So here I am sitting in an empty classroom, waiting for students to turn in their final essays (so those of you who might think I'm neglecting my duties writing this), thinking about a couple of things that have been bothering me the last couple of hours.
First, I've been doing some research on publishing houses and literary agencies. It's terrifying to think I may not have a book others would consider publishable. Also, I found out earlier that it would cost a lot (a helluva lot) of money to have Createspace.com proofread and edit my book, something like $3,000+. After reading over a couple of agency websites, I'm further troubled because I'm not entirely sure what genre my book fits in to. I believe it's a Young Adult book, but it could also be a Children's Book. My problem is that my plan for sequels will take it further into the Young Adult realm and out of the Children's realm, and they may even segue out of the YA category. I do believe I've found an agency I like, and it's not the one I mentioned in a previous post. Some of the books the other agency listed as selling I've never heard of. The new agency I've found has the credentials and expertise I'm looking for, plus they want author's to query specific agents. I like the tone of their website and of the agents.
I'm still wondering if I should self-publish my book through and online platform, like Createspace.com. The major problem I see with that is editing. I'm not exactly the best editor and it's unfair to ask my friends to do the work of an editor for free. So if I throw my book out there and discover it is littered with error after error, I'll be just as crushed if every signal agency and publisher rejected my book.
The other problem I'm having tonight is with one of my classes. I have no idea what to do with my students tomorrow. The section we're in is Cause and Effect, but I've already spent a lot of time on the topic and I don't want to overload them with discussion on it. I could go over tone but I don't have anything prepared for that. I feel as though I pack so much into the beginning of the semester that I have nothing to go over in the second of half. I guess I could start introducing them to MLA and research....
Research would be a good topic to go over tomorrow, "What constitutes good research?"
Hmmmm....
Does this make me a bad teacher? Probably. However, I believe it keeps me on my toes. I seem to work better when I'm under pressure (something my students frequently state). Improvisational exercises were a lot of fun when I was in theater. Being able to create a character, situation, and motivation based solely off your partners cues was an intense of way of making me think on my feet.
But, teaching requires a bit more preparation, which is something I'm learning with each passing semester. For every class, I create more content. Eventually, I will have enough to fill an entire semester, but until then I'll just have to wing on days when nothing is planned. Wait, that sounded bad while I wrote it. I did have something planned for tomorrow's class, only I've already covered it, twice.
Well, tomorrow I'll think of something. Tonight, I have to wait.
After rereading this particular entry (see, editing), I discovered it may seem strange to be waiting for final essays in one class while worrying about what to teach another. It all has to do with the fun of being a part-time college teacher. The two systems I work for run on different schedules. One school is in their final week this week, and the other still has five more weeks to go. Makes for an interesting schedule, doesn't it? Believe me, it's exhausting trying to remember when and where, not to mention the driving to the where.
All part of being a new teacher, right?
First, I've been doing some research on publishing houses and literary agencies. It's terrifying to think I may not have a book others would consider publishable. Also, I found out earlier that it would cost a lot (a helluva lot) of money to have Createspace.com proofread and edit my book, something like $3,000+. After reading over a couple of agency websites, I'm further troubled because I'm not entirely sure what genre my book fits in to. I believe it's a Young Adult book, but it could also be a Children's Book. My problem is that my plan for sequels will take it further into the Young Adult realm and out of the Children's realm, and they may even segue out of the YA category. I do believe I've found an agency I like, and it's not the one I mentioned in a previous post. Some of the books the other agency listed as selling I've never heard of. The new agency I've found has the credentials and expertise I'm looking for, plus they want author's to query specific agents. I like the tone of their website and of the agents.
I'm still wondering if I should self-publish my book through and online platform, like Createspace.com. The major problem I see with that is editing. I'm not exactly the best editor and it's unfair to ask my friends to do the work of an editor for free. So if I throw my book out there and discover it is littered with error after error, I'll be just as crushed if every signal agency and publisher rejected my book.
The other problem I'm having tonight is with one of my classes. I have no idea what to do with my students tomorrow. The section we're in is Cause and Effect, but I've already spent a lot of time on the topic and I don't want to overload them with discussion on it. I could go over tone but I don't have anything prepared for that. I feel as though I pack so much into the beginning of the semester that I have nothing to go over in the second of half. I guess I could start introducing them to MLA and research....
Research would be a good topic to go over tomorrow, "What constitutes good research?"
Hmmmm....
Does this make me a bad teacher? Probably. However, I believe it keeps me on my toes. I seem to work better when I'm under pressure (something my students frequently state). Improvisational exercises were a lot of fun when I was in theater. Being able to create a character, situation, and motivation based solely off your partners cues was an intense of way of making me think on my feet.
But, teaching requires a bit more preparation, which is something I'm learning with each passing semester. For every class, I create more content. Eventually, I will have enough to fill an entire semester, but until then I'll just have to wing on days when nothing is planned. Wait, that sounded bad while I wrote it. I did have something planned for tomorrow's class, only I've already covered it, twice.
Well, tomorrow I'll think of something. Tonight, I have to wait.
After rereading this particular entry (see, editing), I discovered it may seem strange to be waiting for final essays in one class while worrying about what to teach another. It all has to do with the fun of being a part-time college teacher. The two systems I work for run on different schedules. One school is in their final week this week, and the other still has five more weeks to go. Makes for an interesting schedule, doesn't it? Believe me, it's exhausting trying to remember when and where, not to mention the driving to the where.
All part of being a new teacher, right?
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