Dear Daisy...I had a baby and now I can't write any more!

The myth of the 'maternity leave' novel...

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

Hello, and happy Friday Team CCC! Oh, my, it’s rainy in Margate! I hope it’s a little less damp where you are. It’s very cold and wet for almost June, but we do have a new doughnut shop to make up for it. I’m not sponsored by Bombo Doughnuts - yet - but going for a little walk for a custard-filled something is my new favourite Artist Date.

It’s been a JOY to hear from you as you pre-order PITY PARTY! I’m so excited about meeting you all at the online pre-order party and fiction workshop in July. If you’ve been meaning to pre-order your copy, all of the info is here. There’s still loads of time! Just pre-order in hardback (or in any format if you’re outside the UK) and email the confirmation to creativeconfidenceclinic@gmail.com - and I’ll send you the joining link. This offer is open to all subscribers. I try to make as much content available to everyone as possible. If you’re not able to pay for this newsletter, pre-ordering is such a brilliant, powerful way to support my work. It makes a massive difference, and it helps me to keep writing for you and sharing this with you. So thank you!

On that note, I’m introducing something brand new for you, and I hope you like it. This is the CCC Readers’ Club. It’s a way to support the newsletter, at a reduced rate. You get full archive access, commenter privileges and the chance to read everything. This is a way for you to become part of the CCC gang, which is hopefully more affordable than the full version, with the workshops and course discounts. If you subscribe today, you can read this subscriber newsletter and binge the Dear Daisy series!

(If you’re feeling flush, the FOUNDER MEMBER option includes some serious goodies. You get a one to one mentoring or manuscript feedback session with me. UK subscribers will get a full set of signed books and you get included, guaranteed entry to every one of my courses. I charge £350 for a manuscript feedback session, and my Write Like A Reader course costs £350 - so if you want to be a FOUNDER MEMBER you’ve potentially doubled your money before you’ve got your signed books and plundered the archives!)

Now, to this week’s Dear Daisy question…

Dear Daisy, I had a baby and now I can’t write any more!

I was really hoping that I’d have a chance to write during maternity leave. I have an idea for a novel, I’ve been on a few writing courses and I thought that having some time away from my job would give me the head space to really get stuck in. But the years have flown. My baby just turned three, and I have less time, or headspace than ever. I’m so scared that I’m never going to write again. Every time I hear about an author who wrote their (best-selling, million-dollar advance) debut when they were on mat leave, I feel murderous. I’m starting to despair. I’m realising that I’m never, ever going to have the time I need to write. Should I keep going? Should I make peace with the fact that I’ve missed my chance, and give up?

Love

Mad Mum