So, I went on a job interview yesterday. I already have a day job. But this market is tough and I’ve been doing the job I’m at for eight years. The longest I’ve EVER stayed with one employer. Technically I’ve done two enlistments – if I were in the military. And I am getting restless. Also, the hours are crazy; people calling me all hours of the day and night; never really feeling like I am home and truly off work. My ideal job would be one where I get paid a lot to work noon to five, Monday through Friday, at something that wouldn’t intrude on my thoughts after I clocked out. Thereby leaving my mornings (when I write) and weekends (when I write in the morning and spend time with my family during the day) free.
Okay, that’s not true. My IDEAL job would be to find an agent who could get my novel published and get me paid to write. And if some producer picked up Sword of Mordrey and shouted “Wow, this would make an incredible, action-packed movie!” (which it most certainly would, by the way) and my novel got turned into a fabulous, epic adventure film, starring Brad Pitt as Lord Jocelyn and . . .
Okay, that would be my ideal job.
But I have to eat until then, right?
I heard about this other job while taking my license renewal classes. The woman sitting beside me mentioned she was interviewing for another position. I asked her what she did now and when she described her job it sounded like a dream come true. She works noon to five pm, Monday through Friday. And the pay, while not stellar, was decent. I honestly thought I had manifested my dream job. I gave her my number and she said she would give me a call if she got the other job. Well, two days ago she did. So, I went on a job interview.
Ugh! Not only was it not my dream job. It was a job I could never tolerate. I’m not going to bore you, dear reader, with the gory details. But I will say this: I dropped my $300 prescription sunglasses while leaving the building and now they have a big scratch on the left lens. Uh huh. That interview cost me.
So what is the moral or point of this story?
Sheesh . . . there’s no moral. I’m just workin’ for a livin’. That’s what we writers do, while writing our short stories and novels.
But I am putting it out there to the Universe . . . I’ve got a great novel here. One that would make an incredible action, adventure movie. But you’ve gotta notice it before Brad Pitt gets too long in the tooth to play Jocelyn.
by Cynthia Robertson
