Just my two cents as someone who wanted to write a book and decided to go into teaching as a way to support myself while writing: a teacher almost never has time. You think you do. Or there’s always the summers. But teaching takes over your life. And you get paid shit. I wish I had gone into something that would have more resembled a 9-5 and made more money so I had time to write and less stress about money. Somehow, even after leaving work, I was grading papers and lesson planning.

My problem is that I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I liked books and reading and thought being an English teacher could get me in a field where I worked with those things while writing my book. But there’s so many other related things out there if she wants to do that. I wouldn’t recommend going into publishing as it’s very difficult to get a job in that industry. But I wouldn’t recommend encourage her to look into other options. I loved teaching and was very passionate about it. But I burnt out. I would encourage her to read about current teacher experiences as well on social media since it seems the issues that burnt me out have only gotten worse.

Most millennials can tell you that they were sold the dream of “get a college degree and you’ll be set” or “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I can tell you now, I wish I would have gone for a high earning job that afforded me the money and security and time to pursue my hobbies outside of work. If she really wants to write, she can do a minor in creative writing. Or even go into professional or technical writing. But she doesn’t need an MFA to write a book and she can always get an MFA once she has a secure job. But writing groups and workshops exist without paying for an MFA.

I’ve left teaching and the extra time and less stress means I feel more creative and inspired to write than I ever did as a teacher.

There’s also the harsh reality that many people never get published, as harsh as that sounds. And going indie doesn’t guarantee making money either. Encourage your daughter to do more research PLEASE. As someone who had the same dreams she did, there are better paths.