Or maybe I am. A little at least.
Frankly, I've floundered a bit trying to reconcile my old self with my new self. Can I be a writer AND a teacher? Being a teacher makes me feel like I have to walk on eggshells all the time. I'm careful with what I post on social media. I try not to make any reference to inappropriate things (no matter how amusing I find them). I felt like a complete daredevil when I "liked" the song "Follow Your Arrow" by Kacey Musgraves.
That's me: daredevil.
Don't get me wrong: I love teaching. I do. But I am still struggling with trying to keep it from defining every aspect of my life. I mean, I was a goody two-shoes before. Now I think I'm on the list for saints. (Except for those things that I do in the privacy of my home, but we won't talk about that.)
Here's an update on the things that I've been doing (writing-wise):
1. Still working on The Price of Magic. I'm up to 40,000 words now.
2. I started a new story (because I'm ADD) tentatively titled Super Normal, which is basically a parody of the very popular supernatural romances. (I have twins named Sam and Dean Wesson. Get it? Har har.) I got the inspiration for this while I was cooking breakfast this morning.
3. I'm still revising The Dragon Queen. I stuffed so many plot twists and secrets into it, that it's just one big mess. Now I have to figure out how to simplify it.
More updates (not writing-wise):
1. I had to have surgery to remove cancerous cells in my cervix. It was the most painful and horrifying experience of my life. (Get your daughters vaccinated!)
2. Now I'm sure that there is something else wrong with me, which I have to see the doctor about on Monday. Goody.
3. I have now been married for FOUR years. We haven't killed, maimed, or otherwise harmed each other yet. (That's supposed to be a joke, by the way. Again, har har.)
4. I've read some truly awesome Young Adult books, including Etiquette & Espionage, The False Prince, The Iron Trial, Ways to Live Forever, Pictures of Hollis Woods.
Anyway, I'm telling myself that it's still okay to be the naughty (and somewhat dirty-minded) person that I am and still be a good teacher. Those two labels don't have to exactly mesh, but they should coexist. It will be a work in progress though.
It's good to not be dead.
