Les (Writing) Miserables

by Ernessa T. Carter

So like a lot of expectant mothers of twins before me, I've been put on bedrest. It's funny, because I knew it could happen, had read about it happening to countless others, but for whatever reason, just did not see it happening to me.

Truth be told, having moved my writing set-up to my bed at about three months into my pregnancy, it felt a bit like I was already on bedrest. I spent the majority of my days in bed writing, and was even amused to read in one of my twin books that mother's who got put on bedrest should work on that novel they always wanted to write.

You'd think, actually being put on bedrest wouldn't be so bad. Except it's worse than bad. In fact, it's terrible.

As it turns out, staying in bed all day, like many activities (including writing), is only fun when you choose to do it. Last year around this hectic time, I would have longed to have curled up in bed with a book all day. Writing uninterrupted without having to stop to pick up my daughter from preschool would have been a dream come true.

But somehow the romance goes out of reading when you have nothing else to do. And my writing flow often gets interrupted anyway with long daydreams about sexy stuff, like going outside and walking around my neighborhood, or riding a bike, or swimming. I wonder if the people at my gym know how lucky they are to be able to work out. I put together imaginary playlists to run to on the treadmill.

Then I actually have to take nap, because quiet as it's kept, the only thing more exhausting than being a busy mom with six pounds worth of babies in her belly is sitting in bed all day. I have no idea why. It just is. During these naps I usually dream about even sexier things like window shopping in malls, and getting on planes, and going to see movies -- really just about any other activity that takes place outside of my home.

But yeah, despite all the crankiness, daydreaming, and napping, I am getting a lot of writing done -- I mean a ton of it. It's kind of ridiculous how productive I've been.

And now I'm wondering if anyone else has ever gotten a lot of writing done under miserable conditions. If so, let me know in the comments. As you might have heard, misery loves company. Oh, and if you have any solutions for staying sane on bedrest, let me know.