Teaching and Writing

I've been teaching a lot this year and I realise that I haven't been writing as much as I should. This is partly because I have so much work to read from students that I have to be in editor mode most of the time. But also partly because teaching takes a lot of energy. I have my set lessons, of course, after all these years it would be ridiculous if I didn't! But each group I teach will be different. And I teach organically, so the same material will be delivered in different ways depending on the cohort. I like it. It keeps the material alive and I get to add in and take away as I'm going along. 

One of my favourite groups to teach is for Midnight & Indigo (midnightandindigo.com). If you don't know them I recommend you look them up. A fantastic space for Black women writers to learn, to publish and to read about their own experiences without filters. The online classes on offer are phenomenal and cover a whole range of topics. A beautiful, safe, online space for us.

Another favourite is our writing retreats. The Write Space TT - you can find us on IG and FB. We have had two fantastic retreats in the beautiful Charlotteville, Tobago. The setting is absolutely ideal. The cottages are set in lush gardens and the sea is hitting the shore right in front of you. This year, we had rain from day one, but it didn't dampen anyone's creativity. In fact, we wrote more and bonded better as we were able to spend more time in each other's company.  The cottages are rudimentary to say the least. The bathrooms are probably my least favourite spaces. But the location is everything. I'm not sure we could recreate anywhere else, being able to lie in bed, allowing the waves to lull you to sleep, and then to step out the front door straight onto the beach with coffee in the morning. So we take the basic accommodation and appreciate all that is to offer around it. Even I found time to write a little while we were there, it's a magical space.

But I also have to be writing. Maybe teaching takes that away from me. I was told once that I had chosen teaching over writing, and yet I don't think I have. I chose teaching in order to pay my bills and be able to do something I love. But this coming year is for me and my writing. A sabbatical from work is giving me the space to do something with my two completed novels and finish my half a novel, and the two short stories that are half done! I am going to cherish the time to myself and my writing and I'm looking forward to what I can produce when I have to space to concentrate on me.