Back to Writing: Finding My Creative Flow After Remote Teaching
I am super excited – the school year is winding down, and I can finally get back to writing. Remote teaching was rewarding in many ways, but it was also exhausting. I truly thought I would finish my next book back in March. Thank you very much, Covid-19. Now that summer is here, I am ready to shift gears and dive back into my creative work.
What Remote Teaching Taught Me
Teaching from home seemed like it might be simpler than classroom instruction, but it quickly became a lifestyle that blurred every boundary. Some students had no computer access, so we created paper and pencil instructions to be delivered and picked up weekly. Families with multiple children often shared a single device. Other students took on extra shifts at grocery stores to support their families. And some kids disappeared from our radar entirely, and we spent hours trying to track them down to be sure they were okay.
I was a beast at remote teaching, I mean a beast in a good way. I was up every morning, logged on at 8:00 through 3:00 for a “traditional” school day. I worked in my room, so during that time, the television was off. The radio was on, but I usually had music playing in my classroom so I figured that was an okay thing to do. Between classes, I could run downstairs and throw a load of laundry on, or grab a snack. The real win was being able to run to the bathroom and not have to wait because another teacher beat me to it. At lunch, the computer went off and I would flop on my bed and watch the news while I ate my lunch, and then the television went off and I went back to work. I had a system and it was a good system!
I taught on Zoom, Google Meet, and even over the phone. I answered questions at 10:00 p.m. and received messages at 2:00 a.m. because that was when students had time to learn. Teaching turned into a 24/7 commitment. I love my students, but the trade off was clear: writing had to wait.
Creating Space to Get Back to Writing
As the school year wraps up, I finally see breathing room again. I learned an important lesson: goals and deadlines matter, but flexibility matters too. Next time, I may keep my deadlines quieter so if they shift, only I will know.
My plan now is to finish the Thinking Positive Tool Kit and then jump back into my young adult fiction project with fresh energy. Teaching is my passion, and writing is my passion too – usually they can coexist, but this year they had to take turns. Getting back to writing is how I reset and find balance.
Helpful Resources When You Are Getting Back to Writing
If you are also returning to a project, these resources helped me refocus:
- How to Build Daily Writing Habits (Reedsy) – Practical ideas for a sustainable routine.
- How to Start Writing Again (Jerry Jenkins) – Straightforward tips to restart after a break.
Earlier Posts You Might Like
For more encouragement and inspiration from before 2020, try these:
Why Getting Back to Writing Matters
For me, getting back to writing is more than finishing a manuscript. It is about balance, creativity, and joy. Teaching will always be my calling, and writing feeds a different part of my soul. Life ebbs and flows. What matters is that we return to what we love when the time is right.
