We have the pleasure of profiling, Cindy LaFerle, the author of Writing Home, which is described as “for everyone who has ever attempted to combine work, parenthood, and homemaking.” Who doesn’t need help with that?

Cindy’s writing was also featured in the Literary Mama anthology, and she also writes a column called “Life Lines.” It is obvious from her answers that writing is something that she really values. She states that “I write because I enjoy connecting with others. And when that happens, well, that's the real reward.”

MWLM: How do you juggle being a mom and a published author?

CLF: My son is in college now, so my writing schedule is easier to balance with family life.

When my boy was younger, and I first began working from home, I found it hard to take myself seriously as a writer. I can't say enough about the importance of staying on a schedule, or putting yourself on a deadline. I wouldn't have published as much if I hadn't followed a routine – especially after I started writing a weekly newspaper column for our daily paper (in addition to my magazine work).

Early on I found I write best in the mornings. So as soon as my son left for grade school, I would grab my coffee mug and head straight to my computer. I worked on my essays or articles from about 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., sometimes taking a break mid-day to run household errands. As soon as my boy came home from school, usually around 3:00, I would quit work and devote the remainder of the afternoon to him. He had my full attention – most of the time – when I wasn't writing.

MWLM: What is the biggest challenge you have faced being a mom and writer and how did you overcome it?

CLF: I had to let go of some great expectations – like having a perfectly clean, organized home. When you are trying to raise a child AND work at home, something has to give. I know it's a worn-out cliché, but I decided that my priorities would be: (1) spending quality time with my family and (2) getting somewhere with my writing. I had to surrender the dream of having a house worthy of a magazine photo spread and cooking a gourmet dinner every night. I also realized that I wouldn't have time to be on every volunteer committee at school, or to have two-hour lunches with my girlfriends. You really cannot "do it all." When you work from home, people expect a lot from you – and you have to learn to say no to many demands on your time.

Another big challenge – especially if your kids aren't in school yet – is finding time to fully concentrate on your writing. If you can squeeze in a few paragraphs during nap time, you're lucky! If not, you might have to hire a sitter or get Grandma to help out, which is what I did. Or maybe you can work in the evenings when your husband is home. Still, it's hard to avoid feeling guilty or conflicted when you work from home. Several of the essays in my book touch on these conflicts.

MWLM: How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

CLF: I've been writing professionally for more than 20 years, so at this point, it's just part of who I am. The novelty of seeing my byline has worn off for my immediate family. (On the other hand, I should add that my son wasn't too pleased when I wrote columns about him – especially back in the day when he was an adolescent in middle school.)  As for people outside my family, I'm amazed at how many in the community still get a kick out of seeing my Sunday newspaper columns, even after all these years. When I took a sabbatical to work on my book, my readers were upset with me. Over time I've realized that writing a column keeps me grounded and connected to my community, and I really love that. People in my region have generously embraced Writing Home, which means a lot to me.

MWLM: Do you ever get writer’s block? And if so how do you overcome it?

CLF: Oh yes, I think all writers suffer blocks – usually when we are trying too hard and not trusting the process. When a block seems impossible to budge, I pull back and do something else. I work in the garden, prepare a meal, go for a bike ride or a walk – something physical. I also try to honor what I call "fallow time."  Sometimes a dry spell is followed by a wonderful burst of creative energy. If you trust in that, you'll relax and go with the flow. Never panic. Another tip for avoiding writer's block: Give yourself permission to write junk and make some mistakes. You can polish and edit your drafts later on, so let yourself loosen up at the keyboard. As Anne Lamott says, "perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor."

MWLM: One piece of advice you would give to a mom writer?

CLF: Read as much as you can. In the writing workshops I teach, I find that the best writers devour books and read the genre they are most interested in writing. In other words, if you want to write good essays, read the best essayists out there. If you want to write mystery novels, read lots of mystery novels. Serious writers are in love with words, and they make time for reading. The more you read, the more you will inform your own writing and develop a style.

For information on  purchasing Writing Home visit Cindy's web site at www.laferle.com.

Alana Morales, has a degree in Psychology and is a certified teacher.  She taught high school English for six years before staying home with her two children and becoming a freelance writer. Her syndicated column Family Business, which is about being a WAHM, appears on over 13 online sites as well as her local newspaper. Her first book, Domestically Challenged, is due out in 2006 with Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, Inc. You can read more of Alana’s work and get information about her book at AlanaMorales.com.