Wednesday, May 7, 2014

What I call myself besides chronically unemployed....

I call myself a writer.  That's partly true.  However, I've been unemployed for nine years.  I used to work as an analytical chemist for a pharmaceutical company in Des Moines, IA.  After I became ill, I left that job.

But that company folded a year or two ago.  Now, I no longer have a verifiable work history.  The part-time jobs I've applied for have been courtesy clerks/baggers.  I've gotten nowhere with the two different grocery chains I've applied to in St. Louis, MO.

For kicks and grins, I reapplied to one of them electronically.  Several days later, I checked the status of the application.  It said, "No longer under consideration."  The company hadn't even filled the position.

So much for my bruised ego.  But that was to be expected given my outdated work history.  In this economy, if you're out of work for six months, no one wants to touch you.  I can't even imagine what an HR person would say for someone unemployed for ten years.

I've been dealing with my family's medical conditions too much to really work part-time.  I don't know from day to day or week to week what I'll be doing.  That would make it hard on a work schedule.  It's been even rough to find time to write with all the zaniness in my life currently.

I haven't tried looking for work in my old career since last year.  My scientific skills have atrophied.  I'm not current on the latest HPLC technology.  Most of the jobs I applied for are beneath my education or skill level.

Then again, in this economy, any job is a good job.  So I continue the charade of calling myself a writer and taking care of my parents...

Thursday, May 1, 2014

BETA Short Stories

I spent the past two weeks revising several short stories for submission.  One story is complete and ready to go.  The other could stand more critiquing being I submit it.  I have several more short stories for the WUTA critique group.

But life has gotten in the way of me getting to the meetings on Tuesday evenings.  I'll make it next week (finally).  But I'm bringing poetry for a change.  The two short stories will be read over the next two months.  I'll start rewriting them as soon as I get feedback from WUTA.