This month's support group is co-hosted by Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson. Thank you to them.
Since last month's support group I've taken part in the twitter pitch, which was encouraging if not wholly successful for me. I'd be interested to hear how everyone else got on.
By far the biggest change since last month is my wife has gone back to work after her maternity leave and I am now taking care of our son three days a week. I'm still worrying about time to write, but now there is even less of it and no one else to take care of him. I have broken writing tasks down into a series of microtasks, so I can get something done in the few moments of down time. I'm writing this during one of his shrinking number of naps.
I'm thinking of writing something about being a stay-at-home Dad in what is definitely a Mum's world, but I'm not sure if anyone would want to read it. I think it could be pretty funny rather than just middle class white guy complaints. In the short space of time so far, I've been made both very welcome and very unwelcome.
This month's optional question is: has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
The answer is neither a straight-forward yes or no, but more of a sort of. I was involved with a theatre group and someone chose a series of photos to act as stimuli for scripts for sketches. I selected these two photos:
And then wrote Four Doors Down and Dog Lady, but if I'm completely honest the photos reminded me of ideas that I'd already had rather than inspiring them in the first place.
For seventy-three weeks, Susan at Stony River used to run Microfiction Monday. Does anyone else remember it? She would post a photo the week before and invite everyone to respond to it with a 140 character story. It was a great writing exercise. Eventually I did them all and I really missed it when her site went down. I hope she's OK. Maybe the IWSG needs its own Microfiction Monday. Would Insecure Writers be interested in joining in?
7 comments:
Congrats on taking part in a Twitter pitch! I've yet to dive into that world yet. Providing your son's care for 3-days a week is going to be challenging, but well done on managing to write a blog post in his nap time. I'd certainly read about your experiences as a stay-at-home Dad.
Our youngest was a stay at home dad for their first child. He said the experience definitely enriched his life. The bond you are developing with your son will change you forever, Dave. I'm happy for you.
Glad you at least took part in the Twitter pitch.
Microfiction Monday. I like that idea!
Sorry the naps are growing shorter...
I like the idea of a Microfiction Monday! Hmm. Maybe I will rework my March plans for the Instagram page or my blog - I will write the idea down and see where I get with it. Also, I'll ask the other admins.
I've been where you are with taking care of kids. My own daughters replaced naps with "quiet time" for a short time each day. Sometimes, they napped. Sometimes, they just had to sit quietly and play on their own. It helped them re-energize for the rest of the day (a dangerous thing, but it helped them be less cranky), and it helped me, too. I learned to write really short snippets - poems, tiny stories, a paragraph at a time. But it was good. I built up a lot of foundation for the writing I do now that they are off at college.
And yes, I think your idea of a dad at home in a "mom's world" would be good. I've met a few home dads and they did have a tough go of it. I'm sure there's an audience.
I think writing about being a dad in general can be very funny. I say go for it. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
I think a dad's perspective would not only be a fun read, but imagine the gift it would be to your son when he is older.
Hi nice reading your ppost
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