Parents that Write: #6 Q&A with Elin Petronella
NOTE: This column is the thread, start wherever you can
Welcome to my weekly interview column.
When conversation turns to parent creatives - writers and artists, especially mothers - the focus often shifts to the chaos and supposed impossibility of juggling creativity with parenthood.
—> Let’s CUT THE NOISE:
Parents publish books, drop albums, get screenplays optioned, and pour their souls into poems every single day.
How do they do it? That’s what we’re here to uncover.
I’m delighted to showcase talented parent-writers and creators as they answer eight bite-size questions, plus a few more they pick from a juicy list I send their way.1.
But before we meet today’s guest, here’s a peek behind the scenes of my own creative life.
No-Fluff Notes from my Writing Life
In earlier columns I shared how I ditched traditional publishing offers and chose the unknown with creation of my own publishing imprint.
Caveat: If you are hoping for a formula to get rich through self-publishing, you won’t find that here. I went for the ‘non-traditional’ route for entirely different reasons. I’ll explain.
MY PERSONAL WRITING GOAL: I wanted to disrupt stale narratives around motherhood identity that other books were tiptoeing around.
Subtext: I wanted complete control over the book - forever. Independence and freedom of voice were non-negotiables.
MY PUBLISHING GOALS: I did not aim for best-seller lists or expect to rake in cash. My goal was to share non-mainstream insights that could be useful to others. I chose to trust the right readers would find me.
Outcome: Skipping the typical publisher route meant I had to wear all the decision-making hats - writing, cover design, paper quality, typesetting, distribution etc. More on what I did myself and outsourced, to follow. Hint: I ploughed mega money into the cover, for good reason.
BOTTOM LINE: I kept my freedom, even if it meant sacrificing some sales.
As I searched for the truth of what I wanted to say, my eldest daughter Harriet stuck this sheet on our pink fridge. The focus shifted as I wrote, but I couldn’t avoid the task that was set.
Meet me for the next part of this publishing adventure in next week’s column.
Today’s guest is who writes Petronella Art Magazine and Follow your Gut Substacks - these publications are a cocktail of personal musings and artistic flair, giving readers a look into her life as an independent visual artist, author, and mother. In Follow Your Gut, Elin serves up thoughtful essays on creative living, motherhood, and business practice.
Meanwhile, Petronella Art Magazine is a go-to for that hit of artistic mojo, dishing out inspiration and tips on hand-embroidery, illustration, and more. Together, they’re a double shot of creative fuel for anyone who’s all about living their most authentic, art-filled life.
Share a broad snapshot of your life. Who are you parent to and/or have caring responsibilities for?
Full time artist and entrepreneur working and writing from home with my two toddlers 4 years and under. Zero external childcare except for my dear husband who works with me from home too (we have multiple companies together).
Where can we find you?
Search for Charles and Elin (or Elin Petronella) embroidery to see Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest where we have 500k + across platforms. Embroidery art academy | Art Magazine Substack
Can you share favourite praise for your writing, or words you’d love to read about your work?
“Elin is a tireless source of motivation and inspiration, likely possessing enough energy to power an entire nation” -
Why do you write?
Because I cannot not write
What does the inside of your writing mind look like?
Like a ferris wheel on steroids. When I start writing I tend to have so much to say that my fingers sometimes can’t keep up and the brain wheel keeps turning not giving a f* of whether I have time to jot it all down or not.
How is your ability to write affected by being a parent and your ability to parent affected by your writing?
Hugely affected with chatty toddlers who like to try to stop the wheel (which sometimes makes it spiral instead). I am a better parent when I get to concretize my reflections.
It’s calming somehow to have notes and reflections written down (and I don’t have to stress about forgetting it!). It serves as some sort of red thread in a daily life where children make you jump from left to right constantly.
How often do you write with your children around or not, and what kind of writing do you get done when your child/ren are nearby?
My children are with me more or less 24hrs a day, which means I get all my writing done near or around my children. If I’m alone with them I avoid devices and will write by hand - highlighting sections to get an easier overview for the structure.
This saves me time to just transcribe it on the phone either during nap time or in bed at night.
I’ve learnt to become a quick writer; trying to compose entire paragraphs rather than tiny notes as a way to be able to use the paragraphs instantly rather than “waste time” figuring out what the notes were supposed to mean.
If it’s something very important we’ll try to organize with my husband who’ll play with the children while I sit in another room… until a child comes looking for me that is haha...
What is your best writing habit and how did you discover it?
I don’t think too much about what I say or how I say it until it’s already written. Then it’s just a question of deciding whether it serves a purpose and should be shared, or if it gets scrapped and put in a drafts folder for God knows when.
What are the three most important characteristics of being a writer who is a parent?
Patience
Not being perfectionist
Opportunist (if there’s a gap to write - do it without reflecting whether you should or shouldn’t).
What or who is your secret writing weapon?
The flight mode on the phone. I do more or less all my writing on the phone because I rarely have any time in front of a computer in this season. If I don’t turn on the flight mode I get constantly interrupted and I don’t have time for that if I want to advance on my goals.
What or who has been the most significant creative influence in your life?
My husband, the first person to recognise me as a real artist.
What are your coping tactics for being (constantly) interrupted in your thought process?
If it’s writing I try to read out loud what I’m writing just to “voice over” the noise and get the thought out on paper before I allow the interruption to flood me. It’s quite effective and makes my oldest (the youngest is too small yet) feel as though she’s involved.
What’s your best writing time?
Whenever I decide that it’s time.
What motivates you to write amongst the flurry of family life?
Because writing and making art is my life, and not doing it would be like not living.
Also, I love that my children see me create, it feels as though I somehow embody the role model I wish to be for them; a mother who makes it work WITH them instead of without them.
Do you use any productivity hacks like toggling, Pomodoro, Focusmate? Spill the beans.
Just write. Don’t think of where, when, how or on what…. Just do it. The rest is clutter.
An Encore
“Keep your hand moving. Don’t pause to think or edit. Just write. The more you do this, the more you access your true voice." --Natalie Goldberg
What is YOUR secret writing or creating weapon? And how do you keep your hand moving?
What did you enjoy most from this week’s column? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Love to chat!
To see the full list of questions read this interview
Feeling honored to be included in these parents that write interviews! We’re so many who
make it happen so let’s sing it - let’s cut the noise and get it done 💖🙏🏼
Love your segments of your writer life in the introductions by the way - can only sign under that your work on NOISE is just brilliant, cherish my copy ❤️
I would love to hear more about Elin's ability to just write whenever there is a gap. I have a six and two year old which is lots of chaos. I have a very difficult time writing when they are nearby because I almost have to get myself into a meditative state to enter my story and there's not enough space or quiet or lack of interruptions to accomplish that.