My Honest, New Writing Schedule

23/10/2016

My morning Tweet: Writing Schedule: Get up at 6a.m. or earlier. Word vomit. If the kids get up, send them to Aaron. Lock the bedroom door 20 more minutes.

Locking the door was really important but so hard with my daughter knocking on the door shouting, "Milk, milk!" Yes, the 18-month old shouts commands.

I also plan on writing during those strange gaps when I have the laptop. 1 hour max a day. Anything else will drive me crazy or force me to lose sleep.

The union work has kept me really busy and midterm grades are due, but since I have cast aside the dream of translating all my own words, this anthology should get done quicker.

Dr. Jesú Estrada,
Pen Name: María J. Estrada
Chicago, IL

MARIA J. ESTRADA is an English college professor of Composition, Literature, and her favorite, Creative Writing. She grew up in the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona in the real Barrio de Los Locos, a barrio comprised of new Mexican immigrants and first-generation Chicanos. Drawing from this setting and experiences, she writes like a loca every minute she can—all while magically balancing her work and family obligations. She lives in Chicago’s south side with her wonderfully supportive husband, two remarkable children, and two mischievous cats.

My next book coming out is Not Your Abuelita's Folktales, a Magical Realism collection of short stories for Young Adults.