It's a Win/Win in Summer!

We're not quite into the dog days of summer (with 100+ weather all across the country, it's feeling pretty doggish to me!), but there's still the tendency to want to kick back and take it easy. I've got pre-teens who are pretty self-sufficient. They don't tug on my shirt-sleeves too often or need me to entertain them. In fact, the less I notice them, the less likely I am to assign them extra chores, so they're pretty careful to keep out of my way.

When my children do want me to take them somewhere, they will usually throw in the "win/win" argument. "Will you take us to Classic Skating? You can write while we play--it'll be a win/win!" Seriously. This is how they talk to me. And their argument usually works. It can be nice to have a change of venue, my kids get a little variety, and, well, it's a win/win.

I say, embrace it!

My writing does not slow down in the summer. In fact, it speeds up. We don't have homework to tackle each day, school activities or meetings. We can go to bed when we want. Get up when we want. Some days, we don't go anywhere at all. Other days, it's a trip to the pool or Classic Skating.

But nothing, I say nothing, gets in the way of my writing.

If you have littler children, you can still have your own win/win, as Danyelle talked about last week. Or you can take your writing on the road. The summer does not have to mean death to your writing.

But.

With or without children, don't forget to live. Whatever you do, however you feel about your writing, living life, making memories, and building bonds with your family should always take precedence.

But it never hurts to take advantage of that win/win when you can swing it!

Ali Cross is the sensei of the writer's dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles.

She's the author the young adult urban fantasy series Desolation, and a member of the Author's Incognito Executive Committee.
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