Speaking of originality, do you know what 6 out of 7 people say when I tell them I'm an author? "Oh, maybe you'll be the next Stephenie Meyer!" The only comfort I find in this statement is that in the past, she was told that maybe she would be the next JK Rowling. It also makes me wonder if people tell JJ Abrams that maybe one day he'll be the next George Lucas.
But none of that has anything to do with today's post. I just thought you should know about my pet peeve before you go and make me all peevish when you introduce me to your friends as "the next Stephenie Meyer." Which, thank you for putting me in the same league, but no thank you.
Today's post has to do with what the other 9 out of 10 people say when I tell them I'm an author. "Oh how fun!" I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but being an author really isn't "fun." It's certainly rewarding and fulfilling ... and sometimes downright enjoyable. But mostly, it's a lot of hard work. And a lot of anxiety.
I'll admit, writing used to be fun when it was just a hobby. But the moment I started putting my writing out there for honest and blunt critiques, it became a roller coaster ride of a relationship. I've had critiques that have had me so crippled that I second-guess every word I type. The one that said that I don't appear to "have an exceptional command of the English language" was particularly painful. If English was my second language, I would have taken that as a compliment. I've had days (MANY days) where I've cried my eyes out and sworn that I'd never write again. But separating me from my overactive imagination is like separating oil from water. Oh wait, I guess that's the wrong analogy. It's like separating the peanut butter filling from the chocolate coating of a Reese's PB cup. It could be done, but it would be messy. And pointless.
Now that I've published books, there's also a lot of busywork that needs done. It takes a TON of time to get your book listed everywhere it needs to be, plus asking for reviews and tons of edits and so on and not so forth. So while the writing, in and of itself, can be amusing and gratifying, being an author is work. It's a job that is just as hard and real as any other out there.
There are jobs out there that I would consider fun. Like working at a circus. Actually, being part of the circus would be the fun job. Being a pooper scooper wouldn't be. Working at a Chuck E Cheese would be fun. Oh no, wait: I mean playing at a Chuck E Cheese would be fun. (If you are under the age 10.) I'm drawing a complete blank on other jobs that could be considered fun. What jobs do you guys think could be considered fun?
I feel like I'm being angsty. I'm not saying I hate my job. Not at all (at least not today)! I'm just trying to help clear up misconceptions related with my line of work. It's the same kind of misconception that people have with stay at home moms, who are lucky to not have to "work."
Speaking of hating jobs though ... have you ever had a job that you really hated? The one job that I couldn't tolerate was working at Little Caesars Pizza when I was 17. That smell didn't leave my nose for at least 6 months after I quit--and I only worked there for a few months. It was hot, messy and I think they use glue instead of gluten in the dough because it would only wash off my skin if I exfoliated with shark's teeth.
Where have you worked? What jobs have you loved/hated? Have you had a job that was pure FUN?
AND ... this will be the winning week for April. I'll tell you the prize right now, so you don't have to have any sleepless nights wondering what you could win. It's a paperback copy of The Reign of Trees. Finally! It will available for purchase on Amazon starting next Monday ... but YOU could be the first to win it! AND AND, I'm going to select 2 random winners this week, just because I'm nice like that.
But wait! There's more! I have a special project that I will be announcing on Thursday, so even if you don't care about winning, (that means you WANT to be a loser. Hmm, are you OK with that?) come back on Thursday to see what I'm up to. OK? OK!
9 comments:
Lori, now I don't want to be an author when I grow up. Shoot. Maybe I'll just have to keep it at the hobby level forever. But I was so looking forward to making a buck on my book... boo hoo!
I haven't had formal employment outside the home since I started having kids, but I've done lots of different things over the years.
My very favorite job of all time was probably either working as a full-time secretary at the BYU Housing office--I love organizational office work--or, working at the MTC Copy Center for BYU Print Services. Yes, that was awesome. I loved seeing the enthusiastic missionaries everyday and seeing all of their foreign language helps, and letters from home, and laminating pictures of Christ...we had a blast.
I also really enjoyed working at Aspen Grove family summer camp in Utah, where I tended the 0-2-year olds for about 6 hours a day. I love babies. Toddlers, not as much now, but babies, yes. I did not enjoy the grounds work or the kitchen work they made me do, though. There were lots of perks to working there though, like playing racquetball everyday, using the pool, providing firesides and Sunday services for the guests, seeing visiting celebrities (I saw Russell M. Nelson in a bathing suit in the pool with his grand kids, ha ha!), etc.
I didn't really love working at Burger King, but it was a lot more fun than you'd think. Mostly because of the staff.
I do love being an independent demonstrator for Stampin' Up!, which is why I've stuck with it for 13 years, but I don't love the marketing part. That's the part that makes me think about quitting. (Again, this is why I will probably not become a successful author...boo hoo...)
I deliver newspapers with my son, and I love the fresh air that gives me once a week.
I teach music lessons, and that's very fulfilling! Not 100% fun, but just a little bit fun. I have 5 good students right now. It would be nice if they practiced more, but you take what you can get.
I hope I win the paperback of your book!
My worst job was having to clean the movie theater at home. I hated having to clean the men's bathroom and the toilet cleaner smelled like those little wintergreen mints, so I hate the smell of those. Even walking past them in the candy aisle of Walmart, the smell makes me gag. Which is unfortunate, because they're one of Steve's favorites. (He's not allowed to have them around me.) Also, you don't even want to know the things you find in a movie theater. The other bad thing was the smell of popcorn and constantly smelling like it. I generally can't stand the smell or taste of popcorn anymore.
