Snakenaps

I actually very nearly went into equine business. Then, just before I began submitting applications to colleges, my Latin teacher of four years, an incredible teacher in his own right, sat me down and went, "What on earth are you thinking? Business? You'd hate it. Why not consider teaching?" He saw my potential before anyone else did. I own that man more than I can ever give him. It's my pleasure. There is so much to love about teaching. But I also think it is foolish to go in blind. I'm always willing to answer questions. What can I say? I love teaching, even if it is teaching about teaching. I forgot to mention, no matter what degree you go into, that doesn't mean you have to stop writing. I wrote my first book last fall during subbing, and I'm currently revising it to query to agents. Over at Reading Excuses, we have two published authors who are also college professors. So if writing or computers are things you love, you don't have to give them up just because they don't involve your degree.

*rant time whoop whoop* I graduated in 2018 with my credential in elementary education. Liberal studies with a minor in special education to be exact. This year I am a fine arts teacher Monday through Thursday and on Fridays I teach first grade. Last year I was a K-8th grade substitute teacher for general and special education classrooms. My student teaching was 1st then 4th grade, and before that I spent three years volunteering in my district. I've been an active part in classrooms since fall 2015. There are pro's and con's to teaching, but before I get into this, let me tell you a secret: you might begin college wanting to become a teacher and you may exit it deciding not to be. That's okay. It is okay to switch your mind on what you want your life to be at the age of twenty, at the age of forty, at the age of sixty. My mother went into college to become a math teacher, exited a business major, worked for a wine distributor as well as some very odd jobs before finally founding her own educational curriculum business. My dad sold his truck accessory business, moved to the middle of nowhere after buying a piece of property without a house on it, and happened to talk to this fellow to convinced him to become a financial advisor. That was 19 years ago and now my dad is one of the best in his region. You never know what opportunities life may throw at you that you never would have predicted. So many people think you have to know at eighteen what you want to do with your entire life. That isn't true. Onto teaching. Teaching is...one of the most unique jobs out there, in my opinion. It will make you feel like a superhero who can do anything on amazing days. Those incredible days when something for a student just clicks and you see their entire self light up. I went on a four day camping trip with a fourth grade class, and watching their faces when some of them saw the ocean for the first time is not something I will ever forget. When that one student who has been a pill the entire year says something that makes you realize you are one of the few, if not the only good thing, in their life at that moment. When the entire class acts as one and you feel like a general who can command these children to do anything. When you meet one of those special kids and you know this one, this one right here is going to do incredible things one day. Teaching can make me feel like I am ten feet tall, like I can fly, like I am in heaven on earth. It is a drug, a highly addicting one. But it is not an easy job. The classroom management is honestly one of the easier parts, and that being said, I have worked in some very rough classes. Honestly, the hardest part is not the kids. It is not your coworkers. It is your administration, your district, who is your greatest enemy in most cases. The frustration when your textbooks are falling apart or your door doesn't close correctly or your students have ancient balls and the district decides to give the administration a raise but not you, or the district decides to build a new football field, or it decides everyone needs smartboards when most teachers can barely work Google Classroom. That you have to spend your own money on supplies because the district won't give you markers. When you can't get a sub because the district won't offer a competitive wage so the subs disappear. When your trainings are unpaid, or your don't get enough trainings at all, or the trainings don't involve what your really need. When you are forced to use curriculum that is crap just because it is fashionable that year. When the district says it has your back then continually pulls the rug under your feet. The paperwork and red tape you have to muddle through to get anything done. The eggshells you have to walk on because someone might get offended. I just got hired as a fine arts teacher, right? No instructions, no training, no keys, nothing. The only reason I have keys, a room to work, a computer and a document camera, and supplies is because I reached out and started bugging old coworkers. I love love love my coworkers, btw. Teaching is not unique when it comes to the problems with administration, let us be clear. But it is getting worse, not better, for most states, especially with Covid. It really all depends on where you live. Arizona? You should seriously reconsider. California, like me? Prepare for the constant paperwork. New York? I hear it is excellent, but depends on where you are. The pay also differs from state to state. Where do you want to live? Look up the salary scale for teachers. You can find it under the district page for HR (certificated, if it matters). Understand that you'll lose