I made one change to my life that unlocked my creativity

And it became the bedrock of my writing routine

The secret to my writing routine? Rest, rest and more rest.

There’s been a flurry of new subscribers recently – welcome, and thanks for joining me here. Here’s a brief summary of what I’ve shared in this newsletter so far:

• I lost my mind during lockdown with two young children at home.

• For the first time in decades, I wrote a story to escape the constant gloom. That story became my first novel – a festive rom-com that paid homage to the genre’s comforting tropes while also subverting them to dig deeper into the notion of comfort itself.

• Much to my amazement, that book got me a literary agent.

• I didn’t get a book deal, but I did discover what I want to spend the rest of my life doing: writing stories about love that explore complex issues in funny and relatable ways.

• But, as I explored last time, carving out the time to write when you’re a mum to two young kids is no mean feat.

So, how do I make it ‘work’?

Firstly, I can tell you what I don't do…

I don't set my alarm for 4am and get my writing done before my children are awake. I've never been a morning person and my brain has repeatedly failed to convince my body that it ought to be (I've suddenly remembered the morning or two I went out for 6am bike rides during the first 2020 lockdown – needless to say that was a habit that came nowhere close to sticking).

I can't write with my children or anyone else talking in the same room, so writing in public places is also a no-no. Listening to music brings me immeasurable joy but absorbs my attention entirely. I need total silence – or brown noise – to focus.

And so, the only regular time that works for me is once the children are in bed. And there's a key nuance here that I want to be absolutely upfront about: because 'in bed' doesn't mean 'asleep'. It means they're happy-ish to be in their respective rooms by themselves playing, reading or (ideally) sleeping. In my seven-year-old son's case, he’s likely building a complex but surprisingly orderly exhibition of all of his toys complete with plinths.

Me and / or their dad remain on hand to check on them and repeatedly tuck them in, but from about 8pm each evening I slink into the spare bedroom in an attempt to write for an hour or so.

Some evenings my sessions are blissfully uninterrupted, but this is rare. Last night, for example, my youngest wouldn't stay in her room and came in to see me again and again and again. This is creatively frustrating as it can be impossible to reach that lovely ‘mesmeric’ state during which the words feel as if they're multiplying independently on the page.

Instead, I’m forced to write in five- or ten-minute bursts – a sentence or a paragraph at a time – but, eventually, all these bursts add up. If I can write a few paragraphs or a couple of pages across the course of an evening, I end up writing a few thousand words a week, and it’s possible for the bones of a novel to exist within six months.

But if you'd told me a few years back that the hours between 8pm and 10pm would become my most creatively productive timeslot I'd have scoffed. Or cried. Back then I was in the depths of parenting survival mode (my state of mind is captured in this essay I wrote at the time), with a toddler and a baby who needed me every second of every day. As well as many moments in the night. By 8pm each evening I was a shell of a human being, barely capable of sitting upright, let alone writing a novel.

But then lockdown happened. My anxiety skyrocketed and only one thing seemed to help me keep my head above the water: naps.

And I began to notice something. On the days that I managed to carve out some time to snooze – even it was just for twenty minutes – I found myself more able to focus on things beyond parenting and work once the children were in bed. So, for the last couple of years, I’ve prioritised a daily, post-lunch nap, making it a non-negotiable part of my routine. As necessary as cleaning my teeth. Of course, I’m in a very fortunate position that I’m able to do this: I work from home, so can have a micronap during my lunch break. I have a partner to share the childcare with on weekends. And I have the type of brain which can usually switch itself on and off without too much effort.

These are my circumstances and this is what works for me. Different things will work for others, but the paradox for my writing routine is this: the more time I spend resting instead of writing, the better a writer I’ve been able to become.

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This month’s tip for other aspiring authors: I’m currently just over 50,000 words into the first draft of my second novel. I can picture the story as clear as day in my mind, and I’m desperate to get it all out onto the page. The temptation to type through my tiredness is always there. But becoming an author is as much about learning about yourself as it is about developing as a writer. What change could you make to your daily routine to help unlock your creativity? Comment below!
Currently reading: I’m in the midst of a burst of beta reading which I love to do for other authors. If you’ve got something you’d like me to take a look at there are details of my beta reading services on my website.
What I recently enjoyed reading: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer*. I read this for Holly June Smith’s online book club, and so glad I did. Brit Ruth is in New Zealand for a fresh start. But that fresh start happens to coincide with the end of the world. This is a stunning story told with wit, warmth, whales and so much love. I adored it.
What I last enjoyed watching: I Used To Be Famous. I finished watching this on Netflix earlier today and I have to say this: everyone must watch this truly beautiful film. It’s a deceptively simple story that manages to explore neurodivergence, motherhood, creativity and society’s pressure to be palatable in profound and joyful ways. I cried with happiness and hope at the end. It’s a stunning and deeply meaningful piece of fiction and precisely the kind of art I’d love to share with the world one day.