Decisions

So here's the situation. I have one job offer already, for a small liberal arts college in Maryland. It's a beautiful college and town, but the pay would be tight. Very. They just have a strict budget, and there's not much room for negotiation.

On Monday, I'll find out about the Maine job I interviewed for. Much cheaper to live there, and I loved it. I'd take it in a heartbeat if they offer it to me. That would be the easiest solution.

But what if they don't?

Then I'm in a bit of a quandary. I think I'll take the Maryland job and just suck it up for a couple of years. It would be great experience, and if I have to use some of my savings, then that's what I'll do. Honestly, I'm sick of applying to new jobs, sick of my current job, and there's no guarantee that if I wait and see if I get another nibble that I'll like that job any more than the Maryland one. Jobs like the one in Maine just don't come around that often, in my four months of experience. And I like the job in Maryland. I'd be much more enthusiastic if the pay were a smidge higher. But it is what it is, and they're trying their best to add some more benefits to persuade me. I can tell they really want me.

I haven't been posting the last week or so because I know that the college in Maryland is reading this, and I'd really rather they not know all this. Any words of wisdom from you faithful friends out there?

Exhausted

Hello all. I've finally resurfaced, although I have to warn you I'm not going to post much tonight. I just got back from my trip ("vacation" doesn't enter into it), and I'm pretty darn tired. But the trip was a success, and I'm sure I'll have some big news to report in the near future, so stay tuned. Now, I'm going to go collapse in bed.

Pleasant Weather

Today was a very pleasant day, both at the conference and at the interview. I enjoyed meeting with people in person at last, after so many bouts of phone interviews. I feel like I can express myself better in person than on the phone, so it's nice to connect faces to voices. Additionally, I lined up several in person interviews at the conference for tomorrow and Sunday.

On a good-to-remember sidenote, I was reminded that what I say on the blog doesn't always stay on the blog today when one of the interviewers mentioned that she had read my blog and was up to date on how hectic life had been for me in the days coming up to the conference. As soon as she said that, I mentally went over everything I had been blogging about, afraid that I might have made a faux pas or two, but I really make every effort to keep my blog personal, but not TOO personal, if you know what I mean. I'm very upfront about who I am and what I do on this, although I certainly don't view it as a personal journal. There are some things that the general public just doesn't need to know.

Of course, now that I know she's reading the blog--or has read it in the past--I'm starting to feel the urge to edit this as I write it, but there comes a time when you need to stop being so paranoid. ;-)

Anyway, I really ought to be getting some sleep now. It's been a busy day, and tomorrow promises to be just as busy. If the weather continues to be so darn nice, then life will be good, no matter what happens. How can you be upset when it's sunny and not hot?

Finally Here

Well it took forever, but I'm at the conference now. Haven't checked in yet--I got here too late to--but I'll do that first thing in the morning. Really, there's not much for me to report just yet. I'm apprehensive about tomorrow. First time at the conference, and it'll be time for me to interview with one of the schools face to face, as well. I just heard back from the third phone interview from last week, and they've decided they're no longer interested in me, which is disappointing, but I can't always have good news to report. I really just have to keep reminding myself that this weekend isn't a make or break situation. If I get an offer, I get an offer. If I don't, then there will be other jobs that come along. I can tell myself that, but getting myself to actually believe it is the tricky part.

ALA

I just finished looking over the schedule for ALA, and I have to admit I'm getting pretty excited for this conference. How in the world am I going to have time to do everything I want to do, though? There are so many panels, exhibitors, parties and keynotes--it's overwhelming. Right now I'm packing and just hoping that I don't forget anything too important. And I'm trying not to think about the flight.

In the good news category, I got my diploma from Florida State today, so it's all official. School is totally over for me. Thank goodness.

Anyway--I ought to go work on packing some more. Hopefully I'll have some time to blog over the weekend, but I'm not making any promises.

Lesana Update

I just finished rewriting the climax of Lesana (now titled Vodnik or Vodniks Bite--I'm not entirely sure which. Any preferences?) I still have a fair amount of denoument to do, but this was over 9,000 Microsoft word count words worth of revision today, with a lot of that being brand new material. I must say that I'm very pleased with the improvements I've made to the climax. I feel like it's working much more smoothly and clearly, and that helps a ton. There remains a few more trouble spots that I'll have to go back and address in the book before I can completely be done with the second draft, but I'm almost there.

Thank goodness.

Then, all that remains is for me to go through and polish each chapter, adding sensory details that I often forget and then trimming them down by 10 to 20 percent--tightening the story and making sure it flows well. I can't wait to be done and send this puppy off. When I'm through with it, right now I'm definitely feeling like it'll be the best thing I've ever written, which is a very nice feeling indeed.

Of course, that feeling might change, depending on the scene I'm working on. Still, the end is in sight, even if at times the end seems to backpedal on me.

Now I really need to wind down so I can fall asleep. I always have trouble if I write too closely before bedtime, but I didn't want to interrupt the flow tonight. A little lost sleep is a worthy sacrifice.

