I’ve been a bit absent from the blog for the past couple of weeks — sorry about that! I got the call to teach Expository Writing at Framingham State University just a few weeks before the semester is set to begin, and I’ve been working (admittedly a little frantically) to prepare a syllabus and lesson plans. The hiring process is still happening, so it’s not official, but it looks like I’ll be teaching after Labor Day.
I have a number of friends who have plenty of experience teaching college writing, and they’ve made themselves available in all kinds of helpful ways. Thanks especially go out to writers/teachers Kerry Beckford, who teaches at the University of Hartford; Linda Alcorace, who teaches at Santa Monica College in California; and Chris Daly, who teaches at Framingham and has been incredibly helpful as I navigate the hiring/preparation process.
Part of my reason for pursuing the MFA degree was to gain the qualifications to teach, so this opportunity is very exciting for me. Unfortunately, teaching doesn’t pay quite as well as we all wish, so I have to maintain my freelance writing/editing/marketing jobs, especially since this is just a one semester adjunct appointment for now. Get ready for a major juggling act this fall!
And the creative writing? How easily it could fall off the map with all of these other responsibilities taking precedent. The trick is not to LET them take precedent. I’ll be seeing a lot of early mornings, trying to get in at least an hour a day of creative work before the walls close in. It’s a good thing I like to watch the sun rise!
Do you teach? If so, feel free to leave a comment and share your experience.
Good luck, Faye. I can’t help you out with this, but hopefully you will be able to help me someday (if I ever get a job).
Hi Faye:
Keep in mind that you are not the only one who is juggling. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly organized appearances of your peers. There’s the course, which is the big picture, and then there is your class. Get to know your students’ needs and you’ll have a better idea of what to do. Take it day by day!
Best of luck Faye – you will be great 🙂