From Mom to Wordsmith

Guest post by Iqra Mujeeb

From Mom to Wordsmith:
​Embracing a New Chapter as a Writer

Amidst the delightful chaos of motherhood, where every day seemed like a twister of love and laughter, a quite but constant thought began to take shape within me. It was during COVID when I was homeschooling my girls, I realized that I too yearned for a journey of my own. Nurturing my little one’s reading with CVC words through children’s books the idea of transforming from ‘mama’ to ‘writer’ started as a flicker of curiosity. Gradually the idea soon evolved into a blazing desire to explore the
world beyond the realms of potty training and bedtime stories.

As a multi-tasking mom, I knew I had to work on three things to achieve my goals. So, with determination as my driving force, I embarked on a new chapter of self-discovery, one that would demand discipline and challenge me to master the art of time management.

So, if you too are considering embarking on a writing journey, here are three key areas to focus on for a successful start:

Stepping out of comfort zone- in to the unknown.

Stepping beyond the confines of familiarity is a pivotal juncture in any creative journey. When I planned on enrolling myself in a self-publishing program, uncertainty clouded my mind. In those moments of doubt, I turned to my confidant-my brother. I poured out my worries and in response he posed a question that struck a chord: “Even if the path doesn’t lead to a published book, wont the experiences
gathered be invaluable lessons?”

His words resonated deeply. 
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Yes, there will be a fear and doubts while writing your first draft but if we avoid taking that brave step we might end up stuck in what we already know. Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone. Jump into the unknown, even with just determination as a guide.

Discipline

Now here is a thing mama, Discipline is the strongest form of self-love. Discipline leads to habits, habits lead to consistency, and consistency leads to growth. It’s ignoring current pleasure for a bigger reward to come. Now you must be thinking pleasure as a mama? Yes, I am talking about mindless scrolling on your phone or binge-watching Netflix as soon as your child sleeps. 
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Prioritize your sleep too, meditate, take a walk and keep a notebook nearby to write down any ideas which pops up in your head. Even if you work 15 min towards your goal, I promise you that you will be progressing every day. 

There will be days when you won’t feel like it but still get up, get at it even if you are not in mood Excuses are the enemy of discipline. I have been writing this article for a week now, pushing myself to write even when I am exhausted after catering my kids.

Time Management

Time is your most precious resource and managing it effectively is the key to success.

First decide what you want to accomplish and set a time for it like 25 minutes every day I am going to dedicate this time period for my writing.

Plan your day! your children should have a routine and try sticking to their schedule, homework time, play time, reading time, screen time, bedtime and we all know we can get things done peacefully when they are on their iPad or sleeping. If they don’t have schedule, it will be hard for you to bring discipline in your writing as the timings of their activities will be different every day.

And one last thing mama! Don’t take on too much on your plate. Set achievable goals, you already are a superhero, and you don’t have to prove something to yourself to the world.

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Iqra Mujeeb is an Author and Early Childhood Educator who received her certification from Gulf Montessori Center, Dubai. She currently lives in Karachi, Pakistan with her two beautiful daughters and published her first children's picture book in July 2023. She is always on the hunt for good restaurants, parks, and good books, and also has a passion for baking.
​Instagram: iqra.writer30