Hello everyone.
HELLO ... ELlo ..lo..o.
Echoy around here isn't it? Not surprising really. I mean why would anyone else bother to hang around these parts when I haven't even been here in a month myself??? Only I see I have had a few visitors and I am so mortified that I haven't been here to bid you welcome. I've had enough of these hiatuses (hiatii?) for my mates out there to realise that I've been preoccupied by the rest of life. I have a real problem balancing creativity and its pursuit and the more mundane realities of life. And of course I've just gone back to work.
It's good. Work. I fell like what I do is making a difference and I think that I've got a real leaning in that direction. For those who don't know I work in a primary school as a teaching assistant for pupils with special educational needs. And it's going well. I'm doing a few more hours this year. I do still have some time in the day for myself though which I should be using for writing but I'm getting used to the new routine and I've been kinda worn out. I've been finding this last week that things are starting to click into place so I think that I'm ready to incorporate writing back into the day.
There's a real tug of love happening with work and writing (and I include blogging in that). I feel that I'm going to have to commit to one or the other soon and if I commit to further training with education I fear that writing will fall away. So I'm going to give writing one last burst of enthusiasm. I'm going to do a little personal NaNo this year. I'm not signing up but I'm going to commit to trying to finish a first draft of one of my WIPs. So November will be the month I decide whether to carry on or change direction.
I didn't even realise I was going to say that. Yikes. But that feels right. Pick a road.
Yikes.
Anyhow sorry I haven't been visiting you lately. I'm going to try get back into it again. I just hope y'all remember me.
18 comments:
I saw your blog pop up to the top of my blog roll and I cheered. Yay! A post from Janey!
Whenever you can, we're here.
Glad to hear your work life has such meaning. I want that and I don't have it right now. Lots to think about. Lots!
What? You have a real life? How dare you! JK.
I'm glad you work is keeping you fulfilled. I miss your humor but understand the balancing act that is life. Good luck figuring it out.
Sarah - that's so nice of you to say. Thank you. Yes lots to think about. If I was just able to get the balance right it'd be OK but I haven't been able to manage it. We'll see what November brings..
Lois - A real life indeed. It's funny but when you wrote JK there I read it wrong and for a tiny second thought you were calling me JK. Now if I could just pull off a JK Rowling that'd solve a lot of soul searching! HA! Work is lovely but I'm not full time and I have a niggling doubt that doing that kind of work full time would be as fulfilling. It's exhausting already!!! Maybe I'm just too lazy.
Yay, you're back!
I can understand the way work takes such a high place, especially with an important and fulfilling job like yours. But I did miss you!
Good luck with November, whichever way it goes.
If you decide to go for work training now, writing will always be there for you later. (I'd rather keep you in the writing community, but you must do what's right for you.)
I hope we can still keep in touch, whatever happens.
FHH - I hope that no matter what I don't stop writing completely. But I do need something to do with the rest of my life. I just know that a career in education would be all encompassing and I'm resisting committing to it. But then I'm aware that being a writer is a bit of a pipe dream so I have to take the more sensible option seriously too.....
November will be interesting!
MISSED YOU. I'm always happy to see you when you come back. It's worth the wait:)
Aw Natalie - you are so sweet. Lovely to be back in such great company again. x
Heh heh, you're right, I haven't been here either...
Of course I remember you. You're the one with the beard, right?
Glad to see you've returned.
And on the thorny subject of wrestling conundrums to the ground, don't forget that in his 70s heyday, Mick McManus won many a bout against matmen twice his size...
Ha! We must be sharing some brain waves. I've been pondering purpose in my life, too (my latest post). You are a step ahead of me in that you've found something so meaningful with your job. Yay!!
And don't ever consider yourself lazy about not doing it full time. I know what that kind of work is like-- emotionally and physically draining. Keeping the balance by doing it part-time is extremely intelligent! You'll do more good if you can go to work with energy, rather than getting burned out by the end of each week.
And of course we haven't forgotten you. You have a presence that we all enjoy-- you energize us. So of course we keep checking for another dose of Janey!
Janey--
I so completely know what you mean. The pull of work and writing...and, you know, family...something's gotta give sometime. I'm sorry to say my writing has been shoved firmly to the side for now. But I keep reminding myself that my writing isn't on deadline...I can always come back to it. And so can you. Good luck in November!!!! And keep in touch when you can!
You know, Janey, it does not have to be 'whole hog or none' with the writing. I find my job eats my life for lengthy stretches of time, likewise commitments like workign on my house and keeping in touch with friends and family.
What I would suggest isn't that you decide to give up writing entirely if you go back to school. But that you allow yourself to place it on a back burner, and you can write when you want to only. Just arrange the situation in your own head so you are feeling guilt free!
But I do understand where you are coming from. I've set aside all my hobbies except for occasional bouts of crocheting in order to focus on writing. Because it's my priority.
In any case, I wish you well with the whatever you decide is your thing. :)
Hi Janey, Nice to see you back! I think it's totally OKAY to work around your real life! Geesh!
You're such a talented writer...I hope you find places here and there to continue writing, even if the snags of time are random.
:-)
So glad to see you back, girl!!
Wow, some big thinking happening!
I'm glad you are back and I do hope you'll keep in touch regardless!
Do you take on 15-year-old-boys who drive their teachers to new heights of sarcasm? Because mine is driving me to despair. :/
Meanwhile, if you are feeling creative, I need an excuse as to why *I* haven't updated my blog. :)
Hope you're fine! Hope you're gonna be taking a break from inundation every once in a while!
(On the other hand, having had little kids, I know the inundation is an ongoing thing...)
Well I was just about to re-incarnate myself in the FB world to see what's happening with you and Aerin. Glad to see you back.
Now, all I want is a post about a drunk couple from you to "raise my spirits" :P
You should join our non-NaNo NaNo blog. I sent you an email invite if you are interested. It'll be a bit of motivation and sharing for the month of November. I'm working on finishing a work in progress, too.
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