roughly 25% of that to taxes, and a couple thousand extra to unions if you decide to join. Look up the cost of living for your area. If you don't know how to budget, PM me, and I'll be happy to share my own Spreadsheets file for you to modify. Will that amount of money be enough for you? Will it be enough to pay off any student debt you may acquire? I just finished a year of subbing that barely paid the bills, and now I'm getting paid twice that and I can buy ham again and not just eat rice and beans. How frugal are you willing to be? Are you like me, and willing to go to the library for books, and the thrift store for clothes? Or do you think you want to live a higher end lifestyle? I live incredibly happily, with good clothes, home-made, delicious food, with a cat and a snake by myself in a two room apartment filled with used books. I make sacrifices and don't drink Dutch Bros. I very rarely eat out. But I am happy, and I am satisfied. If I ever want to vacation, organizations like Workaway exist. Live within your means. One of my dad's coworkers make nearly a half a million dollars a year and he is about to apply for bankruptcy because he can't afford his lifestyle. My friend is a teacher of 30 years, married to a teacher of 30 years, and they own a massive, gorgeous house they refurbished and filled with a zoo of animals, with two amazing children, they take vacations (although not to Europe), and have amazing friends. Understand that there are few ways to move up as a teacher unless you are willing to switch to the political bloodbath that is administration. If you are okay with this, and are perfectly happy to continue to rise up the payscale for the next thirty years, awesome. I know some very happy teachers who have been teaching for 30+ years. Maybe you'll only teach for five years and then change careers. There's no harm in that either. Ignore the "shame" of the burn out rates. Other teachers understand. Teachers are much like emergency workers in the fact that we are supposed to be okay with the amount we sacrifice because we "love it." We're supposed to swallow the abuse, the disrespect, the unpaid overtime, the low pay, and the decreasing benefits because we "do it for the children." If there is a shooter, we are supposed to be the martyr who jumps in front of a bullet. Teachers are not just teachers, but parents, babysitters, guidance counselors, therapists, coaches, guardians, and more. More and more, teaching is for the addicts who can't leave the kids. The ones who are willing to be the sacrificial lambs that our society and our government throws away. I cannot say I will stay in education. It gets harder and harder to justify it. I very nearly left before the district called me for a fine arts position I never applied to. But will I ever regret the time I have spent in the classroom? The lives I have changed? The lives that have changed me? The tears I shed? The laughter I shared? Those beautiful days where you look at your students and you realize you wouldn't change this for the world? No, absolutely not. Teaching is a part of me, a part that has sung to me since I was a Latin TA and helped teach horseback lessons to younger children. I have never done anything else that makes my blood sing the way it does. God, I love it. I absolutely do. If I ever leave teaching, it will never be because of the children. Let me leave you with few pieces of advice: 1) Never light yourself on fire to keep someone else warm. I suck at this, but I'm getting better. 2) Learn the value of money early on and start saving for retirement pronto, even now. Whatever the government promises you for retirement, consider it icing on top of the cake. Don't expect it to be there in the next fifty years. Budgeting exists for a reason. 3) Learn how to be professional. How to dress professionally, be punctual, be dependable, follow directions. These skills will take you far in life, and are sadly lacking in our age group. It's why most people thought I was 27 when I was 21. 4) If you are serious about thinking of becoming a teacher, read Educating Esme by Esme Raji Cordell. It is the diary of a first year fifth grade teacher in inner city Chicago, and highlights the beauty and frustration of teaching. 5) Earn a flexible degree, something that will allow you to chase other opportunities in the future. If I ever leave teaching, I have a degree that proves I can manage paperwork, I can manage people, I can work well in teams, I am awesome in diverse populations, and I understand legalise. 6) Make use of your future college or trade school's free stuff. LinkedIn Learning, if offered, is a powerful way to build your resume before you have job experience. Take free adulting classes if they are offered. 7) Listen or read Everyone is Free (to Wear Sunscreen). It has a lot of wisdom that I wish I had carried with me when I had gone to college. If you ever need advice, let me know. I've very recently gone through what you will soon jump into. And let me tell you what: I thought that nothing could be better than my amazing high school experience. Boy, was I wrong. I know life can really suck right now, but you would not believe the good things that are going to come your way. Fight the good fight, and you are going to thrive. Best of luck, my dude.

I'm tapping out for this next week. The next chapter needs a complete overhaul and I just don't have the time yet with the new job.

I mean, the whole reason these updates sound interesting is because you and @Mandamon ripped it apart.

Thanks! I'd normally say I'm a hobbyist...but since I'm now an elementary fine arts teacher, I guess I'm now??? Technically??? I like art.

