News and Updates

Hello fellow readers!

Thank you for all the love I’ve received in the past week or so. I honestly didn’t think anyone was reading this little blog of mine and am glad folks are responding as strongly as I am about providing more posts!

A few things:

Today marks eight months I have lived in San Francisco and it’s hard to believe. There are still moments that I wonder why I moved out here in the first place and what I’m supposed to learn from living out here. Well, I guess I’ll keep finding out. So far, my experience has been different from my native New York City (city girl ’til I die) but I can’t compare apples and bananas. I’ve also never lived anywhere else but New York City until I moved out here. I am very optimistic of what the future will hold for me and I’ll, of course, let you know how that goes!

I created a guideline for monthly posts and weekly post which will be the following:

Every Thursday (an experiment for April, depending on feedback), I’ll be adding a chapter of a genre novel I’m working on. I’ve never done this before so bear with me and I look forward to your feedback!

Weekly, I will be posting on my writing feelings for the moment (you know we always need a boost even when we know we are in the right place but need a community to remind you there are off and on days at times) and my MFA progress (I got so much to do!).

Monthly, I will be adding a book review of the moment, favorite childhood book, Beatles’ inspiration song (I’m a Beatlemaniac), and a spotlight on a science fiction author I’m currently doting on or just discovering (also very open to suggestions, please!).

These are reminders for me to constantly keep writing in addition to the other awesome activities happening in the blogosphere as well (It’s National Poetry Month! Check back for a post on this real soon).

That’s all for now, folks!

Check back in tomorrow in which you’ll see a chapter of my novel!

Cheers!

 

Teacher Man

Author: Frank McCourt

Publisher: Scribner (2005)

Frank McCourt’s third memoir, following ‘Tis, was about the years he spent as an English and Creative Writing teacher. The schools he taught at were: McKee Vocational and Technical School on Staten Island, Seward Park High School, New York Community College in Brooklyn, and Stuyvesant High School.

The book is sectioned off based on the places he taught at in order from McKee and ending with Stuyvesant.

Employment

I understand the economy is bad, publishing is a very competitive industry, and the unemployment rate is 8.3% (dropped actually and much less than the national rate of 9.3%) but this should in no way be a reason to justify paying an employee $300 a week for four days. Do the math. Who can live on that kind of salary in New York City? I’m completely discounting those who live at home with their parents because those are the only ones who can afford this kind of salary in New York City!

I have been actively seeking employment in different industries and have calculated the salary I will be able to survive on in this city. I came across a Craigslist posting and was incensed a company would think $300 a week would be sufficient as a salary to live in New York City. There are so many jobs out there that do pay more but the foot in the door is the problem. This posting wasn’t the first; I saw jobs paying $10 an hour, $11 an hour and less. Maybe I’m used to being paid more or maybe my expenses are higher than most (probably the same) but those wages are a joke.

With that said, is it really worth it to be paid almost nothing to work in an industry that you may or may not be passionate about anymore (i.e. me)? I think not.

Even though I am seeking employment in the publishing industry, I will not be paid chump change as if I’m some broke ass college student. I haven’t been a college student in six years! Seriously, that drives me crazy.

I have declared that I will be employed in 30 days. Since I have declared it, then it shall be.

Until then, on to applying jobs I go!