Retaining Hope

It gets harder and harder to keep my spirits up and keep on plugging. I had two job interviews this week, along with another for a short-term editing job for the end of October. I heard back on the first job - the one where I had a really good feeling coming out of the interview.

They chose someone else. They always choose someone else. It gets discouraging.

I didn't feel nearly as confident about the second interview, though I'll probably nail the editing job. That one is only about 40 hours, though, and not until the end of October.

At least my doctor friend has PCs that need attention, which will help me a little financially.

Off to go search the internet for more jobs to apply for...

Ye'll Be Talkin' Like a Pirate, Matey, or Ye'll be Walkin' the Plank!

Yes, September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrrh. Get yer scurvy behind out there and practice your Pirate Alphabet. Take a Pirate Quiz and get yourself a Pirate Name. (Mine is Red Anne Rackham; Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!)

Raise a grog, Me Hearties, to the silly, sanitized, wonderful world of fantasy Pirates. I still have to get myself out to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2 - maybe I'll do that today.

For more information about actual pirates, try Wikipedia, Pirate's Cove or Pirate Info.

Arrrr!

Jobhunting - The Beat Goes On

I had an interview at the University yesterday that went very well, though I don't know that they'll hire me, for fear I'll terrify one of the more timid staff members. If I get it, I'd start next week. It's only 90%, but that's better than 0% and comes with benefits, and I really liked the people I interviewed with.

I have a different interview on Wednesday, and put in a few more applications yesterday.

Current status: unemployed, but doing some consulting to help a friend and provide a little bridge funding.

Writing and Reading

I'm on my last day of temp data entry here at College of Business, with the usual sadness that attends leaving yet another place combined with anxiety about not having another assignment waiting for me. There's a recruiter who thinks she may have help desk work for me in the next week or two, and I'll be hitting the temp agencies I missed last time starting Monday.

"Not the topic of this post, though.

When I do data entry, I listen to audiobooks or podcasts (more podcasts these days, as they're free and have endless variety). It keeps my creative brain from wandering around so that my analytic brain can do lots of accurate entry.

Right now I'm listening to "I Should Be Writing", an excellent podcast by Mur Lafferty. The August 10th podcast talks about reading in (and out) of your genre to learn what works - and what doesn't. To find out what's already been done to death, or at least how it's been done, so you can take a fresh perspective.

I used to write a lot, before I discovered the joys of creating my own RPG scenarios. I'm not a bad writer - I'd say I'm more of a craftsman than an artist. A wordsmith, if you will. Lately I've been starting to miss writing, so maybe I will start to do so again. Or not. If I do, links will probably appear in this blog.

Mur talks about reading to understand the genre and conventions, and to receive inspiration, all things I agree with. On the other hand, sometimes it can have a chilling effect. Long ago I began a novel with a dear friend, a Star Trek-ish space opera involving a quirky, interesting crew and exploring the nature of heroics. When I dropped my fiction activities my writing partner picked it up, but I still clung to part ownership.

Then I read David Weber's Honor Harrington series - and lost the will to write that story. Weber's Harrington is everything I was trying to do with the story, only he did a much better job that I believe I ever could. I've given it over completely to my writing partner, who, I'm sure, will do a fine job with it. Different than I might have done, but now I'm willing to let it go. David Weber told my story. I'll have others.

Meanwhile, I have a guest article on Horror GMing to write for Treasure Tables, and NN things Skippy May Not Do When Writing a Module. No doubt Blackmoor will have more modules for me to edit shortly, and I have a whole bunch of journals to write for my swashbuckler, Nia the Rose. No shortage of writing in my life - just not much fiction.

Noise To Signal: 2006 Hugo Award Winners

Noise To Signal: 2006 Hugo Award Winners

Lots of good news in the Hugo Award Winners. Serenity took best dramatic presentation, long form, and Dr. Who took best for short form. Peter Beagle (long a favorite of mine) won his first Hugo. All are excellent and deserving, and in Peter Beagle's case, overdue.

And Connie Willis won her ninth Hugo. No one has ever won 9 Hugos, not even Harlan Ellison, frequently brilliant writer but always appalling egoist. Science Fiction has long had the reputation of being a boy's club, where writers like Andre Norton and James Tiptree Jr. had to pretend to be men to get a hearing. And yet Connie Willis has won 9 Hugo awards... it gives me hope that things are changing.

Which is probably why Harlan felt he had to cut her down to size by groping her. sigh No matter how accomplished a woman you are, a man can reduce you to a body part in an instant.

It does not reduce the value of her accomplishment, though. Go Connie! And Harlan, grow up, for cryin' out loud.