This is the last semester for my English Writing degree, and I have three class sessions remaining. At this time last year, I was planning out my class for next semester, looking at who would be teaching which section and what I needed to complete my degree.
I’ve actually let my registration date pass without fanfare instead of jumping on the very morning of and signing up for my chosen class. I don’t know what to do next.
I have ideas… I could take Spanish and try to increase my fluency from Duolingo to real life. I could try and start working on another degree, perhaps in Information Technology, because that’s my job right now, or maybe in something else. I could take classes here and there in an effort to increase my knowledge base and inspire my writing. Maybe anatomy and physiology, physics… if I want to go for IT, then I’ll probably need to retake calculus since it’s been so long. I could take almost anything I want.
Maybe that’s the problem. I’m about to achieve a goal. The logical next step is to write more, start making the writing a larger part of my life. But I like using the education benefit through my job to take classes. I like learning. I like the interaction with students, which I don’t get in the course of my job.
Taking another class would necessarily take time away from writing, but it would also help by forcing me to organize my time. And it could provide inspiration, whether through the people or the topic. Setting time aside for writing, as if it were a class might be the way to go. Perhaps it’s time for me to take a break from classes and enter into a period of self study and creation.
Ambrose suggested taking a year off from classes and writing a book. I didn’t like the idea because of the way he phrased it. To me, he placed a lot of importance on a singular creation, and the concept of taking a long time to write it. I don’t have a problem with taking time off to write, but I don’t want to limit myself to a single novel, or force myself to go slower than I need to go. And any writing would be in addition to the backpacking book that I’ll be writing this fall.
So, what’s next? As soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know.