This can vary quite a bit across the US but most CC’s I am familiar with usually have a 5-4 or 5-5 teaching load— meaning that you teach five classes per semester. Usually, there is no research requirement, though most will still have a service requirement which means serving on committees (hiring, education, faculty senate, etc) and fulfilling different campus functions (student advising, clubs, admin work, etc). Depending on what those are they may entail course reductions.

I enjoyed my time teaching at a CC. While it can be hard work, especially at first as you’re setting up classes for the first time, I found it immensely rewarding. It can be a drag teaching a bunch of sections of the same class— but I really valued the opportunity to constantly iterate and improve my lectures, assignments, content, and style. I also found that the students were often intensely dedicated and many were paying for the courses out of pocket so they were very aware of how much their education was costing them (as opposed to students at an R1 I taught at for a bit who were less aware since it was future them who would be paying).

Liberal Arts colleges can be quite similar to the CC experience. I’m not sure about course load averages but at my current one faculty are on anything from a 3-3 to a 4-4. So there is almost always a lower teaching load than a CC, but the expectation is that faculty are doing at least some research or engaged in more service (which might extend to community programs as well). Teaching tends to be more varied with a greater number of courses and opportunities to create courses. Whereas CCs usually focus on a small core of courses, Liberal Arts tend to offer a greater variety, especially if they offer a 4Y degree in the subject.

Depending on your situation, if there is a local CC or Liberal Arts college looking for lecturers/adjuncts you may want to consider applying to teach at least a few courses while you finish your writing. While doing so did slow down my completion (though I didn’t have a choice since I needed the $$$) it was incredibly valuable to have already made connections and be able to get letters of Rec from a variety of people/campuses. YMMV though, everyone’s journey is very different!