Making Changes
A few years ago I wrote this post about the joys of having a day job. When I wrote it, I meant every word of it. For years I needed the security of having a steady paycheck, and believe me—steady paychecks are a glorious thing. I’ve been a teacher for the past 25 years, teaching everything from kindergarten to middle school and high school English to university to writing workshops for students of all ages. I received an MA degree in English and a PhD in Education. My writing has been published in journals and magazines worldwide, and I’ve been the executive editor of a literary journal for 20 years, working with the best up and coming writers as well as established names. I’ve written four bestselling novels with a brand new prequel to my name and I’ve sold over 300,000 copies of my books.
I say this not as a humble-brag, but only to point out that
I was able to accomplish a few things while holding down various full-time
teaching jobs. True, teachers work 10 months a year, but if you know a teacher
you know she or he packs 12 months or more of work into one school year. After
my teaching day was done, when I got home in the afternoon, no matter how tired
I was, which was plenty tired most days, I sat down at the computer and worked.
I’ve always believed that if you want to write badly enough, or if you want to
draw or sing or dance or act or volunteer or whatever it is, you’ll find a way
to do it. It’s hard, but if that is what your heart is telling you to do, then
it’s worth it.
Now, after a lot of thought and quite a bit of planning, it’s time for a change. I had come to the point where I felt like I’ve done everything I can as a full-time teacher, at least for now. There were no more challenges to reach for, and I’m the kind of person who needs a challenge. After 25 years, I decided to see what else is out there for me. As it turns out, there’s a lot, and I’m looking forward to new opportunities. I’m fortunate in the sense that I’ve honed a number of skills over the years. As a PhD, I learned the ins and outs of scholarly research, which are useful beyond writing historical fiction. As an editor, I learned about editing and proofreading, and as a writer, I learned about copywriting and writing articles for various markets.
I’m looking forward to having more time to work on aspects of my writing that were pressed aside due to my full-time jobs. Yes, I had summers off, but trust me, two months go by in the blink of an eye when you’re writing a book. Whatever writing time I had was dedicated to my novels. Since I write historical novels that require a lot of daydreaming, a lot of planning, and a lot of research, writing a book took time. Down Salem Way, once I got going, was a two-year journey. Now I’ll have time for the nonfiction articles and books I’ve been wanting to write.
When I left my last job I didn’t have another job waiting for me, which was unusual for me. Instinctively, I understood that the school where I was teaching wasn’t a good fit for me. I wasn’t sure at that time where my future was, but I knew it wasn’t there so I left. Several of the teachers I worked with said, “You’re so brave to leave without another job. I wish I could do what you’re doing but I can’t.” I understood what they meant because that was how I felt most of my life—I couldn’t leave somewhere unless I knew where I was going. Acknowledging the truth about what I wanted (or in this case what I didn’t want) gave me the courage to see what else life might have in store for me.
It was time, that’s all. I’ve always believed that everything happens in its own time. If I had made this jump 10 years ago, even five years ago, I don’t believe it would have worked. Now, I know what I have to offer and I’m finding work as a freelance writer and editor while still leaving time for my own writing, both fiction and nonfiction.
I’ve been reading a lot about making changes in your life. When To Jump: If the Job You Have Isn’t the Life You Want by Mike Lewis is one book that has helped me along this journey. While there isn’t a lot of actionable advice in this book, it’s filled with anecdotes from others who have jumped from one life to another and lived to tell the tale. Career Change by Joanna Penn guides you through understanding what it is you really want from your life. I’m fortunate in the sense that I already knew what I wanted: to work at home editing, researching, and writing. But if you’re stuck in a job you don’t like and you’re looking for a change, Joanna’s book is a great place to start.
I still have a day job because I’m editing, researching, and writing for others, but I’m working at home and I have control over my schedule in a way I never have before. And I have more time for my own writing, which is a grand thing. Things are different, which is a good thing when it’s time for a change.
