It's time for Susanna Leonard Hill's 4th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest! The challenge: write a 214-word Valentine story appropriate for children in which someone is guilty. Check out my entry below, then visit Susanna's blog to read more! 

          The kids in room 18 worked hard on their valentine mailboxes. They were especially excited for the valentines that would be slipped inside the thin slot on top.
         Ricardo wrapped his box in ribbon.
         Fei’s had fabric.
         Jessica drew jewels on hers.
         Spencer added sparkles.
         Greta … gobbled them all up. Every last sparkle, ribbon, and jewel. Not a single heart remained.
         The students were devastated, but also determined. They distributed their valentines to empty desks.
         As Greta’s pile of cards grew, so did her guilt.
         When the students finished, they ran outside for recess.
         Ricardo raced Fei.
         Jessica jumped rope.
         Spencer did swings and the slide.
         Greta could not be found.
         When the students lined up at the door for their Valentine’s Day party, Spencer asked, “Where’s Greta?”
         ​When the students rushed inside, they found Greta.
         ​Just Greta. Not a single valentine could be seen.
         The students were shocked.
          “We don’t eat our classmates’ valentines,” the teacher said, “which is why Greta used your valentines to make a surprise collage for the class!”
         ​Greta stepped aside to reveal her valentine surprise.
         “Meh-eh-be you can forgive me,” Greta bleated.
         ​The kids in room 18 loved their valentine collage … and Greta!
         ​“Of course we forgive you, Greta Goat! Will you be our valentine?” 

After a year of poor sleep with a nursing infant, my body is trying to make up for lost time! Waking at 5 a.m. to hopefully get one hour to write feels unrealistic and insufficient. Plus, the kids sense mommy is stirring and wake even earlier! Though my kids’ wake time is earlier than I would like, their bedtime is now early enough to provide me with 2.5 hours of writing time at night. The only problem is … I am not a night owl. My eyes are fluttering by 8 pm after a full day with the kids. Throw in some tantrums, intense emotions, and major clinginess, and I am wiped of all motivation.  
 
Some quick research revealed that (1) early bird vs night owl productivity is genetic, (2) there is more information available on increasing morning productivity rather than evening/night productivity, and (3) there is no “best” time of day to write. This article compares the advantages of morning vs. night writing:

• “Advantages of an early start: clear head, fresh mind, high energy and a full tank of willpower.
• Advantages of the late night session: out of the box thinking, ideas and inspiration from the day, quietening your inner critic, and a relaxed attitude to working.”

 
Sounds like writers need both! A little research led me to the following strategies to maximize my writing time whether night or day.

1. Establish a Routine. My kids have a routine to signal bedtime – dark room, white noise, Roman chamomile, a song, and book (for the oldest). They fall asleep within 2 minutes most nights. Clearly, I need a writing routine to signal BIC (butt in chair) time …  
   • Listen to “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles for motivation.
   • Breathe in doTerra Motivate or a citrus oil for energy.
   • Work at the kitchen table for consistency - until I get a chair for my desk.
   • Turn up the lights at night for alertness.
   • Have materials and task list ready for ease - see below.
2. Plan ahead & prioritize. Finish each writing session by plotting the next day’s tasks. One article suggested stopping in the middle of a task so you’ll want to pick it right back up again the next day. Drawing from a suggestion in Happy You, Happy Family by Kelly Holmes, I am recording 3 writing tasks on a post-it note so I have a plan of attack for the day – both my evening writing time and any spare moments during the day. I’m a sucker for lists!
3. Meditate to create “conditions for insight.” Meditation is something I have used in the past to help with sleep, but I would like to incorporate it into my daily routine each morning. Check out this post for more on “The Benefits of Meditation: For Writers and Other Creatives.”
4. Nap. Though I am all for a 20-25 minute nap during the day if it supplies the energy needed to get past the early evening exhaustion hump, I have not found them to change my energy levels in the evening. Perhaps more testing is needed to confirm!
5. Take a break. If a nap won’t help, I may just need a mental breather. On the nights my eyes glaze over staring at the screen and my brain goes into auto-off mode, I take a break and watch a show or read a book. Then I jump back into writing afterward with a webinar, research, or other relatively easy task.

I have found that writing brings writing. When I feel a sense of accomplishment or get in the flow, it is easier to make the most of my time the next day. Last night was one of those nights that I found it difficult to focus on even the simplest tasks. I put on a movie and afterward, was able to get some work done and prioritize my 3-task post-it list for the next day. I woke up after about 7 hours of sleep and set my timer for 10 minutes to write morning pages, another 10 minutes to meditate, and another 10 for a writing prompt. I felt amazing all morning and looked forward to the writing time I would get later in the day. 
 
If you have any tips on increasing productivity for writers, please share! 

This contest has special significance for me. After posting last year's entry about a new sibling surprise, I went into labor and delivered my son! I look forward to actually reading other entries this year. Thank you Susanna for a wonderful tradition!