I Got Work To Do

nobody@vox.com(Mahoganie) — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:57:37 -0400

It's obvious. I got work to do.

My day has been a little off today. I didn't feel like venturing out. I've been a bit irritable. The contractors came by today to take some extra measurements, and all I wanted them to do was leave me alone in the process. My sister and her little women are in town, but I promised myself to meet up with them tomorrow. There is a family function tonight, but I didn't feel like going. I can easily blame my shut-in-ness on PMS, but really....I just hear Ron Isley crooning from afar in my head...

"I'm taking care of business, baby can't you see
I gotta make it for you, and I gotta make it for me
Sometimes it may seem girl I'm neglecting you
I'd love to spend more time
But I got so many things to do
Ooh, I got work to do, I got work baby
I got a job yeah I got work to do"

Feeling a bit rejected and almost dejected from a single email, I managed not to wallow in my pity. I kept thinking and seeing the situation in a positive light.

What happened?

Well, a few weeks ago a fellow journalism buddy help me revamp my resume and craft a cover/pitch letter to a major news publication. They were looking for a shopping columnist within their "Source" (wink - hint hint) department. The position seemed perfect as it was part-time and the subject is right up my alley. Yet, I believed I screwed up a bit in applying. In my hast, I applied for the position without running it by any one for a look over. I was confident enough to send my materials over as is. I showed my buddy what I sent after the fact and basically we came to the conclusion, it was pretty much a disaster for this particular go around. Things could have been spruced up, shorten and tightened a bit more.

We stayed up a bit late hammering out a new cover letter and revamping the resume. I resent my materials, beating the deadline, and awaited a response. I finally received one yesterday, to which the assignment editor wrote that I didn't have enough experience for the position.

*insert my deep inhale and tears ready to ball*

Of course I shared the news with my buddy and she suggested that I respond with a thank you and ask specifically what would have qualified me for the position. At first I was just going to let the issue go. However, my emotions (PMS) got the better of me. I sent the assignment editor a three liner, thanking her for the consideration, asking what would have qualified me and thanking her for any advice she could give me for future pitches.

A couple hours later a response. Without giving any further advice, she simply stated that the position calls for someone who has experience in writing about fashion and the arts.

Duh!

Shit!

I sold myself SHORT!!!!!!

I've done this before! Maybe not for five to ten years and granted it was for my college paper, but I basically spent almost two years writing on such subjects! I went to gallery/exhibit openings throughout the city. I've interviewed curators, artists and etc and reported back to campus.

In talking with my journalism buddy, she suggested that since the lines of communication are open that it's really up to me to not let it go stale. I've made the decision that I will be contacting the assignment editor in the next couple of days to pitch an idea to her for a freelance article. Perhaps that will be my chance to audition to show that I CAN do this!

What's interesting, as I was clearing more room for the renovations the other day I came across an old pitch letter I had written up. It was addressed to Fader Magazine. I had full intent to pitch a story concerning the house music scene here in DC. My angle for the story was straight - pun not intended. I had interviewed a couple of underground DJs and was on the path to interview more.... then a distraction hit. I believe it was during the time my mother had her mild stroke. I put everything to the side. Fader never got "the memo." Story.. nonexistent. Story...defunct.

I still may pick it up again, but I have to investigate to see if my angle will still work. If it is still fresh.

As for the idea I want to pitch to Ms. Assignment Editor...... I need to go WORK on that.

I Got Work To Do.

"It is not the man of great native talent who wins, but he who pushes his talent, however small, to its utmost capacity."

- From the book "Things Your Mother Always Told You But You Didn't Want to Hear" by Carolyn Coats

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Revamp My Future!

nobody@vox.com(Mahoganie) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:15:40 -0400

It's going on 2 am.

I have the munchies

I'm already showing signs of "morning breath"

My brain is churning

And I want to soak in a bubble bath to calm myself... yes at this bewitching hour.

I've been up all evening doing what I do best ... being a writer/editor

Errr forget that it hardly shows on some jack'd up blog entries I post unedited.

After doing my "mommy thing" I went into full editing mode.

Some for a small freelance gig.

The other part.....

Well....

The bulk of what I had to work on concerned me and any chance I have at scoring the jobs that I really want and (that I think) I am qualified for.

As much as I hate to admit it.. it was time for me to revamp my resume. I received much help from a close journalism buddy of mine - who, if I score this job of a lifetime I'll be singing her praise along with God's.

She stayed online with me as I reconstructed a cover letter from the bottom up, helping me to make sure it was short, tight and concise.

Then I showed her my resume....................

It was probably a news editor's worse nightmare...

It wasn't too bad from an outside journalistic point of view?

ok it was...I'm thankful for my friend for pointing things out from a journalism perspective.

What an editor looks for..what they don't care for...

I had a whole bunch listed that they wouldn't care for - yuck!

I will say it held up pretty good considering the interviews I've scored, including one that took place last Friday - which I'll discuss later if time permits. However as the story goes it usually isn't enough. I didn't have enough moxie to land it.

By the way.. I LOVE the word Moxie!

This time I want the landing. I want to make it stick!

It's late and she's gone to bed.

I'm about to hit up the fridge for a bowl of fresh strawberries.... after I brush my teeth.. and maybe jump in the shower to feel refreshed.

Thank Gawd I don't have a man waiting on me in bed right now.

I reak of the Snickerdoodle's breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tomorrow morning (later today) a final sweep of the resume and then it's off to........

I'm keeping it a secret until I know for sure they WANT me.

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Mahoganie: The Chronicals of a Komplex Phemale

I Got Work To Do

Revamp My Future!