Writing Mercenary

January is off to a fast start! Five new courses to design, and two proposals out for more. The novel edits continue, and notes are being worked out for two other projects. My writing has always been a serious hobby, but now it will be a business. I'm filing sole proprietorship paperwork to be a … Continue reading Changes →

So, another year ending, and time to review. My plans for 2018 were (achieved goals struck through): Complete the MFA thesis novel (military fantasy) by February 1. (August 15, but still done!) Complete my craft essay by February 12. (Done.) Develop a paper into an academic article and send it out to the appropriate journals. … Continue reading Year In Review →

Yesterday, I had the dubious "pleasure" of chatting with someone about a full time application. No callback, but perhaps some adjunct work was available. I spoke with the chair, who informed me that without a Ph.D., I will never get a full time job at that particular institution, and most likely, no institutions within the … Continue reading Ph.D. or No Ph.D., Part Two →

Sometimes, decisions have to be made. Saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else. It is a hard decision when both are really good, plus there's the sunk-cost fallacy to factor in. (Tuition dollars, time spent, etc.) My dilemma was simple: get the Ph.D.? After all, for eight years as an adjunct … Continue reading Yes or No? Stay or Go? →

Well, with all the MFA coursework, the blog went to the wayside again. The MFA was a rite of passage in some respects. Somehow, getting a "terminal" degree did not kill me. It gave me deeper insight into craft, and an added benefit is being able to start searching for a permanent position again. It's … Continue reading Commencement: A New Chapter! →

Piles of papers vie for my attention right now. Digital files also compete on any given day. Some are for the day job, some are for graduate school work and the novel. Four and a half weeks from now, I pick up my regalia. Five weeks out, I go to the Futurescapes workshop. In six … Continue reading Dreams, Deadlines and Diplomas…. →