Comments on: A Novelist’s Dilemma – To Teach nor Not To Teach http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/ Practical wisdom for novelists and other storytellers Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:32:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Write a Novel While Working for a Living » The Write Network http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-1319 Write a Novel While Working for a Living » The Write Network Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:06:02 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-1319 [...] for editing them. For the full version of each comment (including Laurel’s 5 and 6), click here. life [...] [...] for editing them. For the full version of each comment (including Laurel’s 5 and 6), click here. life [...]

]]> By: Rob http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-1276 Rob Fri, 29 May 2009 20:23:53 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-1276 I liked your premise, Bill. I had really assumed that the issue was finite time and not finite creative energy. I have been teaching in one capacity or another for thirty-five years, not counting part-time tutoring as an undergraduate. My colleagues and I remarked as early as graduate school how we had stopped our creative pursuits such as writing or music. (I have never been much of a creative writer, but I did write poetry and played music for fun.) I have discovered over time that I thrive on using my creative energy, whether that be as a poet, parent, administrator, or as a teacher. I really do love teaching, and I also love translating (from Portuguese to English) and academic writing in the summer--these activities make my job fun on balance. That said, a current personal crisis is forcing me to take a hard look at priorities. I have recently decided that, beginning over the next five years, I want to invert proportions of the amount of time spent on activities done primarily for remuneration, creative or otherwise, and those done for personal pleasure and for the artistic product. I want to start with literary translation, but, who knows, I may get back to poetry and the guitar! This begs another set of questions that artists have long been asked: why do we engage in the esthetic pursuit (rather than, say, teaching)? Is it the extroverted motive of sharing a product (and, in the performing arts, the process)--or even the dream of fame and adulation? (Dare I mention wealth?) Is the more introverted purpose of meditation or self-expression for their own sakes--the pleasures of the process and the well-executed product? These questions are really just symptomatic, though; I think that the hallmark of creative activity is its restorative, life-giving quality, for oneself and hopefully for others. If teaching makes your tired heart sing at the end of the day, don't give it up; otherwise, invoke the Muses with a trusting heart, study your craft, and enjoy the ride! I liked your premise, Bill. I had really assumed that the issue was finite time and not finite creative energy. I have been teaching in one capacity or another for thirty-five years, not counting part-time tutoring as an undergraduate. My colleagues and I remarked as early as graduate school how we had stopped our creative pursuits such as writing or music. (I have never been much of a creative writer, but I did write poetry and played music for fun.) I have discovered over time that I thrive on using my creative energy, whether that be as a poet, parent, administrator, or as a teacher. I really do love teaching, and I also love translating (from Portuguese to English) and academic writing in the summer–these activities make my job fun on balance. That said, a current personal crisis is forcing me to take a hard look at priorities. I have recently decided that, beginning over the next five years, I want to invert proportions of the amount of time spent on activities done primarily for remuneration, creative or otherwise, and those done for personal pleasure and for the artistic product. I want to start with literary translation, but, who knows, I may get back to poetry and the guitar! This begs another set of questions that artists have long been asked: why do we engage in the esthetic pursuit (rather than, say, teaching)? Is it the extroverted motive of sharing a product (and, in the performing arts, the process)–or even the dream of fame and adulation? (Dare I mention wealth?) Is the more introverted purpose of meditation or self-expression for their own sakes–the pleasures of the process and the well-executed product? These questions are really just symptomatic, though; I think that the hallmark of creative activity is its restorative, life-giving quality, for oneself and hopefully for others. If teaching makes your tired heart sing at the end of the day, don’t give it up; otherwise, invoke the Muses with a trusting heart, study your craft, and enjoy the ride!

]]> By: Sound Off: On Writing A Novel During Your Off-Hours | Lit Drift: Storytelling in the 21st Century http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Sound Off: On Writing A Novel During Your Off-Hours | Lit Drift: Storytelling in the 21st Century Wed, 13 May 2009 23:00:22 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-875 [...] a Better Novel’s Bill Henderson recently wrote about the dilemma of teaching to supplement your writing income. He received a slew of comments about struggling to write a novel during the off-hours of your day [...] [...] a Better Novel’s Bill Henderson recently wrote about the dilemma of teaching to supplement your writing income. He received a slew of comments about struggling to write a novel during the off-hours of your day [...]