Life of a Gold Farmer

I just read a fascinating article in the New York Times Magazine about gold farming--the practice of players earning fake money in an online game and then selling it for real money.  If you're in to online gaming at all, check out the article.

Getting Ready

I hate flying.  Period.  I'm tall, so the seats are cramped, and add to that bad food, grumpy passengers, flight delays and turbulence, and what is there to like, frankly?  So whenever it comes time for me to take a trip, I have a sort of love/hate thing.  I'm excited to go, but I dread the getting there.  Right now I'm gearing up for my trip on Thursday.  It was originally just supposed to be a five day thing, but now with the addition of the university interviewing leg, it's up to a week.  I fly Thursday, have an in-person interview with one college Friday, have the conference Saturday and Sunday, fly again Monday, have another interview all day Tuesday, and fly home Wednesday.  It will be busy, but it'll all be worth it if I emerge from the weekend with a new job.  If I don't . . . then I don't.  I really do believe that wherever I'm supposed to end up, that's where I'll end up.  Of course, it's one thing to believe that and another to actually have to wait and find out where that is.  Sometimes I wish I could just peek into the future and take a shortcut to get to wherever I'm going anyway, but I guess that would defeat the purpose.  Sigh.

Thank You Sir, May I Have Another

I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but . . . more good news.  I have an in-person interview set up as a follow up for the interview yesterday.  I'll be back for ALA, so it'll work nicely.  And then, tomorrow morning I have yet another phone interview.  When it rains, it pours.  I'm so exhausted from this week, but it's been very rewarding.  Now I'll just have to see how these jobs turn out.

Good News Continues

I had yet another successful interview today with another East Coast school.  No word yet on whether they want to talk to me in person or not, but I feel like I did as best as I possibly could have, so no regrets, which is always the important thing in my book.  Other than that, today's been a pretty busy day.  The conference just ran in the morning, so my afternoon was filled with work at the library followed by scheduling my plane trips for the upcoming interviews.  I think by the time all these are over, I'm really going to need a break.  Not that I'm complaining, but there you have it.

I have about 35 pages left of Lesana to rewrite, and then I'll be ready to start polishing.  Yesterday I fixed another big problem with the book, which gives me a very satisfying feeling.  I know that this second draft still has issues.  But they're much smaller scale issues--issues that take little brainstorming and imagination to fix.  If this were a sculpture, the basic form is there, and now I'll just have to chisel and polish.  It's shaping up to be a good book.

Great News

Today was the day of great news.  In the order of things as I found them out:

• I had my meeting with the HarperCollins editor, and she really enjoyed my first chapter.  She wants to see the entire manuscript, and she was very positive about my other story ideas, too.  A hearty thank you to all you readers out there who helped evaluate my chapter--it was well worth it.  So now I just need to finish the rewrites and drafts and send it to her.  I told her it would probably take about a month.  She said that was fine.  I left the meeting feeling like things couldn't get better.  They did.
• I received a phone call from one of the places I've interviewed, and they want to fly me out for more interviews.  More fantastic news.  I'll be going for three days to the East Coast, lengthening my ALA stay by that many days.  They're only having three people make campus visits, and they must like me quite a bit if they're willing to shell out the money for the flights and lodging and all.
• My wife's thesis study results came back, and it worked.  It actually showed what she hoped it would, so now all she has to do is write the darn thing.

So there you have it.  All in all, days don't get much better than this.  And you know what?  Even if I don't get the job, or the book deal, it doesn't change the fact that I'm getting close to the job or the book deal.  Very positive.  I'd celebrate--but I have too much writing and reading to do.  I have another interview (with a different place) tomorrow, and the writing conference is still going all day, plus I have to make an appearance at work tomorrow, too.  It's going to be busy.  And then I'm going camping this weekend.  Quite hectic, but at least I'm chipper.  Toodles.

BYU WIFYR Conference Update

So the first day of the conference is done, and it was quite a success.  I really enjoy having the chance to go and meet other writers and hear from authors and editors--always worthwhile.  Dave Wolverton's class has 14 of us in all, and they range in age from a couple of years younger than me to quite older.  It'll be interesting to see what their writing styles are like.

One of the high points of my day, suprisingly, was lunch.  I ate at the Morris Center by DT, a place I haven't eaten since Freshman year.  I had remembered the food as being awful, but now I quite enjoyed it.  They had a large selection of fruit and vegetables, and a killer dessert bar.  Plus, all the chocolate milk I can drink.  And they only charge $6.75 with tax for this?  That's great.  On the sort of sad side of things, on my way over there I discovered they've torn down V and W halls, where I lived Freshman year.  I knew it was going to happen eventually--I just didn't realize it had already occurred.  I'm sort of sad by it, but . . . they weren't that great, anyway, so I guess it's for the best.

