Archive for ‘moms’

August 9th, 2010

Mommy Monday- Back to School

by Holly Dodson

As I find myself preparing for Super Spawn to start school, I can’t help but notice the parallels to my writing.

Not only do I enjoy buying unnecessary office supplies for my writing, but the actual process of primping, shopping, and prepping is very much like getting ready to query.

Primping:
School- you get your kid’s hair cut, new clothes, new shoes, etc so they can look their best at school.

Writing- you revise, revise, revise until your prose is shiny and bright.

Shopping:

School- there are lists as long as the sheet of paper of things you must buy for school. Now, should you buy the hot brand that’s “cool” or this other brand that may not be the hottest, but isn’t necessarily any better or worse.

Writing- do you follow trends with your writing or dare to be different? Should you point out your story’s similarities to the blockbusters or the differences?

Prepping:

School- you must open everything, write names on each tiny bit, and organize it all beautifully in the shiny-new-backpack so that it can be ripped open and spread around the classroom the first day.

Writing- you ask for feedback on your (as you see it) perfect query letter, only for it to be ripped apart and then you’re told to put it back together. (In a good way)

Now it’s time to go to school!

Categorymoms, publishing, Writing | Comment3 Comments »

July 12th, 2010

Mommy Monday

by Holly Dodson

Life is all a balancing act. We all have our obligations and desires. This week I thought we’d talk about keeping a balance between writing and family and work.
I know there are probably no two of us in the same situation, but knowing how others handle that precarious balance may help someone even out their life. A friend and I were talking the other day about the workaholic type people we know who don’t seem to know how to “turn it off” even if they go on vacation. Everything is about work to them.

The conversation got me thinking (I know, it’s dangerous when I think) about all the things I balance in life without letting one run over the other.

  1. Super-Spawn
  2. Work
  3. Writing
  4. Other family
  5. Social Life
  6. Housework
You get the picture. The point is, what can we do to make sure we aren’t cheating ourselves, or the ones we love, out of a fair share of US? Which we know is what they all most want.My life is divided into sections:

The work week- Days, work. (Lunch, writing, and a weekly lunch with my cousin) Evenings, Super Spawn. Nights, writing related things.

Saturdays- If it’s my weekend with SS, I take him somewhere fun (the movies, a museum, a play place in town, etc) and invite our friends. If it’s not- I get some quality me-time where I do whatever I want. May be that I write, go out with friends, whatever.

Sundays- Almost always devoted to housework.

And you better believe we live on a schedule within that schedule. Otherwise I’d never keep it all up. I manage to work, be a mom, write, have a social life (if a limited one), and get the house clean every single week.

Tell me, how do you keep the balance?

Categoryfamily, moms, parenting, time management, Writing | Comment2 Comments »

June 28th, 2010

Mommy Monday

by Holly Dodson

Erinn over at Something Else to Distract Me gave me an award! Thanks, Erinn!


I’m supposed to pass it on to other writer moms. So, here’s who I’d like to pass it to.

Kate Hart

Jennifer Walkup

Creepy Query Girl

Crazy Writer Girl

I know for sure they’re all mom’s who write! Anyway, the rule is you must pass it on, because ALL mom’s who write are awesome!

Well, I must confess that I do not have a topic today. *gasp* I know, I’m a slacker. We had Super Spawn’s birthday party on Saturday and it was a hit. But it left me totally wiped out for the remainder of the weekend.

I didn’t have a creative thought all weekend, I swear. It was most annoying. I’m not used to creative lapses. Anyway, I’ll leave you with a picture of the millions of cupcakes my sister and I made for the extravaganza. See, Super Spawn’s Kryptonite is nuts, so I don’t have the luxury of ordering from a bakery.

Categorymoms, parenting, Writing | Comment2 Comments »

June 21st, 2010

Mommy Monday- Guilt

by Holly Dodson

Being a mom is never easy. I went to see Sex and the City 2 with my sister this weekend, and the scene where Charlotte locks herself in the pantry with babies crying at the door had me in tears. I’ve been there. I’m pretty sure most all moms have been there, and feel guilty for it.

Mommy guilt is a bitch.
The moral of the story for Charlotte was: she needed a break. Everyone needs a break once in a while to recharge their batteries. Whether it’s a few minutes locked in a pantry or a weekend getaway, sometimes all you need is quiet.

What’s my point? Well, my point is that, as writers, we need breaks too. I know the mantra is to write every day. Push, push, push. Go, go, go. But life happens.

Kids get sick, computers die, an apocalypse is knocking at the door. Well…maybe not the last one.

