(no subject)

[avrelia]

I spent this week generally feeling tired or running like crazy around Toronto, looking for a job. The job keeps hiding from me. I decided to try and apply for a job in a bookstore, and went through most of the Chapters/Indigo/Coles in Toronto trying to engage in a meaningful conversation with managers about Life, The Universe, and my possible employment. Most of the times I actually managed to do it. That’s not to say I’ve got a job as a result. I guess, my complete lack of retail experience is a hindrance here. But may be it will still work out – some of the stores will be hiring in a month, and I told that I will remind about myself at the time.

But what do I do next?

Anyway, by this afternoon I felt very dead and had a headache. Slept couple of hours, got up without waking up and tried to write a cover letter for a position I really like. Do you want to know my painful secret? I suck at writing cover letters. Really bad. They turn out too clichéd, trite, and formal, or flippant and silly. No wonder I am unemployed – I cannot convince anyone to hire me. With all the useful job-searching stuff I forgot about writing. I have to write how many things? A lot. A while ago I finished a short story I was writing since May. Sent it to some friends for reviews and beta-editing. Some are still replying, but I already know what has to be changed – and am I editing it? Nope. Btw, it is in Russian, so I can seriously offer it to read only to a very small part of my flist.

Writing stories are so much more pleasurable activity than writing cover letters, yet I spent more time with the latter. ::sigh::

Apparently trying to catch up all Writercon reports is positively impossible, as well as commenting on all of those that I did catch up. Generally, I’ve got an impression of a happy blur with some minor annoyances.

Comments

[gobi-rex.livejournal.com]

Oh God, cover letters are the most dreaded part of the job search process for me. Well, except for interviews. [shudders] I feel your pain. Although by now I've accumulated so many cover letters that I cut and paste a lot. Yeah, very sincere of me.

I'd say keep following up with the people you talked to, you never know when they'll need somebody.

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

Two of the stores will be hiring at the end of August – so definitely will be following up. The others, too. I don’t have a problem writing somewhere I don’t care much about – cut and paste, etc. But when it is a place a really want to get an answer from, I am trying to write something special and stumble at every word. Of course, since I am rarely getting any answers from both types of places, I probably should save myself some time and not send the cut and paste one at all.

Unrelated: wanna see my story?

[gobi-rex.livejournal.com]

Your story? I'd be delighted. I don't know of how much help I'll be, however. But I'll try my best. My e-mail is king_gobi at yahoo.com. What kind of feedback would you like exactly?

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

I am curious about a general impression on a person who is not familiar with my writing. Because my friends more or less know what to expect of me, and I know that they like my style. I mean, it is a comfortable, but narrow circle, and I’d love to know whether I am too comfortable and how my writing looks from outside. So, is it intersting to read or not?