Hey, friends! Thought I’d drop a line and tell y’all the latest, since so many of you were with me when I went through some really dark times professionally last year. There were posts about that time, but I deleted them because I just don’t want to relive that pain every time I log in.
I’ve moved so far past that year of yuck that it’s a really distant memory, and I’m so very grateful to have healed from the trauma as I have. I LOVE my current position teaching English 1 in a town about twenty minutes from mine. There are about 900 kids in the school, but I have really small classes, and it is fabulous. The kids are wonderful, and I am so happy. I feel like I’ve regained the confidence and joy I had lost. My bosses are great, and I am very, very lucky to have landed where I did. It’s a four-day work week, three weeks out of each month, so I’m loving having time to really recharge (and write and edit!) since I have a day to BREATHE.
That said, I will likely be looking to start Chapter 2 of my professional life within the next 2-3 years, and I’m laying the foundation for that by promoting my copy editing~writing coach(ing)~ghost writing~fiction writing . I am looking to get into a long-term professional working relationship with a publisher or consistent authors, and I recognize I need to begin building that now in order to determine if this is a realistic goal, or if I need to adjust my focus for Chapter 2.
I also love coaching kids who are applying to college; I have a talent for teaching how to write the Common App personal statement, UC System PIQ statements, and even medical school applications. I teach how to do it and serve as the line editor/revisor, along with the student. I will also be open to remote tutoring/teaching, of course, but I am really hoping to be able to focus on aspects of writing.
I have an interview with a booking agent this coming Friday–I also intend to grow as a presenter for students/writing instructor coach/professional development leader–and I’m hoping the agent will see potential in me. I have had success in the past presenting on how kids can draw writing inspiration from their real lives, and I’ve been told by other authors that I could charge a very tidy sum for what I do.
Even though I am looking down the road toward “retirement” from teaching, I am doing anything *but* retiring. Writing is my heart, my soul, my very breath, and I receive so much joy from helping others do it well. I am fulfilled in a way I cannot describe when I write stories that readers love.
Here’s where potential clients/employers can learn more about what I do and how I do it:
- Clippings, a portfolio site
- Fiverr (I will update with the link when it’s totally live).
- Upwork
- TutorEditor.com
- Beth Fehlbaum Books site
- Dr Matt Book site
I’m also excited to tell you that I’m working on my first New Adult contemporary romance book! It’s called UNDER MY SKIN. More about that when it’s fully formed!
Take care, and I’ll be back soon with more news!