The Real World is NOT What They Said

When I was in college, my professors kept telling me what the real world would be like. Competitive, hard work, always fighting for my place in the world.

I graduated with my degree in Communications (which is college-speak for "Congrats! You have no marketable skills without a higher degree.") and went out into the world. It was not what they said. At all. Here's how.

1. I was told the market would be competitive. I went to a local newspaper and to freelance for them. I was hired as a full-time reporter weeks later without even trying. No competition.

2. I thought I would *love* what I did. I thought I would write news stories that would change the world. After a few months of what seemed like nothing but county council meetings and chasing ambulances, I was beginning to hate the world of hard news. I did love the lifestyle pieces, but they were not as often as I wanted.

3. My professors sang my writing praises all the time. I thought surely my editors would do the same. Not so. I was publicly chastised for using quotes the publisher didn't like. Yay, reporting!

4. When I became a photographer, I thought work would fall into my lap and was shocked when it did not. I got business, but not much.

5. I was sorely disappointed to not be hired as a wedding photographer because Uncle Bob had a nice camera and offered to do photos for free. Nobody, in all my training, ever said I would be passed over for a loud, balding uncle/friend/cousin with a camera.

6. Now that I've been a stay-at-home-mom for many years, I never thought I would have a hard time getting hired for a job again. I've seen all the reports about moms returning to the workplace, but I never thought it would happen to *me*. I thought I would be hired immediately.

7. In my attempts to become an author, again, I was never told I would have to be my own marketer. I know how to write, not market myself. Honestly, I can market others easily enough, but trying to toot my own horn isn't that easy.

So there are a few things about the real world that took me by surprise. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was nonetheless.

Goals: Can't Make 'Em if You Don't Try

I have goals in life. I mean, don't we all? But I have lofty goals. I have many goals I haven't reached and I've been 29 for a few years now! I'm not getting any younger! (Or older, if I have my way.)

So I thought I would share some of my goals with you. Accountability and all, right? And I realized I can't achieve my goals if I don't try. I will fail if I don't even make the effort.

Here are my life goals. All of them. Some I have achieved, and they are crossed off. But way too many are sitting idle without my doing much about it. Ready? Here we go.

Family:

1. Become a mother
2. Adopt a child
3. Foster children who are aging out of the system
4. Be the "cool house" where kids feel comfortable hanging out and talking to me
5. Raise children to not be homicidal maniacs and/or criminals
6. Raise children to love the Lord
7. See children married off so they're their spouses' problem

Career:

1. Write a book
2. Write more than one book
3. Attend a literary conference
4. Have a sit down with a publisher even if they don't pick me up
5. Be sure a publisher picks me up
6. Hold/own a hard copy of each of my published books
7. DJ my own radio show
8. Become a public speaker and encourager 
9. Get paid to write and/or talk

Faith:

1. Realize I don't have it all together
2. Realize nobody has it all together
3. Pray more, gossip less
4. Show my faith to everyone around me
5. Give my friends a hand up when needed
6. Serve my community and church more
7. Help my husband be the leader of our home
8. Help my children grow in their faith and love

So these are my goals. Some are a little more lofty than others. Some are fairly simplistic.  Many I can't accomplish at this point yet (no arranged marriages for the kiddos, thank you). But many I can. I can attend a writer's conference. I can work on becoming a DJ or public speaker. And of course I can always pray more.

Help me stay accountable, okay? Thanks!

Hallway Praises

I'm still here. I still don't have a job. I've applied. I've been ignored. I've been denied. And I'm still here. I keep wondering what God has in store.

A very dear friend of mine shared this with me:

I'm doing my best to Praise God in the hallway while I'm waiting for that door. I told my friend that the hallway was starting to get stale and boring. But I'm still praising!

I'm praising for the roof over my head, gas in the car, food on the table, opportunities that knock on occasion, and the plans He's laid out for me. I'm praising for the three children who exasperate me, the husband who also exasperates me, and the smiles they bring to me daily. I'm praising for friends, family, and the kind word from the guy who bags my groceries.

The hallway is not always fun. Sometimes it's dark and smells a little. But I know that means when God opens that door - OH, when God opens that door - the light will come in and it will smell fresh and clean and welcoming. And I will rush through it with arms wide open praising all the way! Thank you, Lord!

Looking for a Job

I'm currently looking for a job. I know, it's been awhile. I've been a stay at home mom since I was pregnant with SB. But it's time. I'm ready to rejoin the work force that I haven't seen in a LONG TIME.

What about those novels I've written? I'm glad you asked. Three novels written. A fourth undergoing major surgery right now. But they don't pay the bills, and until I can afford either self-publishing or a writer's conference, my novels will be sitting in anticipation!

I've put in several applications for photography jobs and several for writing as well. I love being creative! I'm praying that the right job will come along.

I recently had a job interview and it was such a blessing. Even if it's not the position for me, it was great to stretch my interview chops out. I haven't had a job interview in nine years! Yikes! I've been 'self-employed' for so long, I haven't had to go in interview mode for some time.

Getting a job is scary, too, because it means not being home with the baby and not waiting for the kids to get off the bus! I've never had a job-job since being a mother. I'm apprehensive as you can well imagine. But I think it's time.

So pray I can find the job I'm meant to find! 

Rejection...

Part of trying to find an agent and get published it sending out query letters. I thought surely I was the only person who loathed trying to sell yourself and describe your 75,000-word piece in two paragraphs. then I learned all writers hate query letters. At least I'm not alone.

I send queries to two agents a few weeks ago. I got a rejection letter today from one of them.

Oddly enough, I smiled. A rejection still means I put myself out there. I still tried. And I'll never make it as an author if I don't try, right?

I hope the other query I send gets a different kind of letter back. That agent required a LOT more in a query than just the basic letter. And more detail hopefully = a better chance of getting picked up.

One day that rejection will be acceptance. And it will be worth all the rejections letters in the world!