EDITORIAL

Write time

THERE comes a stage in a writer's life when that obsessive scribbling, that little hobby you've had since you were small, demands to be taken more seriously. At this juncture you may choose to jack in the day job, re-mortgage the house and live on the bread-and-jam-line as a full-time Writer. Or you may opt to become Superwoman, keeping baby, book and job spinning simultaneously, a domestic goddess on the side.

In this issue we look at the realities of writers' lives and consider the options open to us when we choose to dedicate a sizeable chunk of our time to writing. In our lead feature, Editor Debbie Taylor finds out how (or if) writing and motherhood can be combined. Elsewhere, Heather Welford discusses how to decide whether you're ready to become a full-time writer.

Modern women must make choices, whether to start a family, pursue a career, write a novel - or some comination of these. It's not easy getting the balance right.

Don't expect to do everything. And don't be afraid to ask for the support you deserve. Why not start by getting the man on the sofa acquainted with a vacuum cleaner? And if he refuses? Consider cutting back the hours you spend on your day job and getting him to shoulder a bigger share of the household bills. When you tot up all the hours you spend doing his share of the childcare and housework, you'll realise there's no shame in being a kept woman..

Melanie Ashby
Deputy Editor