 200 miles away so frequent request for baby sitting are not a problem.

Hope this helps

I want to write. Badly. I have all these ideas for stories, novels, screenplays....My lack of self esteem and my ADD get in the way. I suppose I also possess a large fear of failing--that it won't be as well received by others--and so I procrastinate and don't write.

There's a life coach here in North Carolina who recently held a workshop for ADD Women who want to write. She had some speakers attend who have written about writing and so forth. I couldn't afford to attend but here is the link to her website. You might find some information here that can help or you can contact her directly. She's extremely cordial and helpful. Best of luck!

http://www.lindaroggli.com/

Thanks so much for the information! I really appreciate your kindness.

Heather

Oh, and just write. Give yourself 15 minutes and put something on paper. Remember you just need a noun and verb-for example when I get stuck I will write the first thing which comes into my head-it could be as silly as..."trees sing, birds dance, apple pies sweat."-this gets me going. Just 15 minutes. Good Luck

Hello -

I am a professional (norwegian) writer, journalist and author. I'm just recently diagnosed with ADD, and Ritalin has given me a new life. The price to pay is that I am a poorer writer now, my language is not that energic as before. I kind of mourne this - but my quality of life has improved radically in every other area so the choice is easy...

To me writing was my major coping-tecnique during all those years when no doctor considered ADD. I didnt know what was wrong with me, only that no antidepressant could keep that very painful "engine" inside me shut off. I have been living in a nightmare of spinning thoughts, anxiety, depressions and sleepingproblems all my life.
I am over-sensitive and felt like from a strange planet - where creatures dont have a "skin" to protect open nerves...

If the urge to write is strong, you will find a way. Look at JK Rowlings...she started the Harry Potter sucess sitting every day at a cafeteria with her notes...
With lots of other obligations, of course there must be a matter of priority. How about planning a weekend of solitude, a place with no TV or other distractions?
Or just put yourselv in a situation you know will make you bored and desperat - no company, no TV, no Internet etc - and bring nothing but paper & pens :-)

Norwaya, I envy you and your profession! If I could afford to start over I think I would go back to school to pursue some sort of writing degree. Do you have any advice for me as far as my struggles go? Or perhaps you'd be willing to PM me and so I could "pick your brain" further for advice as to my situation?

I have found that my best writing is when I'm depressed and anxious, but then, my writing during these times is mostly journaling and not fiction, etc.

Maybe we should all form some sort of writing group. It could be a way of supporting each other--for those of us who wish to write but are having a variety of difficulties!