Hello and welcome to Reading Excuses! I hope you enjoy your time here! I'm very flattered to be compared to Narnia, considering those were some of my favorite books growing up. I know I leave summaries for the book in my emails, but if you are like, "What are earth is she referring to?" many of the worldbuilding/character questions may be found here. It's out of date since I'm between drafts, but it will give you a good idea of what is going on. Of course, you can also ask me any questions at any time. I have to apologize in the fact that I'm generally slow to respond to critiques, if I'm able to respond at all, at the moment since I've started a new job and battling the school district has been...challenging. I'm reading everyone's comments, though, and I really appreciate them. All feedback is good feedback. Again, welcome, and I'm glad you are here!

This means only one thing...buying nerdy onesies. If this power is wasted on you, I shall be disappointed. Congratulations on all the cute baby smiles and laughter coming your way. I do not envy the diapers.

Thoughts as I go: I enjoyed the opening. Felt the grogginess and pain well. Pg 3, “You’re hurt. What happened.” Dude, understatement of the century. If I ran into my friend bleeding half dead at night in the middle of a park, I'd be like, "HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND GRACIOUS, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, 911 MY FRIEND IS DYING." Mi makes it sound like she has a scabbed knee. Also, how did he find M??? Especially when boyo is afraid of crosswalks??? Isn't she halfway across the city??? Did the Demon tell him somehow? "Yo, you're friend left early because we had to beat her up in a park. Have a good day, xoxo" Pg 3, “You need to go to the hospital.” --> "Oh my god, look at all that blood, I'm calling 911 pronto." Got to say, Mi in crisis situations is a little slow. Then again, he probably wouldn't panic as much as I might expect from his own past...maybe this brings up his own trauma. Pg 3, " she used her left to dial T’s number" Arguably, this is more unrealistic than magic. I think the only phone number I have memorized besides 911 is my mother's. Pg 4, “Can I come?” Girl, go home and sleep. You just got your butt whooped. Let the pixies do their job. Pg 4, " you can’t even get up. How can you go to a party?” My thought exactly. Good job, Mi. Pg 4, "Not drunk.” And this is where I would be thinking, "My girl got roofied or something" Pg 4, “Can Mi stay with you until you get back to campus?” This says a lot about both Mi and T. That T trusts a "heavily intoxicated" M with Mi without him taking advantage of her. Pg 5, "The pixies are inside." With Mi sitting right there, you better hope he thinks you're referencing pixie sticks. There's no way he didn't overhear that. Pg 6, "A demon who hacked your phone." M never mentioned any of this to Mi. Small plot hole. Pg 6, " made it here without getting pulled over for speeding" Pg 6, "Drive me to the party. Please." Girl, your hunter friends are watching them. Go heal yourself up. Pg 7, "Mi sighed and turned the knife, handing it to her, hilt first." He is accepting all of this a little too well. Everything seems disjointed, but at the same time, I think polished up, this could really work. Pg 8, “One that almost got me killed multiple times.” Which may be why he is handling this so well. He's not a newbie to violence. Pg 10, “They need me, in case the Demon comes back,” Girl, you are nothing but a liability right now. Pg 10, “It’s not that kind of head injury,” THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN FIGHT! My mother hen is 100% ready to strap that girl to a bed and force feed her pizza. Pg 13, "they meant rocket powered grenade launcher. A favorite for busting trolls from a distance." I love this line. 10/10. Pg 13, " She saw a bowl of chips and grabbed it." (Psst, she already has the bowl. You can delete this line ) Pg 13, "Are you high?” I would have come to the same conclusion if my friend says she isn't drunk and yet is acting out of character. I'd be considering more than weed, too, or being crossfaded. Pg 14, "You’re not yourself tonight.” Good friends. Yes, notice, please! Pg 17, “I’m trying to help" Yes! T&A for the win! Overall: I think this chapter is a little disjointed and needs some wrinkles ironed out. Sometimes it felt like the conversation with Mi and M were bouncing back and forth between topics too quick for me to wrap my head around everything. 1. I see this chapter as M pulling away from Mi and gravitating towards A and T, being more positive towards them than him. If you see it differently, can you please let me know and point out specifics to help me understand the way you see it? I see Mi being too much for M, and she can't handle adding his problems on top of her own. A&T share a lot of the same interests with her, are safe, and, above else, are normal. I agree with @Mandamon about this harming T&A's relationship with M more than helping it. It feels like she is running to the girls because they aren't involved, are a good distraction, rather than actually needing them for them. I liked the party where she confessed about the attack and bawled, but her flirting with them and downing shots made me as uncomfortable as it made T&A. 2. Is it clear that M is Not Okay and not quite thinking clearly a consequence of the psychic fight with the Demon? STOP TRYING TO GO TO THE DANG PARTY! YOU ARE A WOBBLY, BROKEN MESS WHO NEEDS AN MCU MARATHON AND PIZZA NOT A COLLEGE PARTY YOU DORK. Yes, frustratingly so.

