tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147920534572837961.post5782603223166562800..comments2023-10-06T12:12:31.468-04:00Comments on The MFA/MFYou Newsletter: A Time to Write and a Time to TeachAshley Cowgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12362214167891115633noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147920534572837961.post-74195510004797320592010-01-17T21:37:48.328-05:002010-01-17T21:37:48.328-05:00argh, I hate not being able to edit comments...stu...argh, I hate not being able to edit comments...stupid simple mistakesPancakePhilosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235041201429314674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147920534572837961.post-82935548377921809892010-01-17T20:38:18.017-05:002010-01-17T20:38:18.017-05:00Sometimes I stop and have to reassess my chosen po...Sometimes I stop and have to reassess my chosen post-grad path. Do I REALLY want to teac college writing and still try to be a bona fide writer, what with everyone tells me about how little time there is?<br /><br />I think, for me, the answer is yes. I actually work best and feel the most content when I'm not always doing the exact same thing. The idea of a months-long block of teaching, then time off from teaching to relax and write what I've been thinking about all semester, really appeals to me. When I write and write and don't do anything else, I get burned out and somewhat bored of writing. Not bored of the creative process--the "inside me head" stuff--but the actual physical process starts to get boring, humdrum. I guess we'll see.<br /><br />Sounds like you're a good teacher, Ashley, and I'm sure you're students will be thanking you down the road.PancakePhilosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235041201429314674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147920534572837961.post-28772864267468794212010-01-17T11:53:43.085-05:002010-01-17T11:53:43.085-05:00(My post was too long, so I split it up)
3. Anoth...(My post was too long, so I split it up)<br /><br />3. Another point that I think people sometimes ignore about the benefit of teaching writing as a writer is that it can strengthen your skills. You're totally right that it uses a lot of the same brain functions, but that can be a good thing. You get a constant workout of those areas and stay in form even when you're not working directly on your creative writing. You're always thinking about how words work together. Since I've had to explain this stuff to my classes over and over again, I know I'm way more thoughtful than I used to be about basic sentence construction and the differences between complex and compound sentences and why I would want to use a semicolon in some instances rather than a period. In that sense, I think teaching can make one a better writer even as it drains some energy and time.<br /><br />4. Although grading papers will always be time consuming, planning lessons gets more streamlined the longer one teaches. When I'm teaching a class that I've already taught several times, and I'm doing the same lessons again and going over the same chapter, it doesn't take me that long to prepare. I can review past notes quickly and skim the chapter rather than reading it in depth. Some of this stuff really gets easier the longer I do it, and, as with my first point, I think looking ahead to the future, it will be even better. One tough thing about the stage we're at right now is that we really have a bum deal. We get the most labor-intensive, least interesting classes, and we get paid less to teach them. I genuinely think that if we pay our dues now, ten years down the road, teaching could be the absolutely ideal career, but it's tough to put up with it in the present.Justushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701126200573700215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6147920534572837961.post-76828624604519293432010-01-17T11:53:20.066-05:002010-01-17T11:53:20.066-05:00I've definitely thought about these same issue...I've definitely thought about these same issues, and I've come up with some points that make it easier on me or help me keep the dream going or something.<br /><br />1. Down the line, it will be different when we are full time creative writing professors. At that point, writing is basically part of the job, and there is the expectation that you are regularly writing and even can count those hours as basically working time. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I actually think that as a part timer now, my job is more labor-intensive than creative writing professors in an MFA program. But if I work hard now, it could pay off in five or ten years. Plus, full timers get Sabbaticals. Working hard eight months a year might or might not be worth getting the other four months off, but think about having an entire year off every seven years.<br /><br />2. Sometimes you have to be willing to do less, to accept that you aren't being paid to work fifty or sixty hours a week, and it's okay to simply not do it. I don't accept multiple revisions from students between the official drafts I collect. I'll look over their work in my office hours if they come in to see me, and I'll answer quick questions through e-mail, or I'll look at a revised thesis statement. But if there's a draft due in a week and they want me to read an entire paper over the weekend and offer more comments, I refuse. It's simply not fair to me as a teacher (especially a part time one) to expect that much, and I think it's reasonable for me to say no. Another thing I sometimes do is set a limit on how often I check my e-mail. If I'm getting excessive e-mails from students (especially the kind the night before a paper is due asking me questions they should have asked weeks ago), then I stop checking my e-mail more than once a day. Again, I think it's perfectly reasonable to limit my workload like that.<br /><br />2.5 I guess this is sort of the same point, but I think the reality of the world is that most people are mediocre at their jobs, and I think it's fine not to strive to be the best. I think I'm a good teacher and that students learn a lot from my classes. But I also feel I could be amazing if I devoted many, many more hours to it, but I'm not willing to do that. It's not my priority, and I'd rather be good and have it be a subsection of my life than be great and have it be my entire life.Justushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701126200573700215noreply@blogger.com