Writing while I prowl the classroom
Recently, I haven’t been too good at being one of those writers who always has a notebook to hand and can get some writing done whenever a spare moment presents itself. When I was living the travelling life, I was much better at this, and wrote things on buses or in queues or while waiting for really slow service in a cheap restaurant. But in the last year or two I pretty much only write if I’m sitting at my computer.
With one exception that I only just noticed: Friday mornings. I teach ESL to adults two and a half days a week at the moment and every Friday morning, for the first ninety-minute lesson, I’m required to give them a test on what they’ve covered that week. While they’re quietly working away, I have a chance to do some work too, and I usually plan the schedule for the following week and do any other paperwork that’s required. Which takes about ten minutes. And then I get bored.
In recent weeks, it’s become a bit of a habit for me to use this time to write. Because of the need to be present in the classroom (and aware enough of a student who needs help), and perhaps also because of the cold winter weather, I’ve taken to grabbing some scrap paper, leaning on a textbook and walking around the room writing. Sometimes I pause at the window to write a few longer sentences, sometimes I actually write as I walk. It seems to be a very therapeutic way of getting some ideas down (but without neglecting my students - don’t worry, boss!).
I’ve produced ideas for my novel, plus posts for various blogs, via this walking and writing method. It’s a bit of a surprise for me that it works so well. Perhaps I should set my students solo work more often and take advantage of this quiet, productive time!
Do any of you write in unusual places or unusual ways?
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Comments
Lulu, sounds like you are very productive at your job (at least personally productive, I mean!). You’re right, public transport can be a good place to write too, sometimes I do that on the train here.
Hey, I’m curious about why you say you might not continue with the novel you started writing. Is it because you don’t like the story or the characters or because of some other reason?
[...] students were doing their weekly test - but I had such a small class that there was no need to write on the prowl, I sat down and wrote and wrote instead. The most exciting thing is that what I was writing was an [...]
Recently, I have been temping and the position I am in now is quite dull- because I really just have nothing to do. So I have taken to writing at work- in my journal, emails to friends, writing lists of things I need to do and i even started to write a novel- although not really sure if I will continue with that or not.
This temp assignment ends in 1 and a half weeks- but I have to start catching the train to my new job then I will probably use that time to write.
I am not sure I could write while walking though- that is definitely an acheivement on your part!