]]> By: asrai http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-669 asrai Wed, 06 May 2009 22:28:10 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-669 Julia Cameron wrote in one of her books that her mother (and herself) wrote in between the stuff that makes life up. I try to do that. Write when I can. Sneaking off during making supper to slap some words down. Or after my daughter has gone to bed, and all day on the lucky days when she's gone to grandma's. Not writing is what eats my soul. My job supports my life and me being able to have a computer at which to write and food which sustains my body. But writing supports my heart and soul. Julia Cameron wrote in one of her books that her mother (and herself) wrote in between the stuff that makes life up.
I try to do that. Write when I can. Sneaking off during making supper to slap some words down. Or after my daughter has gone to bed, and all day on the lucky days when she’s gone to grandma’s.

Not writing is what eats my soul. My job supports my life and me being able to have a computer at which to write and food which sustains my body. But writing supports my heart and soul.

]]> By: patrick http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-536 patrick Sat, 02 May 2009 14:55:49 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-536 Seems like you should teach because you WANT to teach, not because it'll buy you some time to bang out your next novel. Although the thought of paid summers off and a strategically placed sabbatical sure do sweeten the deal. I'm not sure there is an ideal survival job for writers. If your day job is at all meaningful, it'll drain your creative juices to a certain degree. If your day job is completely meaningless, it may drain your soul. Seems like you should teach because you WANT to teach, not because it’ll buy you some time to bang out your next novel. Although the thought of paid summers off and a strategically placed sabbatical sure do sweeten the deal.

I’m not sure there is an ideal survival job for writers. If your day job is at all meaningful, it’ll drain your creative juices to a certain degree. If your day job is completely meaningless, it may drain your soul.

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Bill Henderson Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:04:39 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-521 Great comments, everyone. So many good points that I'm going to post a Part 2 around them. Thanks! Great comments, everyone. So many good points that I’m going to post a Part 2 around them. Thanks!

]]> By: spyscribbler http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-519 spyscribbler Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:10:53 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-519 Wow, this is a topic that touches me. I'm a pianist who teaches, and my playing has gone down so much that I have not played, except with students, for more than a couple days a year in the last four or five years. I'm only now starting to miss it. But to be honest, I really can't do both. I'll play if I have a couple weeks off teaching, but I just can't do both. As far as writing, I will never teach it. It does use up something. I won't say what I write since I teach little kids (but it must be obvious, LOL!), and it doesn't support me full-time. But if I could add some more, I could have my ideal life: making money from writing, playing piano a few hours a day for ME, lol. Wow, this is a topic that touches me. I’m a pianist who teaches, and my playing has gone down so much that I have not played, except with students, for more than a couple days a year in the last four or five years. I’m only now starting to miss it. But to be honest, I really can’t do both. I’ll play if I have a couple weeks off teaching, but I just can’t do both.

As far as writing, I will never teach it. It does use up something. I won’t say what I write since I teach little kids (but it must be obvious, LOL!), and it doesn’t support me full-time. But if I could add some more, I could have my ideal life: making money from writing, playing piano a few hours a day for ME, lol.

]]> By: Whitney http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Whitney Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:56:21 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-505 This is THE question for me right now, and you've provided a great butchered adaptation of Hamlet's soliloquey! :) (I'm currently teaching Hamlet to 10th graders right now by the way.) I teach high school English and journalism (which means that I also sponsor the yearbook staff - there are always strings attached.) Teaching consumes most of my time right now, but I enjoy my career and love my students. Would I like to have more time to write? Of course... So, I take notebooks with me in my purse wherever I go in case I have an inkling of free time, and I make sure to sit down and write at home for at least 30 minutes every day. This is THE question for me right now, and you’ve provided a great butchered adaptation of Hamlet’s soliloquey! :) (I’m currently teaching Hamlet to 10th graders right now by the way.)

