Employed

Through a strange twist of events, I seem to have landed my dream job.

Nate and I had a plan regarding our move to Dallas. Since I was going to quit a job I enjoyed because of his job relocation, we decided that I would get to take some time off to write my novel. Also, I had been accepted into a writer's conference, and since it was 11 days long, the unemployment timing worked out really well. I didn't think it would make sense to try to find a new job and then ask for almost two weeks off. So I didn't really look for work during July and August. I applied for two jobs during those two months, I think, and had a first-round interview for one, and didn't get hired, which I am now thankful for.

I got back from Bread Loaf and started looking for a job more seriously. And I got really depressed. For two weeks, I didn't see any writing or arts related jobs at all. I had started considering other kinds of jobs, which Nate talked me out of applying for. He argued that we are no dire need of money and that I should try to find something I would like. And he also said he thought I was getting depressed for no reason because the way things tend to work for me is that I get anxious and impatient about something and then that thing suddenly appears in my life and I say, "Woah, wait, isn't this happening kind of fast?" Which is pretty much what happened here.

On Tuesday I applied for what can very nearly be described as my dream job. The position is to help coordinate a series of author readings here in Dallas. So the job duties include things like: researching authors; reading the invited authors' books; entertaining those authors while they are in Dallas; and attending book and literary festivals to scope out future invitees. On Wednesday I had a phone interview. I interviewed in person on Thursday. They offered me the job on Friday and I start working on Monday.

I know this will be a job, like any job, with duties and assorted things I may not like about it. No position is perfect, but I think this job is going to be close, and perhaps a little dangerous for me. Because books and writing are my crack. (Case in point: I stayed up until 5 am last night/this morning finishing a book because I get obsessed like that. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, in case you're interested.) I am essentially going to get paid to do what I like to do anyway. Read, research writers, and go to book festivals. I'm feeling pretty darn lucky right now. And happy.