Then comes the writer’s guilt. The — I’m not doing enough! OMG I’m never going to finish this book/get published/make it through revisions — thoughts that plague us just because we took a day off.

So, I’m here to say: It’s okay to take a day off, as long as you come back.

Taking a day off is not quitting, it is not giving up or admitting defeat. It’s giving your mind time to rest, to think, to percolate. Fun word, percolate.

Anyway, don’t let writer’s guilt (or mommy guilt!) get you down.

Writing may not be easy. You may find a challenge at every turn, but how you handle them is what defines you. Follow your dreams, live your life, and let nothing hold you down.

Categoryinspiration, manuscript, moms, parenting, publishing, Writing | Comment8 Comments »

June 18th, 2010

Friday Fun – Blog Award!

by Holly Dodson

The super awesome Blue Lipstick Samurai gave me a blog award!


The rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order…)
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

7 Things About Me:

  1. I CANNOT WAIT to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It is, conveniently, only 4 hours away.
  2. Super Spawn is turning 3 TOMORROW! OMG how did that happen?!
  3. I’m a habitual email checker, even when I’m not expecting anything.
  4. Oh, I cannot stand Thomas the train. I’ve seen every. single. episode. five. hundred. times.
  5. I prefer Pepsi over coke.
  6. My favorite food – hot wings!!
  7. Annnnd Super Spawn just spit in his bowl of popcorn — gross. (Well, while I’m writing this he is even though it won’t post until tomorrow.)

15 bloggers I think are full of awesome:

  1. Pam and Marquita
  2. Sarah Enni
  3. KO
  4. Erinn
  5. Creepy Query Girl
  6. Kate Hart
  7. Abby Stevens
  8. Susan Dennard
  9. The Alliterative Allomorph
  10. Renae
  11. Leila Austin
  12. Jen
  13. Michelle Schusterman
  14. Emilia Plater
  15. Elana Johnson

And a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my big guy who turns 3 tomorrow!!

Categoryblog award, bloggers, moms, parenting | Comment9 Comments »

June 15th, 2010

Tipsy Tuesday- Writing Space

by Holly Dodson

It’s important to have a space, no matter how small, designated to writing. Mine isn’t much — a desk in my bedroom — but it is my space that nobody else touches. Everyone’s needs are different, but these are the basic essentials I keep at hand when I write.


  1. Pictures- I like pictures, I have them everywhere, so naturally they’re on my desk too.
  2. Caffeine- We all know caffeine, in whatever form, is a writer’s lifeblood.
  3. Books- When I’m feeling blocked, I read. It helps grease the wheels and get me back on track.
  4. Kiddo Cup- Well, obviously if you don’t have kiddo’s you wouldn’t need this. But it keeps him outta my hair.
  5. Computer- Duh.
  6. Kiddo Stuff- Again, keeps him out of my hair.
  7. Baby Monitor- So you can kick the kids OUT. :)
  8. Note Pads- For scribbling ideas, outlines, whatever.
  9. Conference Funds- Like my pretty jar? I’m a visual saver. With it staring at me every day, I feed it much more frequently to make it stop yelling at me. Plus it’s a little additional motivation to work harder and longer to be ready for the next conference.
  10. Calendar- You can’t see mine here, but it’s hanging on the wall. Write firm deadlines on your calendar to keep you motivated!

And that, my lovelies, is my writing space! Is there anything I don’t have in my space that you have in yours?

And an essential for my writing space on any Tipsy Tuesday would be a glass of Moscato wine, my favorite. It’s light, sweet, and only slightly bubbly. Mmmm. Make sure it is nice and cold before you pop the cork. A delightful treat.

But, make sure it’s Italian. Domestic Moscato just isn’t the same.

 

Categorymoms, parenting, revisions, tips, wine, Writing | Comment7 Comments »

June 14th, 2010

Mommy Monday- Tantrum Hell

by Holly Dodson

It was one of those mornings. Super Spawn was acting like the spawn of Arch Nemesis instead of his sweet-as-pie self. Screaming, crying, throwing himself in the floor…it was full-on tantrum time. I wanted to scream and rip my hair out as I rushed around the house struggling to get ready for work.

I begged. I pleaded. I threatened. I promised toys and cookies.

Nothing worked.

We drive up to the sitter’s house and then it is total melt-down: I-cannot-live-without-mommy-so-I-must-scream-and-make-her-feel-as-guilty-as-possible.

 

I was forced to leave him, hysterical, in the sitter’s arms and dash out the door.

Boy do I feel like slime.

Then the wheels started turning in my head. Don’t manuscripts do exactly the same thing? I think they do. I’ve seen them referred to as “teenagers” before. In my humble opinion, I must disagree. They’re more like rotten three-year-olds who don’t want you to ever leave them alone so you can work or sleep or eat.

