For another year, I've been unable to participate in NaNoWriMo. It's one of the conditions of my job that I'm just too busy during the semester to do much creative writing, or anything else creative. At this point, though, I only have to wait another month and a half to have my next batch of free time. How will I ever make it that long?
In my day job, I teach software development and databases. It's a good job, but it takes up a lot of time. I've got full classes, my program is short a faculty member, and the technology keeps changing. That last one keeps me on my toes because all of my class preparation can go out the window with one update. All of these things use up my day, making it hard to turn off long enough to write.
To worsen the situation, my work already involves long hours at the computer. The idea of staring at a word processor when the job is done is not inviting. My vision blurs. My wrists and knuckles ache. Anything I do will need to be on paper, and even that is difficult to see.
Unfortunately, the writing is an important part of my sanity regimen. I can feel the stress build when I'm not creating things. Writing software can help, but it's not the same as kicking out a short story or poem. The stress is bad for my health and that of the people who have to put up with me.
For now, I spend time making notes. When I can, I write notes for things I would like to write or modifications to things already written. Sometimes, the notes are just creative gibberish for my own amusement. Whatever the notes entail, they are the release valve that keeps me from exploding in a creative cloud, scalding all in range.
I will have a break between the end of fall semester and the start of spring. There will be some work that I need to do, but there will also be time for writing. At that point, I will gather my notes, organize them, panic at the sheer number of them, and not get around to writing. The avoidance and chaos will be very creative though. It may be enough to last until the coming summer.
Last summer, I spent a great deal of time on curriculum updates. For both physical and mental health, this summer will not be spent on work. I will engage in purely creative things. I may even knock out another novel; I've got several lined up. Whatever the case, I just need to keep finding enough creative outlets to keep my sanity until then.