What to do, what to do...

I'm graduating this April with a teaching degree as well as a degree in English.

My dilemma: Do I go straight into teaching (no job offer just yet) OR do I take the time off to write for like a year? I know I will most likely bite the bullet and go into teaching, if only to make a dent in my student loan debt. But in a perfect world without debt, what would YOU do?


Just curious.

Both.

Get a job teaching, and write during non-work hours.

I agree with aliaswriter.

Teaching will be a wonderful source of ideas and stuff. Stephen King wrote Carrie, his first published work, while he was teaching high school. And Carrie is set at a high school...

Writers who isolate themselves to write a novel usually don't get done with their writing, too many distraction.If I was to take time off work to write, I wouldn't get anything done. For an example of how this works, see Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. Few people have the discipline to sick with writing if that all they have to do. It can be done though, if you are one of the few who is disciplined enough to do so.

If you would check into writers who are writing great books, they are either very busy with a lot of best selling books, or they are otherwise actively involved in life. They are the ones who have all the life experiences to put into their works.

Plus, the sooner after you get the degree that you get the job, the better it looks for you. It would show that you are really interested in the job, instead if just entering into as a sideline.

Basically, though, the choice is up to you.

My two cents.

Those are good points. Thanks! Both are my loves, but I swear the internship is so stressful I feel like I need a year just to recover. And I'm only half done!

Could you take a few months off instead of a whole year? That might help.