So as you know I’ve now got a baby, and it probably won’t surprise you at all to hear that this means finding time to write is trickier than ever. I seem to be getting a few windows of opportunity at the end of the day but these windows seem to be quickly filled with doing the writing that pays the bills (necessary) and feeling extraordinarily tired (unavoidable). But rather than waiting until my little boy has grown up – although that sometimes seems the easiest solution to the “when to write” dilemma – I would really like to get a new writing routine going.

I’ve been trying to come up with some good times to get going on my third novel. You may recall I mentioned plotting out a novella and I’m thinking that in fact, it’s probably big enough to become a proper novel instead. Of course, I’m thinking that without even going back and reading all the notes I’ve written because I just don’t have time, but that’s the current thinking. And I’m excited about the ideas within it. For short, let’s just refer to it as my Trans-Siberian novel, but that’s really leaving out a whole lot of important ideas – you’ll just have to wait though, dear reader!

For thinking, plotting and brainstorming, I think there are quite enough moments in the day, as long as I don’t need to write anything down at the time. Out walking while I’m pushing the pram, for example, is quite a relaxing time and probably ideal for brainstorming. Surprisingly, when I’m trying to calm down a crying baby, I also sometimes feel like I’m in a bit of a trance and thinking about something quite removed from the actual crying – sometimes I suddenly notice that my little boy is almost asleep in my arms and I kind of missed what happened in between, being so deep in thought about something else! So why not make this something else my next novel, I figure.

But for actual writing, that’s a bit trickier. Night time is not my creative time, so I really don’t think I can make that work, even if it is the easiest time of the day to find a few spare minutes. I’m thinking cafes. That’s why there’s the very cute hot chocolate picture at the top of this post, although my friend had a latte with a fish on top which was even more impressive. (All at the John Street Cafe, if you’re interested). My plan would go like this: get a parking spot quite far away from one of my favourite cafes. Walk my baby all the way there in the pram so he falls asleep. In the noise of the cafe (curiously, and apparently many babies are like this), he’ll probably stay asleep. I can get a hot chocolate and some writing time. Some very civilised writing time.

This is my current plan, and I just need to schedule a moment to actually do this. I’m surprised how busy life is when you’re not going to some kind of face-to-face employment – I still have a hard time fitting in appointments. But I feel I just need to treat writing like an appointment and then get the momentum going. Otherwise I really won’t get to my next novel draft until my boy is off at school. What do you think? Do you write in cafes or other public places, and how does it go? I’ve never really tried.

And don’t think I’ve forgotten the first two novel drafts, and the need to revise them finally and get them off to agents. I haven’t, but I just haven’t come up with a good plan for that yet. I think half the problem is my usual procrastination, and the other half is probably fear. Don’t worry, I’ll get to it. Baby steps. Get it?!