Sascha A. Akhtar is a solo parent and the author of a collection of novellas + a long 'short' and 6 poetry collections. She also works as a Poetry School London Tutor and poetry mentor. She has been at it for 20 years. Her daughter is now 8 years old. After a spell of being completely unable to do anything writing related, in the first year her L.O. went to school she managed to do the groundwork to get five books published. Sascha also created a course for the Literary Consultancy to help writers work through writer's block under the Being A Writer umbrella. 

Of Necessity And Wanting - Fiction   
Astra Inclinant - Poetry 
How I Write A Poem - Article

Who and what inspires you? 
I find myself inspired by paintings often. Yesterday, I felt inspired by an author's photo. Their confidence gave me hope.  Human behaviour inspires me too. Especially since I spent most of my life surrounded by people who behaved cruelly. I also find animal behaviour fascinating. I'm pretty sure that my first story that was published was about two dogs at the seaside. 

How do you find time to write as a parent? 

What I learnt from those early years when I had a baby 24/7 with no respite was to identify that the idea that I needed a special place and time was erroneous. At least for me, at that time & in that space. What ended up happening in conjunction with my meditation teacher training was an identification of those moments between moments. In poetry we talk of the liminal space. In meditation we talk of this same space, in a different context. Same is true for life with children. 10 minutes of intense focus where you get all  you need to out in a mad frenzy is better than 30 minutes of lo-focus writing. Now the writing begins in my head, I allow if to develop & then when I am able ( now she is older it is somewhat 'easier') I put it all down. In the last few years, I have got it down to a 3 day system. So for big projects, I do parts here & parts there but when it comes down to the final push, I can now tell her father that I have to have three days (& nights) uninterrupted. Because he refuses to take her to his place ( it's too small), I leave. I set up a desk in a hotel & those three days are how the finished product gets done. I would love to know what would happen if I got more then these three days...

Which writing activities kickstart your writing when you're struggling to write?

Due to my autism, I am never struggling to write. My struggle is the opposite. It is a constant deluge of information. I struggle to not-write, but with mentees, students I prescribe a) walks - anywhere. Not necessarily in nature. I have in the past found urban walks to be really inspiring b) baths ( with a way to write available) c) in regards to this I will say never stop seeking out art that blows your mind - this will keep you inspired and wanting to keep going on. Also, don't struggle too hard. Walking away is just as good at staring at a page. The writing begins in the mind. In my Writer's Block course, I have likened the writer's practice to a garden, where overgrowth is coaxed into shape, 'seeds' are sourced, seeds are sown - I don't see the creative process like any other. It is a mysterious, holistic thing. Treat it as such. Whatever works for you is what works.
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You can follow Sascha on Twitter: @AkhtarSascha

Laura Besley writes short and very short fiction in the precious moments that her children (two boys aged six and three) are asleep. She has been listed by TSS Publishing as one of the top 50 British and Irish Flash Fiction writers with her story ‘On Repeat’ (Reflex Fiction) and her story ‘Silenced’ has been nominated for Best Microfiction by Emerge Literary Journal. Her flash fiction collection, The Almost Mothers, was published in March 2020 and her collection of micro fiction, 100neHundred, is available to pre-order and will be published in May 2021. 

Who and what inspires you?

Inspiration is one of those intangible magical things that I find so hard to define. When writing is going well, inspiration seems to be everywhere, and when it’s not going well, it’s elusive. Like with the theory for children that sleep begets sleep, I try to practise writing begets writing. I find the more I write, the more I want to write and therefore can write.
 
How do you find time to write as a parent?

The first year of motherhood I didn’t write anything. I was too tired, too overwhelmed, too anxious. Slowly, I started writing again when my son was napping. Then he stopped napping, I was pregnant again, we moved, we moved again, and writing didn’t happen for quite some time.

When my second son was 3 months old, I started writing when he was napping and this became my writing time consistently for about 2 years. I would wheel him to the local supermarket, buy myself a coffee in the café and write. Some days it went well, on other days it didn’t, but I found that this time was precious to me, more than sleep and certainly more than tidying my house!

When he stopped napping, I started getting up at 5am to write. This works for me because I’m a morning person and I can get up and immediately my brain is switched on. It does mean that by the evening, I’m quite tired, but I do ‘easier’ writing tasks then, like editing, or critiquing, or writing book reviews.  
 
Which writing activities kickstart your writing when you're struggling?

I start each writing session by writing my form of morning pages, which basically consists of me writing about anything that comes into my head about my life or my writing. I use this to warm up a little and usually, I can get started with writing fiction straight after that. However, there are days when it doesn’t go well and I can’t think of anything to write, or everything I write seems wrong. Then, I just stop, and do something else writing-related, either editing, critiquing, or reading a few pieces by other writers. I actually do a lot of my thinking-writing while I’m away from the desk, either doing chores around the house (I have notebooks in nearly every room) or out walking, driving or shopping (I have a notebook in my handbag too). I find this helps because then when I sit down to write, I have enough notes to get me started.    