I teach high school English and journalism (which means that I also sponsor the yearbook staff – there are always strings attached.) Teaching consumes most of my time right now, but I enjoy my career and love my students. Would I like to have more time to write? Of course… So, I take notebooks with me in my purse wherever I go in case I have an inkling of free time, and I make sure to sit down and write at home for at least 30 minutes every day.

]]> By: Laurel King http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Laurel King Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:47:23 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-504 How I survive as a novelist: 1. I didn't marry money, but my husband has a good, steady income and a generous nature. 2. I have lived in the same VERY modest home for the past 20 years. 3. I teach fiction writing to adults at The Worcester Art Museum. A paycheck, however small, is validating. I'm only paid for the time I'm actually on site teaching, so all the hours I spend on lesson plans and critiquing student stories are pro bono. The great thing is that I’m not bound by anyone else’s curriculum so I can design courses that really interest me. It takes a lot of energy, especially since I'm an introvert, but it can add to my energy, too. I meet some wonderful, creative people. And teaching has kept me writing through some hard times, because I would have felt like a fraud encouraging my students to soldier on if I were not willing to do the same. 4. I won an artist grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Every state has grant money (at least at the moment!) available to individual artists. Every writer should look into how to apply. Amounts vary; the honor that comes with the award is worth much more than the size of the check. 5. I am employed as a chauffeur. No paycheck, since my two, tall skinny passengers are my teenage sons. 6. I am employed as a gardener. Drive by my house and you will see me mowing the lawn, raking leaves, trimming the trees, etc. MOST days I feel very lucky to have been able to cobble together this writing life for the past 7 years. How I survive as a novelist:

1. I didn’t marry money, but my husband has a good, steady income and a generous nature.

2. I have lived in the same VERY modest home for the past 20 years.

3. I teach fiction writing to adults at The Worcester Art Museum. A paycheck, however small, is validating. I’m only paid for the time I’m actually on site teaching, so all the hours I spend on lesson plans and critiquing student stories are pro bono. The great thing is that I’m not bound by anyone else’s curriculum so I can design courses that really interest me. It takes a lot of energy, especially since I’m an introvert, but it can add to my energy, too. I meet some wonderful, creative people. And teaching has kept me writing through some hard times, because I would have felt like a fraud encouraging my students to soldier on if I were not willing to do the same.

4. I won an artist grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Every state has grant money (at least at the moment!) available to individual artists. Every writer should look into how to apply. Amounts vary; the honor that comes with the award is worth much more than the size of the check.

5. I am employed as a chauffeur. No paycheck, since my two, tall skinny passengers are my teenage sons.

6. I am employed as a gardener. Drive by my house and you will see me mowing the lawn, raking leaves, trimming the trees, etc.

MOST days I feel very lucky to have been able to cobble together this writing life for the past 7 years.

]]> By: Angela http://writeabetternovel.net/to-teach-nor-not-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Angela Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:51:29 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=12#comment-503 It's an interesting dilemma. Not saying this would work for everybody, but I solved the problem by becoming a technical writer. It keeps my writing skills honed, my editorial eye sharp, but requires very little creativity, so I still have that drive to create. Documenting software uses a completely different part of my brain from writing novels...so much so that I often use one form of writing as a break from the other. I could never teach, because as a true introvert, people drain me. Even if it didn't sap my creativity, it would suck my energy. Avoiding people is much better for my inner muse :-) It’s an interesting dilemma. Not saying this would work for everybody, but I solved the problem by becoming a technical writer. It keeps my writing skills honed, my editorial eye sharp, but requires very little creativity, so I still have that drive to create. Documenting software uses a completely different part of my brain from writing novels…so much so that I often use one form of writing as a break from the other.

I could never teach, because as a true introvert, people drain me. Even if it didn’t sap my creativity, it would suck my energy. Avoiding people is much better for my inner muse :-)

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