I was very happy last night to officially finish writing the teacher's guide I've been working on. A huge burden has been lifted. How strange it was to receive another project offer on the very same day that I finished a big project and was feeling huge amounts of relief to finally have a bit of a break! I had resolved to turn down any more book offers for the next while, but the email I received yesterday was slightly different and made me stop and think about my decision. It was from the general manager of D publishing company. She said she had heard good things about my coursebook writing from several colleagues and wants me to work an a middle school book project with her now. So, last night I tossed and turned for a long time thinking about whether I should rethink my decision about getting out of book writing. Maybe it's something that I might be good at. Perhaps I should pursue some more education in this field and start making some more contacts, preferably at international companies. Basically, up until yesterday I had decided to keep my crappy teaching job (secure paycheck) and ditch the writing, but maybe I should think about quitting the hakwon job instead and really pursue this ESL writing thing. There might be opportunities in this field in Canada, as well. Who knows?
Life is so weird sometimes. Just when you seem to know what to do, something happens to make you rethink everything you had previously sorted out.
Some photos of some books I've received recently. I received some others in the mail just the other day, and more due to arrive. I just wish I could say I've done something for an international company.
Any thoughts, friends?
4 comments:
Hard to say for sure, but it seems to me that your course book writing would be a skill that would be more marketable/transferable when you go back to Canada. When we went back to the US, there was not a whole lot that was ESL related that did not require regular teaching certification. That might be different in Ontario though, since there's such a large immigrant population in Toronto. But if you do decide to give up the ESL writing, feel free to throw the work my way!
Thanks for the comment, Bethany....yes, I think whatever I do, I'll need more training. I will recommend you if they are in need of more writers. There seems to be a lot of writing work out there these days....
I would ask what the fascination is with an international company - any legitimate experience is useful for moving up the food chain, if that's what you're looking to do. With that said, if there's jobs you're looking to pass on, I'm a fellow published author (e-mail for more info, or look for 'Chris Backe' on amazon) and a relatively prolific blogger.
Hi Chris. Yes, you're right. It is legitimate experience. But I'm looking to move back to Canada and am thinking that some experience with a recognizable company might be valuable on the old resume. Plus, I'd like to see how the process differs working with an international company because I've faced a lot of frustrations working with Korean companies ("urgent" projects, lack of planning, etc).
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