In other news, my freelance writing gigs are going exceptionally well. I have been able to put back some money for when I cannot work when I have Sawyer, and we are doing great financially. I am making as much at home as I was working for the local telephone company, so I have really kicked it up a notch. I have landed a few wonderful clients for continuous writing, and I have several content mills to fall back on if the works begins to slack off from them. I want to look into getting some residual income coming in through articles and ebooks, but that will not happen until later in the year when I have the time to devote to such tasks.

Since we did not take a vacation this year, James and I have decided to take a few days and go to Gatlinburg the week after Christmas. Sawyer will be 3 months old then, which is worries me a little because we will be among so many people with such a tiny baby. My mom and sister are going as well, because my step-dad and brother will be going to their hunting land for the week. We plan to leave the morning of the 26th and return on the 30th. We have booked our timeshare for a couple of nights, and a hotel for the rest of the time. Since we have confirmed the reservations, I have gotten more excited about going and having a few days to not worry about anything!

Of course, it could be the awesome productivity I’ve been putting out lately. I have gotten into a good writing schedule and tweaked it to fit my needs. Today was probably the best day. I woke up a little after 7am, had breakfast with James, checked my email and some sites, and was writing by 8am. I then stopped at 11am to check email, take a shower, and meet my sister and granny for lunch. I also ran a couple of errands while I was out. Made it back home about 1:30pm and worked until 4pm. I think this will be how I work for a while. that gives me about 6 hours of work each day, as I will not always have a 2 1/2 hour break in the middle for lunch and stuff. It will normally be an hour to an hour and a half. The biggest part is just staying focused, and not allowing myself to stray from my writing to check Facebook, Twitter, and other sites.

Speaking of school, summer semester is kicking my butt! There is SO much to get done in SO little time. I’m managing to stay on top of things though, and get assignments completed before their due dates. Statistics is getting a bit difficult…the class would have been so much easier if I had a little bit of background knowledge going in. Our second test is Tuesday, and I am dreading it! Children’s Literature isn’t as bad, but there’s a lot to do in there. I’ve gotten two projects out of the way, am over halfway finished with the third, and have yet to be begin the fourth.

I’m ready for school to be over with, so I can get back to writing and bringing in some money. Our little guy will be here in just 4 months, so I want to have some money put back by then, for last minute purchases and things we’ve forgotten. Plus, I’ll be taking some time off after he’s here, so I need some money to compensate for that.

I am having a hard time deciding if I want to go back to school, or concentrate on my freelance writing as a career. I’ve been freelancing since March 2008, not very seriously…just to make enough money to cover gas, groceries, and help with bills. It was originally a work at home, part-time gig so that I could finish school without having to worry about finding a job, be scheduled awful hours, etc. Since graduating with my Associate’s degree in May, I’ve been really focusing on earning more money in order to have some saved up for when I go back to school in August. I believe I will have much less time to write then, with going to school full time, doing student teaching, and having a crap ton of homework. I’ve come to really like working at home, and have begun realizing the earning potential…as much as (or more than) I could make as a teacher.

So, I’m trying to weigh the pro’s and con’s of going back to school for my Bachelor’s degree in Education and becoming a teacher versus continuing freelance writing and building up my clientele to a full time income.

Going back to school
Pro’s
-Getting to work with children, something I have always wanted to do
-Student loan money that could help us pay bills while I wasn’t writing
-Having the degree would give me two options for a career (writing or teaching), and I’d always have a backup plan
-Going back next month allows me to enter straight into the Education program. If I don’t go back Fall semester, I’ll have to take 4 classes when I do decide to go back that I was exempt from due to being on a previous course catalog…different class requirements.

Con’s
-Full time, for the next 2 years, equals big commitment
-Student loan money isn’t alot…so probably going to be broke for two years unless James lands a super good job
-Having to put off the thought of having children at least another 2 years
-Thought of going back, getting my degree, and THEN deciding I’d rather write…Student loans and 2 years basically wasted?

Freelance Writing
Pro’s
-Work at home, basically on my own schedule
-Could make the same or more as if I was teaching
-Getting paid to write, another thing I love to do

Con’s
-The thought of not having a back up plan (couldn’t teach without the degree, so writing would be the only option)
-Not going back, and then regretting it later or becoming burned out on writing and hating it

There are also factors like:

-I know I could continue writing and just go back to school later if I wanted. But then, there’s the whole taking 4 extra classes that I wouldn’t have to take now, and the idea that I may never find the time/cannot afford to go back if I go own with my life, have kids, etc.
-With my Associate’s degree, I can teach and work in private preschools and daycares. I like this idea, as I really like working with 3-5 year old. That way, I could work with children AND write, or work with children if I ever got burned out with writing or missed the opportunity to work with kids.

This is a lot of think about…seems like even more now that I’ve written about 600 words about it! If you’ve read this far, I appreciate it.