The Sunday Salon (May 29)
Visiting NYC drove one thing into me: there really isn’t anything for me to do here in Albuquerque. I’ve dithered about it for a few years, but what I really want to do is work in publishing. I don’t want to teach, I don’t want to be a librarian, I don’t want to be a researcher and I don’t want to just work in a bookstore. Those are all nifty jobs and I’d probably enjoy doing them for at least a little while, but for the long term? I want to be in publishing.
I used to think I wanted to be in editing specifically, but the more I learn about other aspects of publishing the more I find myself drawn to areas outside of editing– by which I mean more on the publicity/marketing side of things. I’d get to work with authors, editors and readers, and I think that’d be something I’d really enjoy doing the most.
But. But– there isn’t really anything like that here in Albuquerque. I don’t even really think there’s something like that in Santa Fe, which has a ton of indie publishers but no real jobs. All the literary things I’ve found in Albuquerque are either dead, not hiring, or on their way to dying. Not even the bookstores or libraries, which would at least get me semi-close to books, are doing any hiring, and basically the whole thing is very discouraging.
This is totally related to my post. I swear!
So I guess I need to move. This bit is tricky though, because I feel like to get a good internship I’d need to be in the city, because isn’t it true that business hire local people before non-local? But to move to a new city I’d also need some way to support myself, which means on top of the internship I’d need to find a part-time job. Plus then I’d need an apartment, some funds to move my stuff to the city, and all in all it’s a lot of things to and I don’t know how to do any of it.
I think if I’m going to do anything I’ve just got to throw myself into it and hope it works out. It’s huge and scary, the prospect of moving to a new city, but my parents will support me and if something goes terribly wrong I know they’ve got my back. Plus I’ve got friends everywhere, more friends than I thought I did, and that helps a lot as well. It’s surprisingly easier to make a decision when you know you’ve got people rooting for you and willing to help you if you need it.
And now I’m kind of crying because I get overly sentimental about things, so I’ll end this post here. Basically: I’m going to be moving some time before October (preferably sooner, like in August) and I’m going to give this working-in-publishing thing a go. But first I need to pick a city, haha!
So much to do, so little time to do it– time to start freaking out again.
Books read this week:
45. First Descent – Pam Withers [rating: TBD] B
46. Dead End in Norvelt – Jack Gantos [rating: TBD] B
47. The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman – Meg Wolitzer [rating: TBD] B
Currently reading:
I’m fifty pages into Sparrow Road by Sheila O’Conner, a YA book that’s really reminding me of Louise Fitzhugh’s books, with a bit of E. L. Konigsburg. And maybe a bit of Vivian Alcock? I like it! The atmosphere in the book varies between lazy summer days and creepy, “omg something freaky is going on.” Raine, the protagonist, is super cute and really smart and I can’t wait to continue reading and see what she does next.
Sponsors
A new month and a new sponsor in the top left corner! From now until the end of July Revolutionary Party will be up there looking vaguely dangerous and exciting. Woohoo!
Also, I’ve got books for sale at Half.com! And there’s free/cheap ebooks listed over at Free (& Cheap) Reads.
Nifty, huh? (Although I think this only works if I’m following you. So that’s a snag.)
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