This week is a heavy hitter, and although I did try to keep it down to 6,000 words, I ultimately failed. Sorry about that. There is a scene in the beginning of Chapter 20 I could take out, but I wanted to see everyone's opinions on it first. It may be my personal bias keeping it in. I completely deleted a chapter, so I saved you from what was supposed to be this week's fluff. Slowly trimming down that slice-of-life. Got rid of a bad POV too. Progress!

Okay, I definitely have one chapter ready for Monday, but I was wondering if I could submit two for a total word count somewhere around 6,000??? I might be able to get it to 5,000, but I am not sure.

I going to trepidatiously as for a slot for Monday, September 14th. Figuring out this new teaching position may suck up my writing time for this week, but if I am able to submit, then I want to.

Speaking from experience at a party school... YES. In fact, that's why Pioneer Days got banned in this city. And why Halloween pulls in at least three to five different towns' police forces. Kids - *hem* young adults - will legit drive from my hometown an hour and twenty minutes south just to come to my city to party on days that aren't Labor Day/Halloween/Saint Patrick's/Caesar Chavez Day. Party central is literally nicknamed "The Zoo." So I found this to be perfectly realistic.

Thoughts as I go: The entire first page is absolutely killing me. I want to be like, "Dudes, sit down, talk this out, talk about boundaries and being ready and that revoking consent is okay." Except for the fact, I have seen enough friends going through stupid relationship awkwardness to know this is so completely realistic. Doesn't mean I don't want to bonk their heads together. Pg 2, " he was staying with a friend and not sleeping in a lab or office" Or under a bridge. Pg 6, "It’s like I’m tripping, but I swear I didn’t do any drugs." Katie doesn't like. This is already better than Mom, because while M might have an emotional connection to her mother, I don't have much of one. So this makes a stronger emotional punch right out the gate. Pg 6, "Somewhere near BC." Me: British Columbia??? Legit have no clue what BC is. If it was mentioned earlier, I forgot. Pg 7, "Boston College was halfway across the city." And ShatteredSmooth swoops in to save the day in the very next sentence. Now I know! Pg 7, "It’s big and white and smelly." Polar bear escapes from zoo, terrorizes local girls. Pg 9, "wearing a threadbare suit and tie with a bowler hat." This is somehow more frightening than if it was dressed to the nines. Pg 10, " she rolled dice in a game that looked like a combination of Dungeons and Dragons and Beer Pong" I admit, I'd be willing to try this. Pg 11, " full of pizza, plates heaped with bacon" Nooooo! Can't lose these!!! Pg 15, "And if one of them dies, and the killer doesn’t, they all come together, hundreds of them, and get their revenge no matter the cost." This reminds me of both bees and the goblins from the tv show Trollhunters. Except the pixies aren't comic relief and are awesome, unlike the goblins. This chapter really worked for me. I think by introducing the Big Bad instead of having just some random demon, plus making T and A the stakes rather than Mom, makes this hits much harder than before. I think the Demon is much creepier in the fact that it talks and seems to be highly intelligent, and it feels like a more fearsome foe, even in thrift store tweed. I know that creating a mystery can create more tension, but honestly, laying your cards out like you did in this chapter compared to the original seems to be a move in the right direction. Can't wait for more!

This comic was my immediate thought (content warning for foul language):

I calculated out that if I continued my habit of submitting one chapter a week, it would take me until March 15th, 2021 to get through this entire book. Now, I may not be as cool as some people here and have a deadline from an agent, but waiting seven months to get full feedback seemed...stifling. So, whenever I can, I'm going to begin submitting two chapters a week, starting with today. We aren't jam packed with people fighting for slots right now, so I don't feel too bad for giving you all a couple extra thousand words to scoff at. Chapter Seventeen is almost entirely new. The first scene was from Draft Two but has been heavily modified, but otherwise only a couple other paragraphs were from before. I'm curious to see how this will be received. Chapter Eighteen is nearly the same, with some tweeks. I'm not happy with this chapter yet. I still feel like the beginning 2/3rds are slow, and need to get cut more. It is also lacking the emotions from the previous chapter except for a sentence or two. I need to fix that. I've definitely noticed that the way I write emotions is like a teeter totter, constantly swinging back and forth from chapter to chapter. I think it is because by the time I finish a chapter with conflict, then I want to write a chapter that is all hunky dory because writing tension gives me stomach aches. I plan to go back and add more angst to this chapter.

