What Are You Waiting For?
By: Jennifer Smith
Tags: Education, Writing, Pandemic, Society, Lifestyle

What Are You Waiting For?

All you need to do is take one step forward

Photo Credit: Florian Klauer on Unsplash

Last January, I set a goal for myself. I intended to publish my first book. I had two ideas, and I hoped to self-publish one and submit another to a publishing company. I set up a calendar, I set up a monthly goal plan, and I wrote. Until, the pandemic.

As a teacher, I was overwhelmed in the spring with the switch to online school in addition to the general stress, anxiety, and isolation the pandemic lockdowns brought for all of us. The last thing I wanted to do was sit alone in my office and reflect. Writing seemed impossible, and my pre-pandemic topics were not resonating with me in the moment.

Over the summer, a few weights were lifted. I no longer had daily lesson plans and new technology to manage. While I was still planning and prepping for fall, I could manage my own time, and the daily commitments were released. In addition, our strict lockdowns began to be lifted. I could at least get out of the house and go to the outdoor pool for a respite from my quiet house. My mental state shifted, and I began to write again.

I created daily goals, not expecting too much from myself. I decided to focus solely on self-publishing as I thought it would be more manageable than crafting a sales pitch and first chapter to be reviewed by some stranger. So I devoted about an hour or so each day to writing, and I wrote 1500 words a day. By the end of the summer, I had a good size draft.

However, back to school 2020 was more challenging than anyone imagined it would be. Schools waivered back and forth between virtual and in-person school, and I was again overwhelmed with planning. My book was put to the side, and I could not imagine facing the editing aspect of the book. I am published professionally, and I know that the writing is the “easy” part. It’s the editing that takes the most time and effort for a writer, and I could not even begin to think about tackling the editing of a nearly 100 page book. I essentially gave up on my 2020 goal.

All along, I kept writing on Medium. I set no plan, but I just allowed my thoughts and ideas to take charge. When I felt inspired, I wrote an essay. By December, I had a collection of over 80 essays in my Medium account. While the content was varied, a significant number of the writings were the musings of a teacher stuck in a pandemic. A lightbulb in my brain came on-why not publish a compilation of essays?

My ego battled me. No, I wanted a “true” book. A compilation of Medium essays was not what I had imagined. And yet, something about the idea resonated with me. Publishing teacher’s musings in the moment seemed timely. I knew many teachers who were struggling this fall and looking for validation. I knew teachers who were looking for a voice. And so, I began the project on my first day of holiday break.

Using Amazon’s KDP, I compiled the essays into a book, checked the editing, created a cover I liked on Canva. And voila, I had a published book within a few hours. I went to bed in shock. I had done it! I knocked out my 2020 goal in the midst of a pandemic. Pandemic Teaching: Reflections from the Playground was published, and I suddenly became an author!

While it was not the book I had intended to publish, perhaps this was the book that I needed to publish. I had been focused on a linear path. I envisioned writing a traditional book even though I am far from a traditional personality. I had become bogged down with the idea of writing, and writing, and writing until the idea overwhelmed me. While in reality, I had been writing and writing and writing just in a different way.

I have already received comments from teachers with screenshots of their favorite parts of the book. I have received thank yous from teachers for giving voice to their thoughts and feelings. And I could not be happier; that was my intent. Writing a book seemed like such a lofty goal, yet now that I have published one, I am ready to write the next.

Sometimes the idea of the actions that need to be taken can hold us back from achieving our goals and dreams. Do not allow what you imagine to be challenging or hard prevent you from moving forward. What you imagine to be the traditional path may not be the path you are meant to use. Do not be afraid to reimagine how you might achieve your greatest life. All you need to do is take one step forward.

What are you waiting for?