Hi, all. I'm not sure I like this new blogger interface, but hey, I will survive.
Speaking of surviving, I have to deal with unemployment because the teaching isn't doing as well as I would like. I keep telling myself that it's the world telling me that I need to finish my YA novel. I really do. I kind of view it as my federal arts grant -- I think more people should.
I am on a lot of drugs right now in order to have a baby, so in many ways it may be fortuitous that I don't have a regular job. On that note, freelance work is heating up and I'm always surprised at that. I always figured the freelancing would dry up and the teaching would continue. Perhaps it's a sign?
My SO says "signs" are basically rank superstition, but I find primarily logical people/engineers/computer programmers to be tedious. They lack imagination and are mired in solipsism. I prefer to be around people who don't think they know everything. (This is not really the SO, but he has shades of this.) So, I'm still looking for signs of what I should be doing. So far, it's looking like I'm writing about business and technology.
Yes, I am. Laid off isn't fun, especially when you consider the alternative -- making money and have health insurance.My severance package give me healthcare until Halloween...isn't that an odd date? I know. I guess because it makes it a scary, scary time to not have health insurance.Meanwhile, I have applied everywhere and not a peep from anyone. OK, that's not true, I got one missive that said, "Thanks, we'll be evaluating resume in mid August. If you are selected, we will be contacting you then."I have gotten some good feedback on freelance work, so maybe I will have more. It's hard to say. At some point you have to wonder if it will be enough to make you bid farewell to $450 a week of unemployment. Sigh.
I was laid off from my full-time media job, so now I'm a full-time freelancer again. Not bad, at least something I know I can do and not freak out about. Still, I'll miss the camaraderie. Sigh.
Queried the New York Times on a food/travel piece and hope it works out. If not, I will survive. I also have to work on a travel piece about the Oregon Wine Country, which churns out my favorite wine ever!
However, I do have unemployment benefits coming to me, which will take the edge of surviving for a bit. I'm trying to take some time for myself as well as work, let's see if I succeed.
I'll leave you with something author Karen Robards said:
"Never give up," she says. "Read everything, and figure out what kind of books you love. Then write them. But having said that, you also need to be aware of what's being published. There are trends in writing just like there are trends in everything. Try to tailor your writing to fit with what is currently selling, and you'll up your chances considerably."
