Life can be funny sometimes.  After two years of struggling to find a job in Los Angeles, any job, applying for any film related position I was even half qualified for and those I was overqualified for – 200+ resumes later, I only ever received two calls.  A week back in Vegas and I had two interviews, thanks to a friend with contacts.  To be honest (and hopefully my friend doesn’t ever see this), I didn’t really want either, but who was I to complain? So I sucked it up and decided which of them would be the lesser of two evils.  After two promising interviews, a week passed without any word.  Again I was faced with the prospect that I might continue to be jobless, and although yes, I was new to this market, I wasn’t sure how much more rejection I could take (especially when it’s not in reference to my screenwriting for which I know I’ll have to develop a thick skin).

I started another round of job hunting and ground my teeth in silence.  I won’t go into the recent economic downturn and how so many people lost their jobs and homes, because this isn’t about that, but the thought that you might have to take any job for any pay is neither encouraging nor appealing.

I want to be a writer.  I want Hollywood to come calling and for studios to get into bidding wars over my scripts, but that’s still a little ways off. 😉 So I figured I could try to find something within the realm of creativity and crossed my fingers as I searched the employment sites yet again.  And then there it was…content writer wanted.  I completely rewrote my cover letter, scoured my blog for a couple decent writing samples (one of which was my insight into Doctor Who which I would later discover was probably one of the best choices I made), and sent it off a little excited by the prospect.

And then I saw them.

Using my sister’s computer, so I could remain in the vicinity of my crazy dogs who are still not comfortable because they don’t have any of their own things (we’re still in my friend’s living room), for some unknown reason, her computer did not recognize two misspelled words.  Not big errors, two missing “i’s”, but there it was, strike one.  I had one friend try to reassure me by saying I probably didn’t want to work there anyway, but what an idiotic mistake.  I should know by now to never send anything off without another pair of eyes taking a pass.  As writers we all know we never see our own errors.

The following day, I received an email saying that they liked my samples and wanted to meet with me.  Score!  (I don’t know why I just said that.  I promise to not use it again.)

I called the office and asked to speak with the woman who had sent me the email, and had misread her name so I said it wrong, like really wrong…strike two.  I shook my head for some time after that one.

Set up the interview for the same day, and I was not prepared for that so I was running a few minutes late…strike three.

I was pretty sure that was it for me, but the interview was with the two heads of the department, and they’re fellow geeks, so my interview questions were not only based on my writing and capabilities, but who I thought might win in a battle between Godzilla and some weird hybrid of a terminator-like being made up entirely of crocodiles that had hive mentality.  When I sighed and said, “Why couldn’t you ask me about Captain America or Buffy?” they laughed.  I quickly discovered they were fellow Dragon Age enthusiasts, and that was it for me.  I knew I wanted to work with them.

A half an hour later I received a phone call, I got the job.  Seriously?!  I just got a job?  A real job, writing?  YES!  The only catch, I had to start the following morning at 8:30 am.  In the morning?

A few things – I hadn’t been up at 8:30 except if it was from the night before, and I had absolutely no clothes for an office environment.  I hadn’t worked in one in some 15 years, so it was off to every store in a 5 mile radius to find at least one pair of pants.  Besides the fact that about 75% of all my clothing is in storage, I really didn’t have anything to wear.  Luckily after four stores I found two pairs of pants and they will now be my staples until I can afford to buy a few more.  I forewarned those I work with about my limited attire, I know, such a girlie thing to be concerned about.  I doubt anyone will even notice as I’m seated at a desk for 8 hours a day.

So there it is.  I am now being paid to write.  How strange is that?

Now if only I could find a place to live, get settled in, and get familiar with this new routine, then all would be right in my world…well, almost. 😉  I have to figure out how after spending all that time in front of a computer writing I will want to write my own stuff?  Any tips are welcome and appreciated!

I wish you all well and hope you are working towards your goals!  Best wishes, my friends!