Thursday, October 22, 2009

I am a walking stereotype


Today I interviewed at Borders for a position. A poet who works at a bookstore/coffee shop. I can't wait to hear back from them. Cough.

But money has never been more tight, I don't think. Which is a shame, because this will be my second job, if I get it (my first starts the 26th) and next month is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), something I'd like very much to participate in. And I may still, but man that's going to be one hell of a month. I already have a little bit of a novel written, and some outline done, so maybe it won't be so bad. Yeah.

But even the prospect of writing a novel brings about a certain amount of unease which poetry doesn't bring me. For instance, what I have written is potentially humorous, and would probably be classified in fantasy, though not high fantasy. And I'm already wondering, were I to sell the book to a publisher, would I want to use a pen name. There's that kind of a prejudice for genre fiction. I know it's stupid, and stupider (ha!) to worry about what I'm going to do when I break big on the novel I plan on writing in 30 days. But poets are daydreamers, when they aren't around a pen, aren't they?

In other news, I went to a reading by Frank X. Walker yesterday, and had to stand in the hallway to listen in. There is something very heart-warming even in seeing someone else get that kind of reception for poetry. At one point, someone asked Frank what kind of prejudice had he received as an African-American poet (people love that question, don't they? I think everyone revels, a little, in our struggle. haha) and he answered something along the lines that he didn't get a lot of prejudice for being black, but sometimes quite a bit from fiction writers. Anyone who is a poet will know why I think that's hilarious.

Onward, into more writing, more reading, more studying, more working, more applying for jobs. Always more, and seemingly, always for less money.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, hang in there!!

    I very much relate to your employment struggles (as I voiced before). Maybe you'll make some great contacts at Borders...be ready with your business card! :)

    Good luck, and remember--you have something valuable to offer employers (especially as a writer). As Suze Ormond would say, "You are not on sale!" I know it's cheesy, but it was helpful for me to remember to stop undervaluing my work (I still do it, as do many, many writers).

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  2. Good luck, Keith. I'm rooting for you, which sounds odd, because we don't know each other. But it hearts my heart to see anybody out of work. I am there...ha! I laughed out loud at your Borders' cough. I guess it's better than McDonald's.

    Maybe you could show us some excerpts from your novel when you feel like it. I'd love to read it. I enjoy your poetry very much.

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  3. Oh shoot..I was looking online for telecommuting work and I saw this for Kentucky residents only. Just passing it along http://www.vipdesk.com/employment/?RID=RRRBannersCSRKY102209

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  4. Thanks for the well wishes everyone!

    Julie, I hadn't even considered posting any of my novel here. I wonder why I think of anything non-poetry as a whole different unrelated world. I'll definitely think about it (I have no idea how well that would work. Although I suppose I have seen novel excerpts used well).

    JayTee. Thanks! I am wary of work-from-home jobs, but this appears as if it might actually be legit. haha. If I end up getting this as a job, I'll have to owe you one.

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  5. Frank X. Walker was interviewed for the article, "Photo Exhibit Showcases Black Poets." Please read it at http://alanwking.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/photo-exhibit-showcases-black-poets/

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