April 14, 2008
In My Shoes
Written by Shana in Writers and Writing
I’ve really enjoyed reading about everyone’s day in the last few blogs, and I guess now it’s my turn. Since I have a day job, my schedule is a little bit different.
4:20 a.m. The alarm goes off. Feed the cats, empty the litter box, turn on the computer.
4:45 a.m. Finish reading last 2 or 3 pages written and start on the next page (or the end of the last page). Notice there’s no email checking in here. I’m not allowed to check email until after I’ve met my page goal. On weekdays, that’s 5 pages.
5:30 a.m. Start getting worried that I’m not going to be done with the 5 pages in time.
5:45 a.m. Ultimate Sportsfan’s alarm goes off. Type furiously. I know he’ll hit snooze.
5:50 Save the five pages, email them to myself, and check email.
6:00 a.m. Change into my running clothes. Try to convince USF to get up and run with me. Am successful about half of the time.
6:05 a.m. Run 2 miles.
6:40 a.m. Get in the shower.
7:20 a.m. Eat breakfast, make lunches, and head out the door.
7:40 a.m. Pull into the parking lot.
7:50 a.m. Sign in and head to class (I’m a teacher).
8:00 a.m. Drink coffee and try to wake up. Meet with parents or administrators. Lesson plans and grading.
9:30 a.m. Teach
11:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Check emails.
12:05-12:25 p.m. Gulp down lunch.
3:30 p.m. Head home unless I have tutorials.
3:45 p.m. Revise the chapter I have on my schedule. If I’m on chapter twenty, I’m probably revising somewhere back in chapter fourteen or fifteen.
5:00 p.m. Pick USF up from work (like Robyn, we only have one car). Go work out if we’re not too tired.
7:00 p.m. Eat dinner and read a book or back to the computer for more revising or to write a blog or answer emails.
10:30 p.m. Collapse in bed.
P.S. Sophie Jordan will be blogging with us tomorrow, instead of today, as scheduled.
4:40 am | Share This
Robert B. Says:
I take it that 12:25 - 3:30 you continue teaching. Oh, are you teaching again? Full time? And down to 5 pages a day from 10? Of couse, it could all average out to 70 pages a week with 22-23 a day during the weekend)? Although, I can’t really complain about 1800 plus pages a year, yikes!
I thought you retired from teaching (substitue now?). Great educators are much needed in this world. The minds that you touch and mold in your day job are more important then those of us anxiously waiting more fiction. Please continue to educate our youth.
Better update your “about the author” pages on your site! Then other pages on the net can be updated too!
Shirley Karr Says:
Getting up at 4:20 a.m.?
And I thought it was bad that the baby gets us up by 7:00. Of course, before the baby I often was just getting *into* bed at 4:20 a.m.
Shana Says:
Ah, yes, the life of a poor writer. We often need to sacrifice our art for a paycheck–or a room full of teenagers. I keep thinking it’s a temporary thing and as soon as I change my website, I’ll have to change it right back. I can dream, right?
Helen Says:
Shana you are so busy I don’t think I could ever cope with that much one of my daughters is a english history teacher and I know how much she puts into teaching thanks for all your effort so as we can have wonderful books to read.
Have Fun
Helen