23: Writing and Work

I have been very, very lucky to have an extended amount of time off of work. That’s the life of a teacher: 12 weeks of “zero” working hours (let’s just call it that, although it’s not technically true) and then 40 weeks of 55+ working hours per week. That’s accurate. I kept track this past school year.

I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote this summer. I rarely went one day without adding or changing words to something, be it on a computer or in a personal journal or idea notebook. I led a three session beta reader book club for The Dreamweaver 1. I attended three writing groups each week. I had way too much coffee shop coffee for one person while revising and drafting.

Impermanence is real.

Tomorrow, as well as this weekend, I’ll be working in the classroom—we weren’t allowed into our rooms until today. Monday is the first paid teacher work day. Monday night is our Ice Cream Social, so no Shut Up and Write for me. Next Thursday the kids show up for day 1. The blur of the school year begins.

I have set three personal goals for the 2025/2026 school year: read each night before bed, meditate for 10 minutes in the morning, and write something every day. Lesson plans and grading papers do not count. Out of the three goals, writing will be the toughest. Still, I’m optimistic I can handle this. If you have any ideas and tips that have worked for you, send them my way!