I stopped adjuncting one year ago. Though I was teaching a grad class at a prestigious university, my pay was pitiful, and I had little support. I thought I could I better use my time working independently on academic research and freelance articles. That lifestyle would work better with my demands as a parent and wouldn’t involve grading paper or jackass students.

It hasn’t worked out all that well. For the first six months of last year, I wrote a decent, academic paper for a conference. It needs some modification, but it was a good first draft. But having no strong association with a university, it is difficult to get published in an academic journal. Turns out it is difficult to be an academic without an academy.

I’m still working on finishing an article or two for the mainstream press, but I have to figure out how to sell them. After reading some bulletin boards at Media Bistro, I learned that being a successful freelance writer is more difficult than landing a good academic job. The best way to get published in the mainstream press might be to have academic credentials.

So, I’m heading back to teaching next semester. Insane. After a year of griping at the Invisible Adjunct, I’m calling up local colleges to offer my services. I can’t work full time for another year, because my youngest son needs so much help with his speech. So, I’m willingly selling myself into slavery.

It’s all good. Luckily, Steve’s making enough money to maintain our shabby, genteel lifestyle. I’m oddly missing the cloistered ivory tower and looking forward the headrush after giving a proper lecture. And I’m unwilling to miss the clamor and the gaiety of the children disembarking from the creaky school bus. I want it all, but something will have to give. Probably it will be tenure.