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As I sit surrounded by the chaos that is my living room, coffee within reach, fingers poised above the keyboard, then . . . ugh, what is that smell? A sudden tug on my arm completely breaks my train of thought, 'Mom, mom I need a drink.' I say okay, then turn my attention back to the computer screen long enough to stick my tongue out at the ominously blinking cursor.

Pushing back from my desk to take care of diaper duty and drinks, I have to wonder if I'm really cut out for this job. Maybe I should just wait until the kids are grown . . . ha, not a chance. With that decision made, it looks as though I'll have to continue squeezing in moments of writing between my primary role as wife and mother.

The life of a mom writer is far from dreary and definitely challenging, but the end result is certainly worth it. At times I get frustrated by the lack of progress and find myself dragging because of it. During those times, I tend to stray away from the computer and instead turn to my first love, books. For days and sometimes even weeks, I won't write a single thing. But through it all, my mind swirls with ideas for books and articles, all written in my head, and I know that I can't stay away.

It's a comforting thought to know I'm not the only mom writer in existence, and if you're like me, you love reading tips and ideas from other writing moms. So, I've decided to share a few of my own to help you stay on track and keep motivated.

- Download a free minute timer like the one I use, http://www.pc-tools.net, and use it. You can set it for any amount of time you like. So, if you have 15 minutes to sit down and write before running errands, use the timer and it will pop up on your computer screen when the time has elapsed.

- Join a writers group such as this one, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/momwriters, and you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of support you receive. Many of the women in this particular group are successful authors, and the advice they offer is priceless. It's a great place to ask questions, get willing interviewees, or just to hang out and have fun.

- Schedule in time to write. No matter how much you think you don't have the time to write, you do. You need to decide how important your career as a writer is, and if it's something you absolutely have to do, then MAKE time to write. If you plan to do the laundry and dishes while the kids are napping, use half that time to write and then the remainder doing chores. If it doesn't all get done right then, don't worry about it, you can finish it up later that night or tomorrow if you have to. The reality is, you can't be a writer if you don't write.

- Get out of the house and write. If you have kids that are in school during the day, take advantage of the free time to go to the library or coffee shop. Sometimes a simple change in atmosphere will get your creative juices flowing, and your pen scrawling. If you're unable to get out of the house without your children, talk to your husband or another family member about having a couple of hours to yourself in the evening once a week. Whether you go out for a walk, sit in the park or coffee shop, you will be amazed at how refreshed and energized you'll feel afterwards. Not to mention all the notes you've made to further your career.

- Use the resources available to writers. Like most stay at home moms, you're likely on a budget and have convinced yourself that don't need those books, software or courses for writers. To deny yourself the tools of your trade, you may be missing out on pertinent information like writing markets or grammar essentials. Stocking your office with writing must haves doesn't have to be expensive. Scour used books stores, yard sales, ebay, your local classifieds, and even your library for writing books and software. Search for websites that offer free information and resources, like Brady Magazine, and signup for their mailing list to keep up-to-date.

- Try not to let the chaos swallow you up. You cannot be a stay at home mom and not experience moments of complete chaos. Don't spend all your time trying to tamp down a losing battle, instead go with the flow. Ignore the toys, shrieks, bickering, laundry, dishes, barking dog, and just write. This is your life and there's not much you can do about it, just let it go and deal with it all at the end of the day the same as you would for any other job. The sooner you start treating and talking about your writing as job, the better you'll feel.

- Don't feel guilty for the time you spend writing, instead think about the advantages of being at home rather then at an outside job. You get to be the one to kiss boo boos and wipe tears, read stories, do crafts, or even take off to the park for two hours after lunch. You can work in between everything else, so don't allow yourself to feel that familiar guilt when you do work. If you need to, situate your office in the most frequented area of your home, like a rec room or living area. This allows you to be at the centre of the action, on hand when you're needed and the kids will feel better knowing you are right there. If mom is sitting at the computer in the spare bedroom, the kids are bound to continually parade through so they know exactly what you are doing, distracting you to no end. So try putting yourself where they are, and you'll be surprised by how much more you get done.

The most important thing I can tell you is this; don't give up no matter how much you want to at times. It's truly worth the sacrifices and stress, and nothing compares with seeing your work in print and a check in the mail for doing what you love.

Article Source: http://wah-articles.work-from-home-directory.com/

About the Author

Melissa is a wife and work at home mom to 2 children ages 4 and 2. She is a Medical Office Assistant, but because she is thrilled to be at home with her children writing, she's not sure when she will return to work in the medical field. She is also the proud owner of Writing From Home, http://www.writingfromhome.com, a business offering clients writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, and proofreading services.