Back At It

Back in the saddle, as the saying goes! It is the start of the next school year and a new step in my writing journey. Let's talk about it.

As any regular readers know, I am a high school ENL teacher as well as an author, and so my life revolves around high school scheduling even though I'm in my thirties. This year, I am taking a shift to leading my department, and that is terrifying and exciting. I love my school and the people I work with, so I hope I can be everything they need to support them in this new year. I am looking forward to meeting my new students and seeing what community we can build together. It makes me feel like a nerd, but it also shows that I have picked the right career. Both teaching and writing have their unique ways of energizing and taxing me. They are exhausting in their ways, but they are both so rewarding. Also, hello, I am a nerd, or more accurately, a geek, so I should just let myself be geeky. I will geek out on teaching and my students because they are part of what brings me joy.

With that in mind, I have also been experiencing significant challenges of late. I used the idiom of getting back in the saddle because I am really trying to get my everything back on track along with the start of this new school year. To the right, you can see a picture of my forever friend, Smokey. My first ever job was working at a horse barn and at one point we were partnered with the local railroad to stage robberies of the train for kids while on the scenic ride. I would sit by the side of the road with Smokey waiting for the train. Then we would gallop along side the train dressed as a western robber from ye olden days while firing off blanks until the train stopped to let on actors who were the "robbers." It was a blast, but there were long swaths of waiting between rides. I feel like I am back in that pattern where I hit a wall that takes me out for far too long and then I do a mad dash to make up for my down time. This is related to my health issues I alluded to last time. I still am writing, working, living, but I don't have any answers yet and it is hard to push through. I am realizing that my current pattern isn't helping matters so I am trying to give myself some grace to step into each of my roles while also working with whatever nonsense is going on in my body. Wish me luck, I may need it.

Along with the new of school, and the new of figuring out how to balance what is going on with my health, with still being human, I am moving into my next phase with writing. Project G has some significant developments on the horizon. Subscribe to my newsletter using the button below to get specifics. I am also making significant progress in two book series. I love how being a teacher gives me more time to write during the summer, and I am blessed that I can take advantage of that time. Going into September, I will be completing a draft for G2 then I will give myself a break from that story to work on the DU series for October. I'll swing back to G2 for November and December so that I can be ready for Alpha readers by the beginning of January. If those abbreviations don't make sense to you, then you haven't been reading my newsletter to get the full working titles of those projects, silly you. Sign up already to be in the know. I love being able to delve into more detail about what's happening in my processes and stories, and that is my safe place to do so, not to mention your initial sign-up gets you access to a playlist I listened to while writing EST. I can't wait to give you more specific updates as I am optimistically stepping into the next few months.

For now, writers, geeks, gamers, unite! Conquer September! Pursue your passions! I'll chat with you again here mid-month, and you can follow my other social media while you wait. Tatty-byes!