There's an old saying that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Well, I don't know about that because there is definitely work that goes into both teaching and being an author/illustrator. There is a distinct difference between putting in effort and work that feels like drudgery. I've said it before but it bears repeating - I am one lucky person because I get the best of both worlds.
Teachers definitely work, and they work hard to make it look easy. There is so much effort that goes into preparation, planning, grading, and creating a learning environment. I have worked as a full-time teacher years ago before I was a mom. My hat is off to those who balance all the demands of parenting and effectively managing a classroom. As a substitute, I go in and hopefully maintain the high standards that the teachers have for their students. There is no question, however, that I could not do my job well without the tremendous effort that teachers put into establishing routines and writing good lesson plans. I have been fortunate to work with very dedicated professionals who make sure I have everything I might need in their absence.
On days that I don't have a teaching assignment, I am either writing or drawing. More and more I have been practicing my drawing while I am between books. I also learn about different technologies and try them out when I can. So hopefully the quality of my illustrations improves with each book. Many authors and illustrators create their artwork digitally, and that is wonderful for them. I prefer drawing on paper, taking a photo of it, and editing on my computer. I can express a little more of my own artistic vision that way. I have tried learning to draw digitally, and I haven't given up on that. But as my daughter has said, by hand drawing the pictures, I can put a little of myself into the illustrations, and it shows.
My favorite part of combining teaching with writing is the students. Seeing kids' faces when they hear that their sub is an author is pretty fun. When I work with a group that has known me for a while, and a student asks what I'm working on lately, it motivates me to have the next book in the works. I sometimes get great story ideas from students, too. Frequently, teachers have me choose one of my stories for read-alouds. Those are fun because I get to see the kids' reactions to the stories for myself. Not many authors get to enjoy that on such a regular basis. Kids are so honest and they give me great feedback after a reading.
Yes, I have to say I love what I do - all aspects of it. Being a substitute teacher at the same time that I write stories for kids allows me things that help me to perfect both crafts. I truly hope that I get to keep experiencing the best of both worlds.
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