Your characters bug you in the shower, in the car, at the table — taunting you. Then they won’t just behave and have all these wild ideas about where a scene should go.

Eventually you get so fed up you don’t know what to do with them. So you thrust them into the hands of a trusted Beta and drive away to the sounds of their cries, with tears stinging your eyelids.

But when you go back to get them, that manuscript is all smiles and cheer. It runs to greet you and characters fling their arms around you with reckless abandon.

And you remember again why you do it all.

So, in a way, my manuscript is like having another toddler in the house. Now that’s a scary thought.

Categoryediting, manuscript, moms, parenting, revisions, Writing | Comment2 Comments »

May 31st, 2010

Mommy Monday- Memorial Day Fun!

by Holly Dodson
Happy Memorial Day, my lovelies!!!!

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Today we commemorate the many men and women who have died while in the military.


I’m spending the day home with Super-Spawn. (Yes, he wound up staying home for the holiday!! YAY!!!!)

Anyway, today is a day for swimming, barbecue, trips to the beach, and relaxation! I hope you all, whether in the US or abroad, have a wonderful day!

On a mommy note today, make sure to check the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database to find out just how safe your sunscreen is. They rate ingredients in products from 0-10, 0 being the safest and 10 being the worst. They don’t only rate sunscreen, you can find everything from bubble bath to foundation in their extensive database.

Sometimes the things we use to protect ourselves turn out to be worse for us than we thought.

A favorite sunscreen of mine is Badger, which rates in at 0. We never get sunburns as long as it is used properly, and that says a lot since we live in sunny Florida!

Now, time for some watermelon!

Categorygreen living, holiday, moms, parenting, summer | Comment2 Comments »

May 24th, 2010

Mommy Monday- Fostering a love of reading.

by Holly Dodson

I’m a little sad this morning. Just realized the Super-Spawn will be spending the long weekend with his dad — that means three weekends in a row without him. :( See, I’m the sappy kind of mom that if I never had to leave him with a sitter or let him go with someone else, I wouldn’t.

Sure, it’s nice to get a break once in a while when he’s throwing tantrums non-stop. But to be honest, if it’s just me and him — there are no tantrums.

Okay, enough feeling sorry for myself. I get him all week long.

Today I want to talk about fostering reading in our kids. What do you do to get them to really love reading?

My whole parenting approach is to lead by example, and that doesn’t differ when it comes to reading. Every night when I lay down, I read. So, every night when Super-Spawn lays down, I read to him. Well, usually he tries to insist that he is going to read to me, but being not quite three-years-old he actually can’t. But he tells wonderful stories that all start with, “Once upon a time.” Makes his mommy proud.

He thinks it’s a game, to see how many books he can get me to read him in one night. That’s why I started reading to him from Harry Potter. First, he loves the movies so he’ll definitely love the books. Second, by the time I’ve read him two, or sometimes three, chapters he’s out.

I’d love to hear what you think can be done to foster a love of reading in a child. If you have kids, what do you do? If you don’t, how do you foster reading in the other children in your life (nieces, nephews, cousins, etc)?

Categorybooks, moms, reading | Comment4 Comments »

May 17th, 2010

Mommy Monday

by Holly Dodson

Warning: I’ve been thinking again!

Question of the day: Does being a parent affect what you write? Why or why not?

What I mean is- as you’re brainstorming/writing do you stop and think, “Hmm, what would Super-Spawn like to read?”

Now, Super-Spawn is a fair distance from being able to sit and read a novel, but I still think about it. It’s something I consider especially when I’m brainstorming for new projects, but not anything I’ve really acted on either. Both of my novels are about teenage girls- probably won’t be exactly his cup of tea, but you never know. Though, I have found myself wondering lately if I could come up with a middle-grade story for a boy- specifically with Super-Spawn in mind.

Then I wonder if it would be smart to try and purposefully design a story that way. I’ll admit, my ideas are not formulated. They come to me unbidden with full plot-lines at random moments- usually in traffic. So I don’t know if I could force an idea out or not.

I think that’s about the only way my mommy status really influences my writing. Well, other than the obvious time constraints. I tend to find my way around those- read: Harry Potter is on and SS is acting it out as I type. Heh. His favorite part is the Knight Bus, we watch it over and over as he rides his little school bus doing the crazy fig-head laugh screeching, “It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!” Love it. He couldn’t care less about the rest of the movie, just the “school bus” as he calls it.

What about you guys?

Categorymoms, parenting, publishing, question, Writing | Comment2 Comments »

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