Doin’ double duty as teacher and student.
Pulling double duty! Whoot !Whoot!
Double the fun! On the advice of my agent I created another pen name for my historical fiction genre. Which also means having another website, instagram, and twitter account! Which I did, although I haven’t made a Facebook or Pinterest page yet for the new-genre me. Yet.
Double Down! A lot of work? Yes. Can I do it? Sure, with a bit of savvy time management. But that’s not what’s causing me angst. What is?
Double Trouble! I’ll be both teacher and student for the next 2 years! Ack!
As a high school language arts teacher, I’m used to assigning books, lecturing, grading papers, and getting sucked up to. But as soon as my MFA classes begin the table will be turned, and I’ll be the one having to read books, write papers, and suck up to professors.
I begin my MFA ( Masters of Fine Arts) in creative writing this year. Yup, that means I’ll be teaching full-time, revising an MS, and doing homework for the MFA program. ( Oh, and this is also the year when I will be answering multiple phone calls and dress shopping for my daughter’s wedding. ) Don’t know how I’m going to pull all this off, but hey, a writer’s gotta do what a writer’s gotta do. And I gotta do!!!
Lots of folks and family ask me why I want to get my MFA. You don’t need one, they insist. You can already write. True. But I want to write better! And how amazing will it be to have a cadre of writing professionals offer advice and criticism! Not to mention, having a writing community to share all the successes, failures, woes, joys, and WTF’s with. I’m looking forward to learning and writing with the best.
I was lucky to have found a low residency* MFA program with a marvelous staff that fits my teaching schedule. Can’t wait to begin. Can’t wait to figure out just how organized I’ll need to be to do it all without losing my mind. ( Now, that I think of it, my mind has been lost to writing for a few years now. )
I’m thinking’ somebody—not me—needs to do the grocery shopping, cooking, and laundry. I’ll let you know how that goes!
**For the Hey, I’d Like To Get My MFA questioners, here’s a quick how-to.
Low-residency means you, the student, take on-line classes throughout the year and also meet with writers, big-time famous authors, industry professionals, and classmates for week-long stretches a few times a year. Great for us folks who have to work to pay the mortgage.
My MFA program required a statement of purpose, letter of intent, 3 letters of recommendation, a writing sample, and transcripts.
While I was pulling all that together, I applied for a FAFSA loan, because, really, who can pay for college these days?
Oh, and my historical fiction name is Azlyn Richards. WEBSITE. INSTAGRAM. TWITTER.
So, here’s to not seeing double for the next few years! Cheers!
