Lately, I’ve been yearning to become more active – in all aspects. I want to play a larger role in everything I’m involved with – in everything I enjoy.
I can’t pinpoint the reason for this feeling (nor is the reason important) but for the last week or so, it’s been overwhelming. I’m sensing a major change, but what exactly is it? Could it be my upcoming wedding? A change to my career?
Contrary to what many of you see here, I’ve been writing a lot more – mainly essays about my career and bits and pieces of my book. Am I in the middle of some sort of “writer’s enlightenment”?
Or am I on the threshold of a new beginning altogether?
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Giving Inspiration... Or Receiving It?
I was asked to speak to a “Writing in Advertising and Fundraising” class at Pitt tonight. This was my third such panel discussion. I brought the usual with me – samples of my writing on the job (which originated from an internship – so I’m basically the “poster boy” for Pitt’s Writing Program).
I shared the panel with three other students who graduated sometime after me. I figured, “I’m the elder. I’ll show these kids how to give a panel discussion!”
I entered the classroom pumped full of vigor, prepared to take on the role of “cool kid who recently graduated.” Unfortunately, I was the last to tell my “success story” and by the time I got to speak, all the good advice had already been given!
I actually started off quite confident. I even began with a witty remark:
“I should have made more notes. There’s so much I would like to say!”
Nobody laughed. It wasn’t funny anyway. Shit.
As I stumbled through my short bio, I could feel my face getting redder by the second. By the time I shared my writing samples, I honestly thought my head was going to explode. Really. I really thought my head would blow up and send pieces of brain across the room. I was sweating too – much like a fat man jogging through Mt. Lebanon.
But I wasn’t jogging. I just sat there and sort of ran through my piece which happened to be the briefest of the afternoon.
After class, the students had a chance to talk with us individually. My fellow panelists happily distributed business cards to prospective interns while I sat there (the one who had his “new” job the longest) simply cardless.
Shit!
That was my defining moment. It’s time to move on and look for another job. Sure, I’ve been browsing here and there, but I think it’s time to intensify the job search a bit. Find a better position, a better pay and a deck of business cards.
Then one of the students approached me. She was interested in an internship with my senior-living organization. “I’ve called Bingo for a while,” she said. “So I know a lot of grandmas.”
Okay. I’ll stay where I’m at for a little longer (if she honestly wants an internship). However, I will still go through with intensifying the job hunt.
After the panel discussion, I decided to take a drive to Shadyside and search for the elusive Creative Nonfiction Magazine that supposedly has associations with a lot of big-name writers. I’ve known about the magazine for several years now, and I wanted to know more about it. After touring the Shadyside business district for about 10 minutes, I found my sought-after land of potential opportunity!
The door was locked. Shit!!
Bored out of my mind with a half hour on the meter, I sat on a bench across from the Creative Nonfiction office and called Laura to share my woes and hardships. As I yakked away on the bench, I noticed someone exiting the Nonfiction office – it was the mysterious godfather of the genre himself – Lee Gutkind! Or at least I think it was him. We made eye contact and I managed an inaudible “Hi” as he scurried down the street.
Shit!!! What was I supposed to say? Should I have said something? Why did I come so unprepared?!
I’ve realized a lot tonight. It’s time for change. It’s time to search for a new job. It’s time to write more (a lot more). And it’s time to prepare my portfolio for whatever may come my way!
If you or anyone you know has a lead into any nonprofit fundraising work in Pittsburgh or the surrounding areas, feel free to drop me a line. Isn’t networking what the internet is all about?
I shared the panel with three other students who graduated sometime after me. I figured, “I’m the elder. I’ll show these kids how to give a panel discussion!”
I entered the classroom pumped full of vigor, prepared to take on the role of “cool kid who recently graduated.” Unfortunately, I was the last to tell my “success story” and by the time I got to speak, all the good advice had already been given!
I actually started off quite confident. I even began with a witty remark:
“I should have made more notes. There’s so much I would like to say!”
Nobody laughed. It wasn’t funny anyway. Shit.
As I stumbled through my short bio, I could feel my face getting redder by the second. By the time I shared my writing samples, I honestly thought my head was going to explode. Really. I really thought my head would blow up and send pieces of brain across the room. I was sweating too – much like a fat man jogging through Mt. Lebanon.
But I wasn’t jogging. I just sat there and sort of ran through my piece which happened to be the briefest of the afternoon.
After class, the students had a chance to talk with us individually. My fellow panelists happily distributed business cards to prospective interns while I sat there (the one who had his “new” job the longest) simply cardless.
Shit!
That was my defining moment. It’s time to move on and look for another job. Sure, I’ve been browsing here and there, but I think it’s time to intensify the job search a bit. Find a better position, a better pay and a deck of business cards.
Then one of the students approached me. She was interested in an internship with my senior-living organization. “I’ve called Bingo for a while,” she said. “So I know a lot of grandmas.”
Okay. I’ll stay where I’m at for a little longer (if she honestly wants an internship). However, I will still go through with intensifying the job hunt.
After the panel discussion, I decided to take a drive to Shadyside and search for the elusive Creative Nonfiction Magazine that supposedly has associations with a lot of big-name writers. I’ve known about the magazine for several years now, and I wanted to know more about it. After touring the Shadyside business district for about 10 minutes, I found my sought-after land of potential opportunity!
The door was locked. Shit!!
Bored out of my mind with a half hour on the meter, I sat on a bench across from the Creative Nonfiction office and called Laura to share my woes and hardships. As I yakked away on the bench, I noticed someone exiting the Nonfiction office – it was the mysterious godfather of the genre himself – Lee Gutkind! Or at least I think it was him. We made eye contact and I managed an inaudible “Hi” as he scurried down the street.
Shit!!! What was I supposed to say? Should I have said something? Why did I come so unprepared?!
I’ve realized a lot tonight. It’s time for change. It’s time to search for a new job. It’s time to write more (a lot more). And it’s time to prepare my portfolio for whatever may come my way!
If you or anyone you know has a lead into any nonprofit fundraising work in Pittsburgh or the surrounding areas, feel free to drop me a line. Isn’t networking what the internet is all about?
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