In reference to the question (imagine an old Twisted Sister video) ‘What are you gonna do with your life?’ I think I would answer ‘I wanna write!’
 

Yes, I enjoy archaeology and I like teaching it, so I’m not suggesting giving up my ‘real’ job, just adding a new one, or rather a new dimension to an already existent second life. Because, of course, I do write and I even teach writing, but I’m at the point where the only way to improve my own work is to tie in with other writers of the kind of material I like to create, to find an editor/publisher/agent, and to get my work out there. But all of that seems so stupefyingly difficult or subjective or luck-induced that I’m beyond frustrated. It seems that such things take a far more extroverted personality than I have. So I’m stuck.
 

Most of what I’m doing these days is teaching a version of Freshman English we tend to call critical writing. It’s a fun course of my own design with an overarching topic that has involved my research for a long time -- that of the concept of money, trade and exchange through time. We discuss the topic, read various writers on it, and write many papers about it. I like teaching this course, but do I want to teach non-fiction (even of the creative sort) for the rest of my life?
 

I’ve considered going back to school to get an MFA in creative writing, but almost every program in the US teaches the so-called ‘MFA story’, that is, a form of domestic realism that, frankly, I’m just not interested in. I’ve always read and written stories as an escape and thus I like those tales that take me to new worlds and let me imagine life as it isn’t. MFAs are mostly literary fiction, trying to show life as it is, struggling characters dealing with the heavy issues like prejudice or terminal illness. That’s not escapism . I could probably write such things, but would I be happy doing it? More importantly, would I be happy teaching it after I completed the degree? And, could I even get into such a program?
 

I suppose I should just try to get into a Clarion workshop, but whatever I do, I should find other writers who are interested in what I do and can help me with critical readings and discussions, maybe even collaborations.

Any suggestions?