As a poet and creative nonfiction writer, I understand the need for a full-time job. I plan to become an English professor through my studies in the Master of Arts in Professional Writing program. Right now, I supplement my studies as a substitute elementary school teacher.
Finding time to write can be very tricky. First, I schedule two days I for substitute teaching. Next, I schedule a day to complete homework for the following week. Then I keep one day open for editing poem drafts and submitting them for publication. If I am not teaching, I am reading, writing, or studying a creative workshop for ideas and prompts.
That explains my schedule, but how do I actually write? I keep an eye out for open spaces of time and creativity. Sometimes the journal just calls me. Other times, there may be issues, subjects, and phrases that give me an inner prompting to express my feelings and observations down on paper.
I can almost feel that perfect timing, maybe right after the kids go to bed, or right after I take them to school, and I can’t wait to get into my space to see what comes out.
Even if nothing earthshattering comes out, I have had the pleasure of getting into my space and looking through that creative window to see what’s there. I might make my own writing prompt or search a resource for ideas in order to take advantage of the fact that I seized the writing moment.
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Finding Time To Write
Valerie Smith,
Poetry and Creative Nonfiction