Work/ School Balance

As you all know, I was accepted into Salisbury University, and I was really hoping to get into a program for teaching. I prepared for the interview, made a presentation, and thought I was ready. Well, I think I bombed it. I did well on the questions, but I don’t think I did that great on the presentation. It could just be my anxiety telling me this though. Who knows. While I’m disappointed, I think it may be for the best. I hate to say it, but I didn’t know how I was going to balance taking two classes, teaching while learning how to teach, and working enough to pay my mortgage. I was really stressing it. So not getting into the program, while it still stings, is a blessing in disguise. I am on the waitlist so things may change. We’ll see.

I may not have gotten into the program, but I’m now officially enrolled in two classes. I didn’t really pick the classes because the department head was enrolling new students in classes she felt were a good place to start. My only request for those classes was that they were in the evening. So I’m taking Graduate Fiction Workshop and Topics in Prose focusing on research. I’m looking forward to the classes, but a little nervous since I haven’t taken in person classes in twenty years. I am also the person who’s in bed by 10pm. There are a few exceptions, but that is generally when my body tells me, “we are empty and it’s time to shut down.” My classes are 7pm-9:45pm and I have a long drive home. I guess I’m going to have to get used to staying up later. I’m also going to work all day, stop at home to feed the dog, let her out to do her business, and feed me before heading off to school. If I don’t stop at home my poor dog won’t be able to pee until I’d get home at 10:30 when I leave early in the morning. So, I have to make sure I get off early enough to let her out. That’ll be interesting.

This is going to be a different experience for me, but if I could work full-time and go to school almost full-time, I can take two classes and work full-time. It’s going to be hard, but I can do it. As I tell myself, “I’ll figure it out, I always do.” While that sounds depressing, that’s not what is meant by it. It just means I know I can do it, I just have to push through and find a way to handle it all. I know I can do it.

I’ve covered the whole school thing and the disappointment part. Time for the writing part. At least that’s fun.

I went to a comic-con last week, and while I didn’t sell much, I did get a chance to talk to a few friends I don’t get to see enough of. I was able to get my fill of talking to writers. This always drives me to write or edit or something. I spent so much time working on my bachelors that I didn’t spend evenings writing. I spent them reading or drawing or writing papers. I have time now and I haven’t really been utilizing that time. Talking to other writers gives me the nudge I need to get back into it. So I have been working on editing. I have actually set the goal of coming out with another book before the summer. Will it happen? I really hope. I’m really going to try. I’ve also been working on the edits to my unnamed Paranormal Academy 2. That book has been emotional so I have to go slow. It takes a lot out of me. The emotional part is over (I think) so hopefully things will start moving a little quicker.

One good thing about going for my master’s is that I get to write. It’s a master’s in creative writing, so it’ll be filled with writing. I’m excited and a little nervous that I won’t be able to come up with something. But sometimes, that gives me the kick in the ass I need.