Writing in the Margins—Ruth Moore
- Ruth Moore
- Aug 20
- 6 min read
by Ruth Moore
Welcome to the next in our series of blogs that invite speakers from Hutchmoot 2024 to reflect on what happened when we gathered around story, music, and art in Franklin, Tennessee, last October.
Today we hear from three authors who inspired an eager roomful of Hutchmoot writers with their seminar “Writing in the Margins: Balancing Motherhood and Creative Pursuits.” Their discussion wove together reflections on Madeleine L’Engle’s life and work with practical suggestions on writing amid life’s heavy demands, along with insights from the world of traditional publishing. Many thanks to Carolyn Leiloglou, Summer Rachel Short, and Robyn Wall for taking part in this interview from the margins.
Ruth Moore: You used Madeleine L’Engle’s life and writing as a “spine” for your discussion. What is it that draws you to her as a writer?
Carolyn Leiloglou: As a young reader, I was obsessed with fantasy literature, especially fantasy that had a decisively Christian bent. Which meant nearly all the books I read were about male protagonists (with the exception of Narnia) and were written by men. When I encountered Madeleine L’Engle’s books in middle school, it really opened a new world of seeing my favorite kinds of stories written by a woman and often featuring female protagonists. I encountered L’Engle's nonfiction writing on the creative life about ten years ago, and I’ve found myself going back to her again and again as a (somewhat imperfect) model of how to think and write as a Christian woman.
RM: To which other writers do you look to encourage you in your practice?
Summer Rachel Short: Maybe it’s because of my somewhat short attention span, but I particularly admire authors who communicate character and story succinctly. Louis Sachar, Suzanne Collins, and Katherine Paterson come to mind. However, I’m also a mood reader, so there are times when I enjoy slower-paced books that serve up pretty passages of description or elaborate worldbuilding—L. M. Montgomery and J. R. R. Tolkien are a couple of favorites in that category.
RM: I was struck by a comment you made about learning to write at times of day you didn’t think you could. What would you say to writers who think they don’t have time to keep their craft alive?
SRS: I think we’re all more adaptable than we give ourselves credit for. For example, until five years ago, I’d never played any sport with a ball and considered myself too uncoordinated to learn. Then, I found out about a free local tennis class and decided to give it a go. My past self would be shocked to discover I now play several times a week. I think our writing lives are similar. We assume we can’t succeed at something because it’s different or hard. Sometimes, all it takes is giving a new routine a chance to grow. If finding time for writing is the hurdle, consider lowering the bar. A writing session doesn’t have to be long to be beneficial. Carving out 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week adds up. I’ve surprised myself with how much can be accomplished in a short period.
RM: All three of you publish your work in the mainstream, which means you engage with agents, editors, publicists . . . and deadlines! How do you approach the juggle of family life and the pressures of publishing?
Robyn Wall: I find that busier seasons are easier when I embrace the limitedness God gives us instead of fighting against it. No one can do it all. This requires prioritizing what to focus on and what to let go of in each season. Some questions I’ve found helpful are:
What are the convictions and stories that stick with me?
What’s important in family life right now?
Is something time-sensitive?
What’s achievable in this season?
Can something wait?
Where can I settle for “good enough?”
Where can I ask for help?
What can I let go of completely?
How will rest look in this season?
Some examples of where the three of us have made space for deadlines are delaying cleaning, signing up for fewer activities, declining to host or attend gatherings, sticking to the easiest of meals, writing in untraditional times and places, and transferring responsibilities to other family members. We’ve also stepped back from writing for various demands of life, such as taking care of elderly parents, summer vacation, mental health seasons, and times when our kids need us.
RM: The discussion went deep into “mom guilt” at times. Writers in all sorts of circumstances can experience guilt about making time to write—you encouraged us to challenge it. How do you do that?
CL: The thing that helped me most in combating my own “mom guilt” was seeing my children’s responses when I started to write more. When I showed them that creative pursuit was worthy of my adult time, their response was to engage even more with their own creative projects! Far from taking away from their childhood experience, my commitment to creating enriched it. We are made in the image of God, and as Dorothy Sayers points out in Mind of the Maker, part of that image is the will to create. I love to see my children leaning into their giftings, especially as they enter young adulthood.
RM: You all spoke about the ebbs and flows of “success” in writing—how do you navigate life as a writer over the long term?
RW: There are many things we cannot control in creative pursuits—like trends, editors’ preferences, critical reception, and obstacles that complicate finishing a project. Focusing on those will only lead to frustration and discouragement. It’s easier to find joy in stewarding our gifts and ideas while trusting God with the results and acknowledging the many forms “success” may look like in His economy. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1 [English Standard Version]).
I find it grounding to look back. I save emails for rainy days. I write down affirming things that people I respect have told me because it’s easy to doubt in the hardest parts of making. I’ve saved a box of writings from childhood through now to feel the connectedness of it all. God has a story arc for all of us.
It’s also helpful to read about the hills and valleys of artists you admire. Even L’Engle threatened to quit writing when she got 26 rejections for A Wrinkle in Time—until she was inspired to write a story due to the rejection. Perspective helps too. People say life is short, but it’s actually quite long. Disappointments from five years ago don’t feel grave like they did in the moment—if I remember them at all. There’s plenty of time to develop craft and plenty of stories to be written.
RM: How often have you been to Hutchmoot and what keeps you coming back?
CL: I believe I’ve been to Hutchmoot every year since 2017. It took many years for my husband to convince me to go. I didn’t feel like a real writer at the time and made excuses: I was pregnant, the kids were too little, etc. When we finally attended, I still felt a bit like an imposter, but I soon realized that Hutchmoot attracts all kinds of folks, not just creators at every stage, but those who love and enjoy the arts. But what’s really kept me coming back are the friendships I’ve made over the years. Hutchmoot attracts some of the coolest people around, and every year feels like an ever-expanding family reunion.
RM: And what has stayed with you from your wider experience of Hutchmoot last year?
SRS: I’ve come away with a deeper sense of gratitude for the way God has given us the desire to reflect his glory in our own creations. At Hutchmoot, I met people from different backgrounds with different talents and dreams. Yet there was a common thread of longing to use those gifts to glorify God and make an impact on the world. To me, that’s inspiring.
RM: What is the allure of the Rabbit Room and Hutchmoot for an artist like yourself?
RW: Writing is a solitary activity. When you take brainstorming, drafting, and unpublished manuscripts into account, most of our work is never seen. It can feel isolating. But the good news is that we can be seen in community. There’s a story happening beyond the page, and places like the Rabbit Room remind us of that. When I see the smiling face of a fellow artisan on the pilgrim’s road, I feel the welcoming arms of God, and that kind of love cures all manner of disappointments.
Ruth Moore is a writer from Oxford, England, and a member of the Hutchmoot UK team.
You can find out more about the books and backstories of Carolyn Leiloglou, Summer Rachel Short, and Robyn Wall on their respective websites.
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