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Writing and Teaching: A Happy Mix

When my pupils find out that I'm a writer, there is a general air of fascination for a while. They Google my books and ask if they can buy them on Amazon (they can, but - by and large - they don't) and want to know why I need to teach if I'm a published author.  The answer is simple, of course: when I'm doing well, I break even as an author, I never make actual money.  But recently I've realised that being an English teacher is something I would continue even if I had a sudden jackpot win on the lottery. I love my job. Take today for example: I got to teach Seamus Heaney's Digging to a group of S1s, held a mock trial for Dr Frankenstein with my S3s, read a chapter of The Graveyard Book with my S2s, and - perhaps best of all - began the analysis of M.R. James' A Warning to the Curious with my S4 class. Who wouldn't want that job? I think writers make great English teachers - and editors make even better ones! We are used to spotting little details here an...
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Writing and Teaching: A Happy Mix

When my pupils find out that I'm a writer, there is a general air of fascination for a while. They Google my books and ask if they can buy them on Amazon (they can, but - by and large - they don't) and want to know why I need to teach if I'm a published author. 

The answer is simple, of course: when I'm doing well, I break even as an author, I never make actual money. 

But recently I've realised that being an English teacher is something I would continue even if I had a sudden jackpot win on the lottery. I love my job. Take today for example: I got to teach Seamus Heaney's Digging to a group of S1s, held a mock trial for Dr Frankenstein with my S3s, read a chapter of The Graveyard Book with my S2s, and - perhaps best of all - began the analysis of M.R. James' A Warning to the Curious with my S4 class.

Who wouldn't want that job?

I think writers make great English teachers - and editors make even better ones! We are used to spotting little details here and there which make a big difference to the story. Frankenstein wasn't the only one on trial today: as a class, we discussed the clear evidence in A Warning to the Curious which proves that William Ager was responsible for Paxton's murder. My class were fascinated as they picked away the surface explanation and found the evidence. It's like watching a police investigation come together!

The one thing which is a problem is the lack of time for writing. I want to write: ideas swirl around my head at different points in the day, but there is always planning and marking to do instead. But CroNoWriMo is coming up in just over a month, and I will do my best to rise to the challenge of writing something every day. I might just be a bit of a zombie for the entire month of November...

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