How much spare time do you have? Raise your hand if it feels like zilch, nada, not one extra second. Me too! Between family, work, volunteering, juggling starting a new creative piece while shopping around a finished novel and every women's magazine insisting that I somehow must squeeze in eight hours of sleep and 30 minutes of exercise each day, I'm beginning to feel that somehow shrinkflation has attacked the hours in a day. Are there still 24?
So what can a writer do?
Start a new project, of course.
Recently, I began developing a beginner's writing class for a small community organization. It's been several years since I taught a writing class and I'd forgotten how much teaching can affect my own writing.
Given free rein for the topic, I had to take the time to look over my recent writing and search for a niche. I decided to capitalize on my recent success with personal essays. After all, everyone has a funny/sad/memorable story that would make a great essay. Once that was decided I started musing over what makes a successful essay. The more I thought over this, the more eager I became to put the tips I was planning to share with the class to work with my own essay ideas.
In search of some motivation for the students, I spent a few minutes dipping into my writing bookshelf and not only finding some great quotes for the class but also personal inspiration from some old favorites:
Writing from Within: The Next Generation by Bernard Selling
On Writing by Stephen King
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Remembering how it felt to have my first essay in print (thanks, Central Penn Parent) I drew up a list of markets for personal essays that weren't too intimidating so my class wouldn't have any excuses not to send their words out into the world. As I narrowed down my list I found myself thinking, "Hey, I should send Essay A to this market, Essay B to that market."
My class won't start for a few weeks but I can remember from past classes how the enthusiasm of new writers can improve your own energy and goal setting. After all what teacher encourages their students to take that leap and submit their work and doesn't feel the push to find homes for their own work?
You can probably think of many reasons NOT to teach a writing class.
1. No time. True, time is a problem. But you can develop a workshop as long or as short as you like. Many students find it easier to find room in their life for a one night workshop rather than a multi-week commitment.
2. Not enough experience. Don't sell yourself short. We all have at least one specialty, whether it be a particular genre, the nuts and bolts of submissions, inspiration, technology for writers, contests or another writing related topic that you love to talk about.
3. No place to teach. Not true. There are so many places to teach -- they just don't realize it yet. Reach out to libraries, indie bookstores, community organizations, churches, seniors groups with an idea for a writing workshop. If you're much more tech-savvy than me you can even organize a virtual workshop.
4. Fear of public speaking. OK, I can't really help you with that one except to say that these are your people. Fellow writers. Also, if you ever plan on writing a book it might be a good idea to brush up your public speaking skills.
It isn't took late to add teaching a writing workshop to your 2026 goals list. You'll be doing more than sharing your knowledge with fellow writers. You'll be re-energizing your own writing.
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Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about anything and everything that strikes her fancy. Stay tuned for more details about the new piece she's working on in 2026. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. and blogs at Words by Webb.
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