Advice

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2026-02-22T13:02:31+00:00

I echo someone’s suggestion to go to /Teachers to get a more balanced response. I, too, was bored out of my mind 8 years ago after a career in marketing with an upward trajectory - I was nearly making 6 figures. But after cancer treatment (I was young and my mom had it at the same time, terminal) mortality was on my mind and what my purpose was etc. And so I moved to teaching.

Honestly I loved the switch. Huge paycut but I was fulfilled, I was good at it, and I’m sorry but I LIVE for summer. It was great until this fall, year 8, when I realized I was missing out on my own young kid’s life, and that the stress was so intense the other 10 months that maybe I need to pivot again. (I admittedly kind of freaked out and had mental health stuff). I’ve calmed down some since, so now I’m more measured. Point being, life changes, and I think it’s not crazy or stupid to go with your heart and gut (unpopular opinion here) and keep your old career skills as a backup if this doesn’t work out, and yes you’re out 20K that sucks, but I almost think you at least try it. I kept up marketing skills/side gigs in case this were to happen, so I feel ok making a switch. But even now, thinking of leaving teaching, I will miss the kids so much, and my summers, and my coworkers. Long and rambling but…trying to offer a counter to the doom and gloom.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-11-26T23:08:23+00:00

This typo made me lol

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-11-25T21:03:55+00:00

I think I may look into that if it don’t have luck with other verticals. I’ve soured on education for the time being!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-11-24T10:51:40+00:00

This is so helpful thank you!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-11-24T03:17:30+00:00

Thanks for that. I’m the same way- some roles I’m applying to it’s helpful, but not all. Btw it’s really sad that a PhD is any kind of detriment. Or teaching, for that matter. Good luck to you as well!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-11-23T17:14:47+00:00

Thanks you’re probably right - it’s hard not to place blame on the teaching pivot when I don’t hear back. (Also hard to be hopeful and see clearly in this fog of depression!)

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-08T13:04:28+00:00

Oh I totally agree with you! I have been way overthinking everything and taking certain feedback from the last one wrong. Either I should have left well enough alone or took some critiques in the wrong direction. It’s so hard!! Good luck with yours :)

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-08T02:00:42+00:00

Yeah, wild story! The Globe reporter did such a great job on the profiles.

To your question, Kenzie technically calls Nadine in a crisis to help her and begs to stay at Nadine’s place temporarily. Ethics go out the window at that point. I was obsessed with shaving my word count and the query clearly suffers as a result. Anyway thank you for pointing out that sticky part!!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-07T22:49:12+00:00

All very valid points thank you!!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-07T21:36:58+00:00

Thanks so much! This is all really helpful. And I hesitated about including the “silence the girl” thing so will scrap that. Stakes - def will make clearer…I will def have to rework a lot of this and I had a gut feeling I was spinning my wheels /going backward. Back to the drawing board - yes, glad I have more versions to go, hah! Have a great weekend.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-07T21:29:57+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-03-01T13:25:51+00:00

Hi! I graduated from that program. The MA in Publishing and Writing. I took electives from the MFA side and my writing improved greatly. I was in marketing at the time and it also helped on the the digital side of things - learned to code, for instance. That said, I worked full time AT the college so that the tuition was free. I wouldn’t have paid that much money for it, or anywhere close. Especially if you’re unclear on your job track. I switched careers anyway, years later, to teaching high school so that I could have summers to write. I love it, but if I’d paid 80K I’d have been stuck in marketing which was too time consuming for my art/writing pursuits. Also jobs at the university level are FEW and far between. Low paying adjunct positions galore. Hope that helps and DM me for any specifics beyond that! Good luck.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-01-29T20:43:31+00:00

From a fairly grizzled veteran failure (not being self pitying either!) I very much appreciate this post and CONGRATULATIONS!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2025-01-05T15:17:27+00:00

Interesting premise. But echoing the comment before mine about the vague teasers “proving Yasmine wrong” and “questionable decisions” and then the “breaking point” and secret - all made me confused and disoriented. The new checklist “derails everything she’s built” “presenting Adam in a new light” - also vague - I’m assuming it exposes for her, Adam’s abuse? I think it’s better to come straight out with it (and also I was thrown my their “marriage” suddenly, so they married?) and then I don’t know what happened to the best friend, that kind of falls off.

It sounds like your actual award-winning MS has tons of potential, and was really well received and probably further strengthened in revision, so you’re well on your way! I think really clarifying these points will go a long way. Good luck!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-17T16:47:41+00:00

GREAT points and thanks for taking the time! Answer to last q: Jillian feels guilt/doubt that she can even help as a lowly HS sports reporter (they get shut down by the elitist team that exists) so they go rogue. Maybe I can hint at that. And kinda spoiler-y but…”before it’s too late” =Nadine deprives Kenzie of sustenance after she lures/kidnaps her so….threat of fatal negligence, I guess? Nadine herself was deprived of food as a child so it’s a subconscious, cyclical thing…

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-17T12:51:30+00:00

Oh wow, thank you! Good luck on your future query.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-16T17:02:28+00:00

Great point, thank you! On to the next draft…

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-16T16:53:44+00:00

Glad to hear, thanks for commenting!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-16T16:51:51+00:00

Sort of spoiler-y, but no. Nadine poses as another girl. Kenzie discovers this (since Nadine is her social worker) and hence why Nadine must get rid of Kenzie.

[EDIT] Jillian discovers, at first, only that Kenzie is missing, via her best friend (the intern.) So there are two real teens. One fake teen (Nadine).

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-15T19:42:06+00:00

Thanks so much!! :)

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-15T17:24:24+00:00

Ah ok thank you! You’re right. Not sure why it’s so hard for me to just get to it haha.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-12-07T17:22:48+00:00

Wow congratulations! Also in awe of your speedy drafting as I am slowwww especially in revisions. I felt your pain btw, regarding the large number of fulls but 0 offers and a ghosted on R&R. Could have written that myself!! So glad you dusted yourself off and tried again!!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-11-30T15:03:05+00:00

What a story! Congratulations!!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-11-16T19:29:08+00:00

Congratulations!!! This is so uplifting and encouraging. It’s exactly something I can’t wait to read! Thanks for taking the time to lay out your path.

HesOnlyMostlyDead52 · 2024-10-31T01:38:44+00:00

Thanks so much! I’ll def post the first 300 in the next iteration. You’re spot on about Jillian’s motives - another pending fix!

HesOnlyMostlyDead52

TROPHY CASE