I'll miss the students. I love teenagers. They have so much in front of them, so many things to experience, so many paths to chose from, and bright hopes for the future. But I won't miss that desk, or that laptop, or those inservice days. I won't miss the decisions made by politicians that leave programs unfunded and punish schools that need the money the most. Oops, no politics on this blog.
I won't miss getting up early in the mornings. I won't miss going out in the cold. I won't miss duties like study hall coverage or hall monitoring. I only miss teaching those kids.
Next year at this time, I will feel like a full time writer. I currently can finish about two books per year with each book having 80K to 120K words. How many will I be able to write when I'm done with the day job? Will I have the discipline to write twice that many? Three times? Will I spend some of those extra hours doing some effective promotion?
I hope so. I hope the next twelve months is when my career gets really rolling instead of going forward with fits and sputters.
If you didn't have a day job, would you have the discipline to write full time, forty hours per week? Have you had the opportunity to try that? Did it work for you? Would you even want to do it?
16 comments:
It took me over a year to stop getting up so early.
You'll also be surprised at how many other things you'll be doing--all the things you never got the chance to do because you were working full time.
Writing full time was never my goal so I don't take that into account. But I feel I got more writing done when I worked for corporate America than when I began homesteading.
That so cute that you love the teenagers. And amazing that you're producing so much with a full-time job.
I think the most I will want to write is 20 hours a week when my little guy is in school full time. This year he'll be in preschool for 15 hours a week - I'm planning on making the most of it...counting down the days until September 5.
i love teenagers too---no i don't write that much---i hope you really enjoy your last year :)
When I had the time, I used to treat writing as a job and get up early, sit at the laptop and work at it till sometimes late at night. I'm an unforgiving boss, lol.
Best of luck with your last year! A bittersweet one, I'm sure.
Before I retired I tried to get everything else done before I sat down to write. Now I let everything else slide while I spend the day writing! I do not miss the EMR system, the medical coding and insurance conundrum, or the constant threat of litigation. I do miss my patients, though!
I'm impressed that, as a teacher, you still find time to write. I gave up the profession last year to focus more on my creative projects and haven't looked back since. Don't think I could write full time though - too easily distracted. :-)
I've had the opportunity to try that - I work a few days a week and the rest I write... it's so difficult getting disciplined and as hard as I try, I keep getting distracted. I'm trying schedules, but sometimes my mind just doesn't want to write, so it's hard. Best of luck - would love to hear if how it goes.
I can't imagine it! And I'd probably still write slow.
I'm self-employed and did have time to write. Then promotions took over.
I worked with someone once who counted down from 2 years. That was a very long two years, but also a shock when the day finally came.
I work part time, and have two/three week days off each week... and no, I'm rubbish at time management, and never get as much done as I want to. I have a really great line of excuses too!
Have a great year.
Holy mackerel. It's totally impressive that you crank out two books a year. I reckon once you retire, you'll be doubling that, huh? Yipes. Good for you. (Me? I'm a very slow writer/ editor.) I hope your last year teaching also turns out to be your best.
I must admit I am envious of you retiring next year. I long for the day ...
and I'm stealing that little placard/ecard!
Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your years of teaching!
Enjoy your last year, and that's wonderful you'll get a chance to be a full-time writer. I'd like to think I'd have the discipline to do 40 hours a week. I've got three years to go before my son is in school full-time. Maybe I'll get a chance then!
Good luck, live int he moment and enjoy every minute.
I think you get more done when you have more to do. . .does that make sense? I do miss teaching my favorite class--Creative Writing--and the discipline of a work day. Take very good care of your health so you have the energy to do the things you want to do. It takes a year or so to adjust to not working, I think. Enjoy your last year with your students.
Post a Comment