It’s Tuesday! And that means the next installment in the ongoing Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing series. Chantel Brankshire and I both write for Kindred Grace and I’m excited to have her on the blog today.
Peruse previous posts in this series on the archives page!
Why do you write/blog?
Writing, for me, is how my heart processes. It’s my “language”. I write to remember where I’ve been, to encourage others, and to give honor to God for the great things He has done in my life.
How long have you been writing/blogging?
Well, I’ve been writing since I was six. I started my first blog over 10 years ago, though. It’s been quite the adventure.
How has your current season of life impacted your writing/blogging?
For a long time, I felt like I had the words knocked out of me. Not because of motherhood, necessarily, but because the sum of what was going on in my life was either so incredibly special, I didn’t know how to share it, or so painful and private for some of my family that I couldn’t talk about it. I felt like I lost my focus, and so…I just didn’t really write anything for a very long time. Recently, the words have come back again. It’s a good feeling.
How has this season of life changed your writing habits?
I am not only a mother, a stay at home wife, and homemaker…but I also have my own business as a Virtual Assistant, working from home. I love what I do, but I’ll be very honest that between work, home duties, and keeping little hands busy and out of trouble, writing just doesn’t happen often. I have so many ideas, but little time or chance to get them out in a draft or onto a piece of paper. Unlike before, I don’t just finish my to-dos for the day and have a free hour or two to write.
For now, I just take each opportunity as it comes. If I have a good idea, I use my phone to jot down some notes for later. If I have an unexpected 20 minutes, and am not too tired to string words together sensibly, I go for it.
I’m learning, for me, that sometimes it’s more to just write than to have it just right before I hit publish.
What is your writing/blogging battle cry?
I want to communicative joy, hope, and contentment in ordinary days. I want to encourage people to look for beauty in little things, and to realize the power of gratitude in their lives. I want them to see my life, not as perfect, but as crazy, but made beautiful by His grace.
How does faith, writing, and motherhood intersect in your daily life?
I write because it’s in my blood. I write because I feel like God gave me words as a means of reaching and touching in ways I would never have an opportunity to do. Motherhood comes first, but I believe that in this new season of learning, just like every other season, there are a lot of things that can and should be written as I find my fears magnified, my patience tested, and my need for God even more real than ever before!
Chantel Brankshire is wife to her sweetheart, Scott and mommy to Charlotte. She loves words, barefoot summer days, growing a garden, and old books. She works from home as a Virtual Assistant and loves on her family as much as possible.
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Emily C Gardner 
Thank you for having me on the blog. I’m enjoying this series!
I loved reading this interview, Chantel :) In some ways, I can relate to the feeling of not writing or having the words knocked out of me too because things being too painful and private or not having the right words to express my joy over something! But you’ve encouraged me to at least get back into writing in my private journal. :)
Emily, I haven’t visited in too long–love the new layout! Fixed that by subscribing. ;)
Chantel, what a blessing you are. I loved reading this interview even though I’m sort of in an opposite season–post-school with more writing time than I’ve had since graduating homeschool. :) Filing this away for future, though. ;)
I can so relate, Chantel!