C. S. Thurman

So things are starting to feel a little crazy right now (just another reason why my posts have been coming in late), and I’m trying to get things figured out in my life. It isn’t anything to big that I can’t handle, but often it’s those little things that build up and make life harder in general.

One of those things is that Carissa and I decided to give up looking for a house, since everything is way to overpriced right now in the housing market; and we’re not sure when something is going to break. I recently heard on the radio that the housing prices in Utah had gone up at least $100,000 in the last few years and I can’t afford those kind of monthly payments it would bring. We’re hoping that if we wait it out something will happen with either the job, or housing market, and we’ll see some more affordable prices show up that will allow us to get a place of our own. For now, we’re just going to wait and save up our money.

Another one of those little things in my life that has the potential to become something bigger if I make it so is should I pursue a Master’s?

I graduated with a B.S. in English, emphasis in Creative Writing, and while some people don’t feel that it can lead to a lot of openings, it can actually open a lot of doors. The problem is that many of those doors involve the publishing world (which I’m currently trying to get through from another door than actually becoming a publisher/editor), or finding a bachelor’s degree that I can complement with my English degree. That second option isn’t really an option that I want since most of those degrees are completely different programs (like medical and Law) where I could get paid a lot, I just don’t have that kind of passion or time for it.

That leaves me with two choices. 1) use my degree to help further my career at a business that I can see myself working for in ten years. Or 2) go back and get a Masters. Now that second option has been causing some grief because while I love writing and reading, I can’t see what I’d do with an MFA (Masters of the Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. I could teach, but my real passion is writing. Sure it could help me to focus that, but I’d rather put more energy into reading good books, and then using that to fuel my own creations. For me, writing for 2 years to produce a good work of fiction is better than going to school to learn how to produce a good piece of fiction. I’m not saying that getting a Master’s is bad, but it usually comes with the idea that you’re going to do more than just write with a masters, but that you’re going to teach as well.

So no, not an MFA for me.

But what about those other master programs? The ones that employers might reimburse me for, if I get them? Those sound more appealing because that could help out my current job situation. But without a job lined up (whether current or otherwise) is it wise of me to try and get a masters when I don’t have a use for it yet?

Again these are the little things in life that compound in my brain and make it all a little harder to decide what to do. But after a good conversation with Carissa, I plan on trying to see if I can go back and get a Master’s degree. Nothing says hire me than making myself stand out of the crowd.

So that’s my life on a plate for you.

Meanwhile, my writing has suffered the past month because of those questions and I’m starting to feel bogged down by life. As I mentioned in my post back in October 2020, I felt like I was supposed to make this career change in my schooling. Something felt right, and that this was the course for me. Things went well. I avoided having to learn being a teacher at the onset of COVID-19 and dealing with my own classes, let alone those who I would end up teaching. We were feeling blessed.

But fast forward to the present, and that’s not how I’m feeling all of a sudden.

Now my life is filled with those questions I mentioned before and I’m kinda feeling lost in the woods.

Anyway, my writing has suffered and I’m working on figuring out how to get back in the groove. I have almost finished my next short story and after that I really plan on hitting it hard for The Necromancer’s Deceit since that is the next book in my series. I know that I have decided that I’m going to push through this series and complete it (that’s an important aspect of writing. getting the job done and seeing it all the way through) and I hope that I’ll be able to reap those benefits soon. I’ve been told by many people that my writing is good, I just need to get it good enough to publish.

Thanks for following me and reading! Look for me again on September 1st.