For the past year and a half I’ve been in graduate school. Not coincidentally, I have also been a freelance writer for the past year and a half. And – follow my SAT analogy here – that means that this past summer was the only time I have been a freelance writer without simultaneously being in graduate school classes.

I chose a Liberal Arts major, so I could sit at tables like this. (Photo courtesy of srbichara via sxc.hu).

During my last semester in grad school, while I learned how to write grants and manage literary organizations, I also promised myself that I would build up my business over my classless (in more ways than one) summer.

And I did.

And now fall has arrived and I’m facing a new challenge.

My days are full enough as it is without adding 12 credit hours of work toward my Master’s in Professional Writing to the mix. Getting back to school means that I will have to be a super time management ninja and parcel my time wisely so that I can keep up with my commitments to my clients and to my 4.0. So which commitment comes first?

I should probably say something like “Well, both are equal commitments, one betters me as a person while the other give me by daily bread.” But no, I’m not going to say that. I’m going to firmly declare that my business comes first.

My business is a real world application. I do real work for real people who see real value from my work and give me real money in exchange. I plan on doing this long after I’ve tacked that M.A. onto my list of credentials, and in fact, I’m getting my M.A. so I can do this better. Therefore, the goal, not the means to the end (i.e. school) comes first.

Now, when it comes to school, my experience so far in my Master’s program has been absolutely invaluable. I’ve worked with published fiction authors, a writer for a major television show, a prolific playwright, and a preeminent writer with a major think tank. They’re giving me skills, contacts, hints, tricks and confidence. Am I going to give that up? Heck no. But I do what side my metaphorical bread is buttered on, and know that I will have to make my business my number one priority.

Also, little secret? I’m taking a class this semester where I have to adopt a business. Guess what business I adopted?

<– That’s me right now.

I’m working smarter and not harder, baby, (okay well, a little harder) and I’m determined to kick butt at both my business and my class work this semester.

Now please wish me luck and pile me up with as many time management tips as you think I can take, because my first class doesn’t even start for another few hours and I can already see I’m going to need it.