And finally, I wanted to look over my notes and give a good example of what I learned today.  Besides the personal invitations by the editors there (from HarperCollins and Delacorte) to submit to them (an invitation given to all conference attendees--one of the best reasons to go to things like this), I liked this tidbit on learning to write good dialogue.  Think of a book that had impressive dialogue, and then go through a few pages and highlight the actual dialogue--anything between quotation marks.  Study the rhythm of what's going on and how the author is doing what he or she is doing.  I'm a big fan of learning to write by reading, and I think I should do something like this with different elements I struggle with.  Plotting, foreshadowing, etc.--take the time to really study how a good author is doing something, and then try to emulate it.

Oh--one more thing.  I watched Sixteen Candles the other day for the first time, and I loved it.  My favorite part of it is rather obscure, though.  John Cusak's character in it is named Bryce.  Right spelling and everything.  I found that very cool.

And that's all I have time for tonight.

Mini Golf

Today the event on the agenda was mini golf.  I took the family over to Trafalga for a round, and I have to say . . . I wasn't impressed with the place.  I'd never been there before, and I don't think I'll go again.  My son had a great time, so that was good, my wife and I were pretty disappointed with how run down it all seemed.  Cascade Golf was much nicer, so it gets my vote for the Orem Mini Golf award.

Other than that, it's late, so I don't have much time to write.  Just finished watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and before that I watched First Blood (Rambo)--two movies that are about as different as you can get.  I enjoyed them both, but honestly, I thought Rambo won the match.  Figures.

Interviews

I got another job interview offer today, so it's now scheduled for next Wednesday.  I'm feeling much more optimistic about this whole job seeking process now.  I guess it just took some time before things started clicking.

I've had two people take me up on my plea for readers.  I'd love to have more.  Anyone else?  Pretty please?

And on the "good movies you should see" front, I watched Blood Diamond the other day.  Fantastic movie.  Excellent conflicts and characters and setting, but it's brutal.  It made me very glad I've never bought a diamond in my life.  Yikes.

Commentary and a Headache and Sundry Matters

First of all, here's this week's commentary on Cavern of Babel.  Up to chapter eighteen, believe it or not.

Second of all, I have a headache.

Third of all, with me out of a writing group for now, I NEED READERS.  Yes, this means YOU.  Whoever you are.  Do you want to read one of my books in rough form?  Are you willing to write down when you get bored or confused, or when you laugh or like what's going on?  Then email me or post a comment.  I have two books right now that I'm in the process of getting ready to send out in an attempt to get published.  The first, Lesana, is in the midst of a second draft right now, and I'll need readers for it in a couple of weeks or a month.  The second, Ichabod, only got writing grouped about a fourth of the way, so I need brave readers who can deal with real first draft material, and I need them NOW.  Reading either of these--or both--would help me a great deal, but you'd be reading for critiquing, not necessarily enjoyment.  Sound like something for you?  Then please volunteer.  Thanks.

Republican Debate

I watched again tonight. Having ten candidates up there seems a little silly to me. Most of them have no chance whatsoever, and I question the need to have them there. It makes it look less like politics and more like a circus. It also makes it so that there's less of a real debate and more of a "everyone clamoring to try and be heard and make an impression on the audience." At least this one seemed to focus more on the major candidates, but I'd still prefer fewer candidates and more real debating. But maybe that's just me.

Interviews

So the phone interview is done, and I feel like it went well. The job seems like it's more technology-oriented than I thought it was at first. It makes me wonder what my competition is like. Phone interviews are strange, since you're trying to make an impression with your voice alone. I think it would be interesting to be on the other side one of these times. Anyway, with this job, I'll just have to wait and see what happens. They're going to fly out the top few candidates, so maybe I'll get a trip out of it.

Then again . . .

It's hard to persist in being optimistic and upbeat when you keep getting daily reminders in the mail that people don't like you.  Or at least like other people more than you.

But that's okay.  Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it--people like me.

Too bad the people who like me don't have any hiring capabilities.

Anyway, tomorrow I have a phone interview, so we'll see how that goes.  And in the "good news" category, the Lesana rewrite is going swimmingly.  I'm on page 116 out of 193 of the second draft.  I know it's going to need more polish, but I think I'm getting it into much better shape than it was.  It'll probably be four drafts until it's ready to submit, but I've got the time . . .

Optimism

First of all, sorry I spaced it yesterday and forgot to post to my blog.  I'm atoning for that by posting on a weekend--aren't I nice?  I've been sort of analyzing my outlook on life, and I think I need to be more positive.  I need to enjoy successes I have, no matter how small.  I think right now, I'm stuck in a "stressed out" frame of mind.  In other words, I'll stress about doing something or getting something, and then when it's done or gotten, I'll immediately start stressing about what I'm going to do next.  I don't take time to enjoy having something accomplished.  There's always going to be a reason to be stressed.  There's always going to be something else that needs doing.  But if you never take time to celebrate accomplishment, you're always going to feel overworked, overburdened--over-whatevered.  Sometimes I think so much of life is just a mindset--how you choose to feel about things.  I'd really like to choose to be less stressed about things that aren't in my control.  Unfortunately, it's one thing to want that, and another thing to actually do it.  But I'm going to try, and that's something right there, isn't it?  Anyway--time to get to work on some writing.  Till next week!