Find Laura on Twitter: @laurabesley
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Anna is a novelist, poet, essayist, short fiction writer, copy editor and writer, proofreader and a secondary English teacher, tutor and mentor, mental health advocate and mum of 3 (9, 16 & 19, including ongoing additional needs). ​2020 saw the publication of Anna's third novel, Saving Lucia (Bluemoose) and a first short story collection, Famished (Influx). Anglo-Welsh, she splits her time between Wiltshire, Wales, and the Southern US. She is currently finishing a new novel and working on her first non-fiction book, while a further novel and short story collection are on the desk. Anna’s essays, reviews, articles, and features have been featured widely online and in print. She is represented by Kate Johnson of MacKenzie Wolf Literary Agency in New York City.
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​Who and what inspires you?
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Other people. Those who struggle and push on trying to prevail and those with big hearts who are behind them, helping and willing them on. Reading - very widely - and conversations with writers and readers and being in the natural world. Now, because of something I am working on, it is the sheer volume of writers and creative people who have chronic physical and mental health conditions. I have learned so much. I am very open about my rather exciting mental health history, but it was actually the experience of long COVID-19, with which I have been poorly for ten months, which has led me to so many inspiring and supportive people. I feel that my whole life is changing in the most fundamental way.
 
How do you find time to write as a parent?
 
I hide and wear headphones but nonetheless it is a bit ragged. Do not wait for ideal conditions. During home learning and lockdown, I have had to ask my older ones to pitch in with my youngest a good deal more and we are on a rota for help about the place, which works some of the time. Young people have had their worlds turned upside down during the pandemic, and there is much to look out for in our own and in supporting other families. My eldest was seriously ill before the pandemic began, however, and I found time to write during the hardest times because I found support for me and us. I found that by asking for advice through twitter over a two-year period when agencies and school had failed us for various reasons. I think that, for me, if I am managing stress and worry, I do not need as much writing time as I think because my mind is clear and focused. Also, an important thing to remember is that writing is also reading, thinking, and daydreaming; that is the work, too. When you compute that, you realise you have been way more productive than you thought.
 
Which writing activities kickstart your writing when you're struggling?
 
I just start! It will probably be rubbish and I will cross it out. But I have started, and something will, I am sure, have come of it. I think inspiration generally strikes when you are writing and not before (obviously there being exceptions). Sometimes I doodle or cross hatch, sometimes I stand up and write or play loud music, which is generally cheesy 80s stadium rock for this circumstance! Or I drop everything and go and read or go for a walk or exercise (I like Pilates and yoga) if there is space. Another thing I do: SPAG checks, reading bits aloud, writing a bibliography or some sort of preface…in other words, bits of admin and housekeeping. I feel like I am doing something useful on the book and, quite often, an idea occurs, or something catches my eye, or a problem suddenly resolves while I am doing this. 
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Find out more about Anna on her website or find her on Twitter: @BookwormVaught

​Places to buy Anna's books:
Influx Press
​Bluemoose Books
Mrs B's Emporium

Bethan lives an island life in Orkney where she tries to write around work as a Home Carer and her young children who are two and three. She has recently been published in Perhappened Magazine, The Aesthetic Directory, and The Adriatic. 



​What is your favourite thing to write?
I love writing poetry but I’m also working on a novel that I’m really enjoying. I’m learning that I just need to go with my moods and write whatever comes, instead of forcing something else....but that means having lots of projects on the go! 

What did you gain from the MumWrite programme?
I had never attended a workshop before as I’m quite self conscious about my writing, especially sharing WIPs or something written on the spot so it was a leap. I definitely gained confidence from the friendly environment. 

I also found a love for experimental techniques, even if the work doesn’t turn in to something that appears experimental. I now really enjoy just opening a book to pick a random line as a poetry prompt and then grabbing the dictionary or thesaurus to play and see what happens. 

How do you find time to write as a parent?
I have no idea! I write mostly in the evenings. I used to just sit with a notebook or laptop in the living room but it wasn’t productive. Now I take myself seriously and sit at the table (often with the door closed) so that I’m focused. I try to write for an hour and then my brain is frazzled after a long day, but will keep going if I can. 

What kind of prompts do you like to use when you need inspiration?
I love to pick a line from a book or just open the dictionary or thesaurus and just start writing, see where it goes! 


What's a writing achievement from the last 6 months that you're proud of?
Taking myself seriously and starting to close the door when I’m writing. 

What are your writing aims for 2021?
Finishing the novel I’m working on. And going through all of my notebooks to work on and type up the draft poems I’ve left unorganised. 

For more publications and information, visit Bethan on Twitter: @bethanhay_ ​

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What is your favourite thing to write?
My absolute first love is poetry but I have been known to tinker with crime and children's stories - I’m hoping to explore this more. 

What did you gain from the MumWrite programme?
I gained an immense amount from the MumWrite programme - in particular the confidence to explore my own creativity and take risks. I feel in the process I found my true authentic voice and the poetry I care about. 

How do you find time to write as a parent?
It's non-linear and unstructured - free for all - when I can grab the time. 

What kind of prompts do you like to use when you need inspiration?
Object evocation and or meditative writing - I feel inspired by memory so
memoir / autobiographical exercises usually work for me. 

What's a writing achievement from the last 6 months that you're proud of?
Being published in streetcake magazine  / The Babel Tower Notice Board.

What are your writing aims for 2021?
To complete and hopefully pass my MSc year 1 in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes and hopefully publish my first pamphlet (a labour of love I’ve worked on for the past four years).

Find out more about Michéle Beck on her website or find her on twitter: @michelebeckpoet