I have a lot of things to get done before November 1. So instead of doing them, I’m writing about them. (How typical.)
1. October Submissions. Since April, I’ve been sending out a minimum of five short story submissions to magazines each month. This month, I’ve only sent one so far. I have the stories ready, but not the cover letters, which can be quite laborious, as each one has to be tailored to the individual publication. The work is worth it, but not necessarily enjoyable.
2. Grading. I have about twenty-five papers left to grade. In a very good hour, I can grade ten to twelve. But I can only do an hour at a time before I start getting zombie-brain, so I have to spread out the work.
3. Online Job Training. I have to do a dull-as-dirt mandatory online training program and quiz about diversity or something like that. It takes about an hour.
4. Class Preparation. Before tomorrow, I have to plan the week’s lessons. This can take anywhere from one to three hours, including textbook reading and writing handout materials or PowerPoints and so forth. My dean might also be coming to visit one of my classes, so I have to make sure the lessons are extra good.
5. Work. And there’s work, from 1:00-5:30 today, and from 8:00-2:20 tomorrow. So with online submissions taking, say, two hours, grading at three, job training at one, and class prep at three, I have nine hours of extra work to squeeze in around my regular work schedule of the next two days. No, I haven’t been putting things off (except the job training). This is normally how busy I am, plus writing.
Goodbye, reading for pleasure. See you in December.
Sad face.
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