I wrote a few days ago that I’d filled in some forms to start the ball rolling to get back into the classroom as a supply teacher. Today, after several attempts to get someone at the agency to return my calls, I was told that they’re not actually doing any new registrations until January!

Apparently, they received lots of applications over the summer and are waiting to clear all those before they take any more. My advice would be that they maybe say that on their website!!

Anyway, I’ve found another possible agency and have made the initial contact, so let’s hope that they prove a but more proactive and positive in their dealings with me.

I have to admit that the air was just a little bit blue after I put the phone down, because I really thought getting registered would just be a formality.

Watch this space to find out how my search for work pans out…

Which for those of you who don’t know is National Novel Writing Month takes place for the whole of November. The idea is that you write a complete first draft of a 50,000 word (or more), novel in just 30 days!

A few of my journalist and writer friends have done it before and this year I thought I’d have a bash too.

In true Sarah style, I have no idea what I’m going to write about, but I basically have to write 1,666 words a day, every day in order to complete the task!

Really, I’m doing it more to get into the discipline of doing it, I really doubt that the end product will ever see the light of day, but it’s the process that’s important this time.

I’ll keep you posted.

PS for those of you who’re also taking part and want to Buddy me, I’m SarahCru.

I’m amused that my decision to return to supply teaching 2 years or so after I moved to Lancaster has caused absolutely no comment among my family and friends.

The simple truth is that I enjoy supply teaching. I enjoy the challenge of going in to different classrooms and year groups and teaching for a short time before moving on. Some might say that I don’t like the routine of planning and paperwork, and – to be fair – I’ve been there and done that on a few occasions when I’ve taken on longer cover jobs, and it’s nothing to write home about.

Anyway, as I concentrate more on fiction writing and art and craft work, I’ll enjoy being grounded in the real world through teaching and Scouting.

Of course, there’s an element of paying my own way about it, but it’s also about having a wider circle of people touching my life.

I’m hugely looking forward to getting back into the classroom and sharing my enthusiasm for learning and discovery. Obviously though, on my first day I’ll be feeling sick as a dog as a start and will need headache pills as I finish!

That’s what journalism is for me. I’m not going to make big bucks doing it – even in my busiest years I’ve only made a couple of thousand. But as a hobby, providing a few extra quid, it’s an enjoyable diversion.

And so, I’m not stopping, I’m not giving up on journalism, but I am giving it the place it deserves in my life.

I’m also going to be giving time to other writing too, fiction and blogging. Confining myself to one kind of writing has left me pretty stunted.

I predict much more enjoyable times ahead, because I wont be constrained to a narrow view of what my life’s about.

And it’s to STOP making plans. No plans, no lists, no distraction techniques to stop me from actually doing things.

I used to know – in my head – what chores needed doing in the house, what meals I was going to put on the table each day and what ideas for features I was going to pitch to editors. Then I started making lists and trying to live by them and all the spontaneity went away and with it a big chink of creativity.

So, I’m going back to my old ways, to a broad plan for the months ahead and a more relaxed approach to how each day develops.

I’d like to get back to living a life rather than living a plan.

So, once again 2 weeks have passed since I wrote anything on this blog.

The Book Fair, J’s IEP review and the PTA meeting have all come and gone. Art class continues to be good and I’ve surprised myself at how well my drawing is coming on.

I survived the Scouting Leaders camp – though I will NEVER be Gill Scrambling again (more on that another time).

I was 41 yesterday, and for the first time ever I forgot it was my birthday until half-way through making breakfast. The day pottered quietly to its end and we’ll celebrate properly on Saturday.

I have more blogging to do in the next few days about how work isn’t going and where I’m planning to go next, so – as ever – watch this space.

I’ve bagged 2 commissions in the last couple of days and I’ve made a good start to my art class.

I’ve got Cub camp this weekend, so I need to build up some reserves of energy (and remember to take headache pills with me this time).

As my art was much better than I was expecting, I’m feeling like doing some drawing through the week too.

With school now back in full swing, I’ve got a PTA meeting, the Book Fair and J’s IEP review to look forward to in the next week or so, so things are really getting back into full-swing.

I really must get a new bike helmet so that I can get back out and about and peddle my way to something resembling fitness.

Oh yes, and the garden REALLY needs some attention to, so that I can make some space to plant some spring bulbs.

As in “No editors love me, all editors hate me, so I’m going down the garden to eat worms”…

Actually, rather than get all despondent at the lack of response to my pitches, I’ve made lots of jewellery,
started doing some drawing practice so that I don’t draw stick pictures when I start art class next week, and am getting down to the fiction part of my writing course.

I’m also being a good girl and doing house-related chores.

The sun is out, the sky is blue (and yes, I’m still in Lancaster!), and I shall just get on with having a lovely time.

Four days into my return to work and I have nothing in the bag.

I’ve sent out pitches and trawled for ideas, but all I’m getting is silence.

I had to take a step back and now I’ve got to work my way back into the game. I’ve got some invitations to press events, but I can’t justify going to things if commissioning editors wont even respond to me.

Thankfully, having taken the time out and with the support of my DH, I’m ready to work my little heart out to re-establish myself.

I’m also working on some fiction projects and other creative stuff and I WILL get work, it just might be a while coming.

Yesterday was “W-Day” for me.

Way back in June, I decided to take some time to get myself sorted and decide where I was going professionally. Summer holidays, moving house and being a mum got in the way of really being able to do anything much until this week, but now I’m back and raring to go.

Obviously, having been out of it for a while means lots of pitching and convincing old and new editors that I can deliver what they’re looking for, but I’m sure the work is out there.

On top of that, I’m putting lots of energy into writing fiction, so watch out for my name in those markets in the months and years to come.