The good thing about the theater was free movies all the time and seeing people when they'd come in, like a handsome guy I went to high school with that was back on a break from working in Hawaii. He never did ask for my number though.
I really loved my landscaping and construction jobs. I got to be outside all summer, doing hard labor (weird how much I loved that, I know), and I would get super tan. I still miss doing that in the summer.
The most annoying thing I hear about my job when people find out I work in Special Ed is "You must be so patient!" Nope, not even a little bit. It only takes extra patience when a kid is having a meltdown and for the most part, that doesn't happen very often. The real heroes are the ones working with the severe students that have to work on life skills like toilet training, something I could never do, especially with 12 year olds.
I would love for my job to be a stay at home mom... maybe in a few years I can have that one.
Jenna: K, now I feel super bad for bursting your bubble. And I feel like a whiner/complainer/Negative Nancy. I might just delete this post and change it to something simple like, "What flavor of gum is the best?" I guess any job can be fun, as long as you make it that way. It's just that I'm still like a teenager and I think that work is supposed to be a drag! :) (I don't think teens use that word anymore though.) Look at Mike Rowe: he has fun doing even the dirtiest of jobs! Maybe I should audition to be his co-host. The Aspen Grove job does sound cool. I'll babysit the toddlers--I love that age, especially when they aren't mine!
Nicole: Eew, don't think I could clean the men's bathroom. But ... did you check to see if that handsome guy left HIS number on a bathroom stall for you? (Oh funny story, we found Brent's # in a bathroom in Whitefish. He wasn't pleased.) I hope you can work at home someday too ... but I'm glad you have such an important, meaningful job. Those kiddos would be lost without you!
I LOVE my SAH Mom job! Nothing better in the world! Giving knowledge and skills to the next generation, managing my own little kingdom, weeding out essentials from non-essentials, building kids' self-esteem, working daily to develop Christ-like attributes (those don't come when things are easy); I love the challenges, the opportunities, the committment, the freedom, the personal refinement, the inspiration from Heaven, and the thorough joy that comes from intentional parenting (and intentional marriage). Best job in the world!
I'm glad I had experience in the district attorney's office before I became a parent - it gave me eyes to see more cleary the cause and effect of many parental decisions (or lack thereof).
My hero, Julie Beck, has said that there is no such thing as a glamorous job. I agree with her. But there are rewarding and meaningful jobs; and shaping the next generation and helpiing our Heavenly Father's children see their divine potential are those kinds of jobs!
My worst job was Clothestime. I had to pick up after everyone, and basically do laundry all day. My funnest job......wait....wait....wait......
HOT DOG ON A STICK. If you don't know what that is for South westerners, it's a corn dog, and lemonade stand. We had to wear tiny shorts, and tall yellow, red, and blue striped hats. If you don't know to what I am referring, google it. It's definitely worth the pic. It was fun, except for we always had men sit out in the food court in the mall and watch us make lemonade (again, google it). It was so creepy. Especially since I was 16.
One more comment. I was at a Sonic once, and the bathroom was outside. I went inside, and let's just say that someone had tummy trouble, and didn't even bother to make the toilet.... I would have hated to be on bathroom duty at Sonic that day. Actually, I would have quit, PERIOD!
Paulashawnwhoisarayofsunshine: Our parents knew what they were doing when they named you after the Ms. Optimism herself, Pollyanna. Would you like to write us a mother's themed post for Mother's Day?
Team C: I know this Hot Dog On A Stick you speak of, as I also used to work in a mall in UT. There was a Cinnabon right across from the HDOAS, and I visited that area of the mall all too much, which probably accounts for my current distaste for cinnamon rolls. And how odd, I don't like hot dogs, but now you have me craving a corn dog! I'm glad you could make old men happy, that's a noble job. (Eew, icky, uck, uck, uck.) You won't make your daughter get a job there, will you? And your second comment? HOLY CRAP! LITERALLY! I once had to clean up a flood from a extremely backed up toilet while working at that same place in the mall, but at least it was just the employee's bathroom. There should be a crew you can call in for such disasters. It could be called "The Potty People" and their slogan could be "We Do The Do Do You Don't Want To Do." (I know, I belong in the advertising industry.)
Lori, you're asking the WRONG girl about jobs. As a person who's never officially been employed I shouldn't even comment but I will so ha! No, I've had babysitting, housecleaning, and gardening jobs. I think the gardening for school and local gardens was the most legit because everything else was for people in my ward. But I'm trying REALLY hard to get a job right now, heaven knows I'm trying. But there's this thing about no one giving me work because I have "no previous job experience." Uh, HELLO! You could be the one who GIVES me that job experience. I can't have it unless given the chance. Gah! Sorry rant of the day over. Using creator and effective language. (I hate college courses that make me do this[scratch that, college courses don't "make" me do anything. it's all a matter of choice and bettering myself *grumble grumble grumble]) I'm just tired and should go to bed so I don't force my victimized and ineffective language on you all. Night! Excited to see your surprise Lori!
Devree: You could apply with "The Potty People." You could really learn to do your doodee. You actually need to learn to pad your resume. Instead of babysitting, you were an au pair. Instead of housecleaning, you were a household organizational consultant. Instead of gardening, you were a landscape artist. See how much better that sounds? Good luck on the job hunt.
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