May I please have a slot for Monday, September 7th?

You are better than me. At this point, I would have used that free time to sleep. Happy to hear you are in the clear, though!

Yes it is, but I don't think I've ever mentioned it. This is the first book in a planned trilogy. Although I'm currently bopping around the idea of outlining a prequel from the spy W's POV in regards to how the BK comes to power. Book One Ir is not great at secrets. This should contrast pretty heavily with planned Book Three Ir.

So happy to return to the woes of M! Thoughts as I go: Pg 1, " packed late nights and early mornings spent with mountains of homework" Things I don't miss. Pg 1, "would curl up on a common room couch" I never had the guts to do this because our common room couches were gross. An RA once got caught banging a student in the common room. Then the same thing happened in the laundry room a few months later. Oh, dorms, how I don't miss you. Pg 2, "so to keep up appearances, and she spread meals out over short periods of time." Pg 2, " you felt her break their her arm or leg or something worse?" Pg 2, "Everything in the kitchen was custom made to be accessible" In other words, instead of banging your hips into the counters, you can bang your thighs. Bruises either way. Pg 3, "Demi sexual?" Google says this is one word. I had to google the difference between demisexuality and grey ace. Thanks for the new knowledge! Pg 4, " the button that opened the weapons room door" Secret door, or are they just fancy and sci-fi with their buttons? Pg 4, "Mom hadn’t made any serious costumes since Uncle died ten years ago" Pg 4, "she got to pick the character and it had to be a surprise" Pg 7, "what are we going to do" Very forward, M. Works well until her telepathy ruins everything. It was so nice to dive back into M's head! I thought it was a great chapter, and want to go jump back into my emails just so I can read about the demon fight again.

I got in trouble multiple times with a former mentor for referring to students as "dudes." I still maintain that "dudes" is the best way of addressing a group. It's gender neutral (anyone who says otherwise can fight good ol' Californian me), it can be used as a noun or an exclamation or a curse. Dude. Thanks for the heads up, otherwise I would have assumed you were abducted by aliens.

Ironically, this was originally the chapter that introduces the Fey. At the 36% mark of the book! I plan to have the Fey mentioned, if not basically explained, by Chapter One, with a solid understanding created extremely early on. So by this point, the Fey won't be being introduced, they'll be a solid concept. Laying out the countries with the new government systems should fix things up too. I think if I play my cards right, I can combine this chapter and the last chapter... Thanks!

Technically, this is a Draft Three chapter, but almost nothing has changed from the Draft Two version. Only little tweaks here and there. Thank you ahead of time! You guys rock! Any comments, opinions, and concerns are welcome!

Thoughts as I go: Pg 5, " the Faith Rover flowed deep and silent" It's the Land Rover but for water Pg 6, "He drew out the artifact." I admit, I question this, but it may be because the prologue is a little fuzzy in my head. I know the artifact is incredibly dangerous, but does A? Why is his first instinct to pull the artifact out of his pocket instead of running and screaming or throwing something? Magic? Instinct? He definitely doesn't strike me as the sort who charges into danger. He doesn't have any plans to bargain with it. I dunno, for me, this feels like pulling out your car keys. Might be good for some stabbing, but without the car to actually mow the guys over, you're kind of screwed. That's a terrible metaphor. Do you understand what I'm getting at? Pg 7, " seeing a fair-haired face above" You know, I'm honestly impressed. I suck at names. I would have been like, "Theater boy?" Something that I think can help set the stakes is why losing the artifact is so important to A. Is it victory to his people? A dangerous weapon for their enemies? Something that can trigger mass destruction? Otherwise, I have little to add that hasn't already been said I think you're taking great steps forward from when you first submitted this story. Keep going!

May I have a slot for tomorrow, August 31st?

My bestie would shout "SPEARS!!!" I personally would look into different cultures and societies over time. For instance, what were traditional Hawaiian weapons? Looking at different sources may give you inspiration for new weapons, or novel ways to spin traditional weapons. Don't forget animals as weapons!