My Spring Break is almost over…on Tuesday I’ll once again be teaching teenagers. I don’t want to go back.

After Christmas break I did SO well working on my novel. I also started submitting more and more articles to the local papers for which I write. Things were going well! And then teachers needed days off, so I picked up more subbing days…and more…and more. Now I’m lucky to get on article done per week for one paper. I sometimes get a couple written for the other. But there has been virtually no progress on my novel, and I haven’t been able to submit to any other publications.

So why am I doing this??

Yes, I love the students. I truly enjoy going into the different schools, getting to know the staff, and settling in to the community. But I don’t want to be a teacher. I’ve never really wanted to be a teacher. I want to write!!

For the thousandth time in 4 1/2 years of marriage, I am so thankful to have married Matt. Even though the economy is tough, and even though I can get a more regular paycheck by subbing (I could fill my weeks if I wanted to), we’re going to sit down an re-evaluate how much I’m teaching so that I can make the time to get back to writing.

Some of you might think I’m a bit whiny – I mean, I just sub part-time, so what’s the big deal? Well, my hubby is incredibly blessed to work for a company that is actually prospering during this recession. In fact, they’re growing so quickly that they have to buy a bigger facility to accommodate the demand. In the meantime, hubs works a lot of overtime – 55+ hrs/wk right now, and that will very easily reach 70+ hrs/wk during the summer. With his hours, everything at home is my responsibility – bills, chores, yard work, home repairs. You name, I do it.

NOW…throw in part-time sub, part-time writer, part-time writer, part-time novelist…and I have to give up sleep or food in order to get it all done. I didn’t realize how much it was wearing me down until this past break – it took me until Thursday to FINALLY get rested enough that I could concentrate on my novel! That’s not going to work for me…

I’m already very behind on my novel. My goal was to get the first draft done by the beginning of December; my new goal is June (which is a year from when I originally set the goal). That time frame just isn’t going to work for me.

And so hubs and I are going to re-evaluate. I’m hoping to cut back on the subbing (which will put a little dent in our monthly finances) in order to work on picking up more paid writing gigs. We’re going to try to free up some more of my time so I’m not just slapping words on a page, but I’ve got the energy to put together a GOOD book.

Here’s to having the nerve to say “No” to the sub-caller…and “yes” to a full-time attempt at writing!