On the second day of our work-life balance week, Nicki Hodges
talks about the pressures of work, children and a creative
writing course   Not content with juggling work and children,
Nicki Hodges decided to take on a creative writing course. She
explains how she weaves the different strands of her life
together:  My script-writing tutorial didn't go well this week.
"The plotting is poor, the time-scheme makes no sense, the
characters are not very developed. I've no idea where we are.
What is the purpose of this story?" was the tutor's verdict.
I've got a week to get the script into shape, I have to work and
there are also my three children to consider. Not for the first
time I wonder "why am I putting myself through this?"  I started
my degree in creative and media writing because I wanted to
write a novel. For most sane people, coursework and bringing up
three children - aged 14, seven and 23 months - would be enough.
But there are bills to pay and the academic year is short
(October to April) with holidays