Update from the woods
Didn't realize it's been over a month since I last updated. How does time go by like that? Anyway, there are updates to be had!
Jobs - I have them! Now, I haven't gotten any work for the tutoring company that hired me as an independent contractor, but that's what I expected since most people now are looking for test prep tutors, which I am not. When college admissions essay time rolls around this fall, that's when I should get some people. If I don't then, I may consider this a bust.
This isn't too much of a worry because I have a full time job for the summer! A real, proper job sort of in my area. I'll be teaching reading for all age levels including adults. So my official title is actually teacher and I get to run classes by myself like a proper grown up. My training is fully paid, and I'll even get paid for my daily travel expenses. So, I'm set for the summer.
And I've got a job for the fall. It's only part-time and the hourly salary isn't the greatest, but it's as a writing tutor at a local community college, which is the kind of job I've been hoping to get since I got back. In addition to tutoring, I'll be able to lead my workshops, participate in online writing services, and work with professors and their classes. They seem really nice and happy to work for and are looking for people that like to take their own initiative and get really involved. So it's not just showing up, tutoring some, and leaving. They've even had many of their tutors become adjunct professors and asked me if that's something I'd be interested in and I had to restrain myself from shouting, "Hell, yes!" and reply with a more composed, "Absolutely."
So that'll overlap with the summer job a little. I'm hoping the independent contractor tutoring will pick up about the same time, which would make up for the part-time hours. But even so, the job will get me excellent experience for a full-time position somewhere.
And there's one more thing - I'm getting paid to ghostwrite. Actually hired for writing, which is exciting. I know some writers shun ghostwriting like its the plague, but there can be good money in it and it's legitimate experience for teaching jobs. I'm helping some people with their autobiographies for their own personal use, is all, and it's really interesting.
So, that's the job news. I know I'll have work for the rest of the year. I don't know how exactly the fall will go, if I'll need to look for more work to supplement the part-time job, but for now, I don't need to job search, which is a really strange feeling.
In other writing news, I'm going to be in another print anthology! The publisher that printed my last story wants two of my stories for a new anthology coming out later this year. And for this one, I'm actually going to get royalties. Not a lot because it's a small, independent press that doesn't make a lot themselves, but I'll get something, if people buy. It'll probably work out to about $2 every six months, but hey, it'll be money for my own work. That counts!
I got two other rejections for two different stories which I've since resubmitted elsewhere, and am working on a new story for a specific anthology I want to submit to. No word from the two agents who have the novel, but I know they'll respond to the producer who gave it to them whether it's a no or not. So right now I'm just going by the ol' no news is good news.
I think that's all the news. Life is still going uphill since February, so I'm working hard and hoping it continues this trend. London, I miss you!
Jobs - I have them! Now, I haven't gotten any work for the tutoring company that hired me as an independent contractor, but that's what I expected since most people now are looking for test prep tutors, which I am not. When college admissions essay time rolls around this fall, that's when I should get some people. If I don't then, I may consider this a bust.
This isn't too much of a worry because I have a full time job for the summer! A real, proper job sort of in my area. I'll be teaching reading for all age levels including adults. So my official title is actually teacher and I get to run classes by myself like a proper grown up. My training is fully paid, and I'll even get paid for my daily travel expenses. So, I'm set for the summer.
And I've got a job for the fall. It's only part-time and the hourly salary isn't the greatest, but it's as a writing tutor at a local community college, which is the kind of job I've been hoping to get since I got back. In addition to tutoring, I'll be able to lead my workshops, participate in online writing services, and work with professors and their classes. They seem really nice and happy to work for and are looking for people that like to take their own initiative and get really involved. So it's not just showing up, tutoring some, and leaving. They've even had many of their tutors become adjunct professors and asked me if that's something I'd be interested in and I had to restrain myself from shouting, "Hell, yes!" and reply with a more composed, "Absolutely."
So that'll overlap with the summer job a little. I'm hoping the independent contractor tutoring will pick up about the same time, which would make up for the part-time hours. But even so, the job will get me excellent experience for a full-time position somewhere.
And there's one more thing - I'm getting paid to ghostwrite. Actually hired for writing, which is exciting. I know some writers shun ghostwriting like its the plague, but there can be good money in it and it's legitimate experience for teaching jobs. I'm helping some people with their autobiographies for their own personal use, is all, and it's really interesting.
So, that's the job news. I know I'll have work for the rest of the year. I don't know how exactly the fall will go, if I'll need to look for more work to supplement the part-time job, but for now, I don't need to job search, which is a really strange feeling.
In other writing news, I'm going to be in another print anthology! The publisher that printed my last story wants two of my stories for a new anthology coming out later this year. And for this one, I'm actually going to get royalties. Not a lot because it's a small, independent press that doesn't make a lot themselves, but I'll get something, if people buy. It'll probably work out to about $2 every six months, but hey, it'll be money for my own work. That counts!
I got two other rejections for two different stories which I've since resubmitted elsewhere, and am working on a new story for a specific anthology I want to submit to. No word from the two agents who have the novel, but I know they'll respond to the producer who gave it to them whether it's a no or not. So right now I'm just going by the ol' no news is good news.
I think that's all the news. Life is still going uphill since February, so I'm working hard and hoping it continues this trend. London, I miss you!