It would never have occurred to me that I would be busier after graduation than before it. Or maybe it just feels busy because I seem to be receiving constant reminders that I am now jobless and running on limited funds. No matter what the cause behind my current status, that’s what it is.
I have officially earned my Bachelors of Arts degree in English with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. What does this allow me to do now? Well, funny you should ask that. Apparently it prepares me for nothing, although I was led to believe it would open countless doors for me.
The major issue I’m having is that job markets these days seem to have two levels. First, the jobs which require no formal education of a higher degree – like restaurant jobs, manual labor jobs, and desk clerks. The second level is the Masters Degree and up category. This means you must have a masters degree or doctoral degree or some combination of the same level of skill. I’m between these two levels. The jobs I want have all fallen into the second category, and most jobs hiring in my area in the lower category are in no way related to my field or experience. In short, they are all mostly IT or Labor Intensive jobs.
So I continue to apply to restaurants and stores and theaters while searching for writing/editing positions online. We’ll see where that gets me.
On the subject of writing, I have submitted The Rose Chateau into a self-published book contest with Writer’s Digest. The grand prize is $3,000 and national exposure. I need both money and notoriety, so it would really be a complete win for me if the book succeeds. I welcome any warm wishes and thoughts on the subject. Wish me luck, pray for me, or whatever it is you do for people you hope will succeed. All are welcome.
If you were thinking of buying my novel but don’t by physical books anymore, no worries. My personal I.T. friend tells me he will help me set up a system for The Rose Chateau on this blog that will allow readers to purchase a PDF copy to be read on Kindle or Nook or any PDF supporting portable device. The sales will go through PayPal. I’ll keep you updated on the progress of that little wonder.
I consider the sending of my novel to a contest and the soon-to-be sales of the novel through this blog to be miniature graduations of their own. Every small step I take toward my dream deserves to be celebrated. It means I’m still trying, still working, and still moving forward despite any and all obstacles.
And in the spirit of that “Go Forward” attitude, I’m in the process of revamping my original first novel, and I have made more progress with it recently than in past months. Soon I’ll have a preview excerpt I can post up for my readers. There will be proof that I am actually productive and not just spouting out encouragement for everyone else’s benefits.
And with this done, I have to finish laundry. Ah, the day to day mundanes.
Ciao Tutti!
RM
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