make a living

I had an interview for a really great job on Thursday and also got invited to interview for the teacher residency next month! Meanwhile, if neither one of those work out I still have an open-ended temp job lined up. Next month, I will actually be bringing home a decent income!

I completed my initial application for the teacher residency this week and I also have an interview for a part time job on Monday AND a temp job lined up for the rest of next week. Yay me!

-Interview with yet another temp agency
-Appointment with a career counselor at my alma mater
-Info session for teacher residency

I also worked on my freelance business today. I’m working on a query and my website. I also got started on an article I’m doing on spec (yuck! but fingers crossed).

Applied for some part and full-time vet assistant jobs yesterday.

Sent out an invoice to someone who owes me money for writing work.

Working on my teacher residency app.

Kind of discouraging. Have another interview with a third agency next week.

I’ve decided that what I really need to do here is focus. I’ve registered with two temp agencies for some “day job” income (hopefully!), but I’m going to spend the rest of my time focusing on my freelance journalism career.

I quit my job back in September, despite the horrible economy, because I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown if I didn’t. I haven’t regretted it for a minute, but now my savings are getting low and freelance writing isn’t bringing in enough money to live on yet so I need to start putting some other irons in the fire.

So here’s what I’ve got going now:

-I put in my resume with four temp agencies.
-I began filling out an application for a teacher residency program.
-I’m working on one article (on spec, bleagh, but at a decent pay rate)
-I’m working on a query for another article
-I’ve started working on the copywriting side of my freelancing business a little more
-I’m selling various things I no longer need for some extra cash
-I’ve started an application to Groupon
-I’m writing a non-fiction book I plan to publish on Kindle

Other things I can try:
-Applying to more temp agencies and calling to follow up
-Apply to grad school
-Look for jobs at my alma mater which, luckily, I live very close to
-Try picking up babysitting/tutoring/petsitting work
-Try getting freelance work on bidding sites
-Look for work on the non-profit job boards
-Volunteer to do grant writing/communications for a non-profit to build up my experience
-Check out some “career” books at the library
-Try applying for retail/food service jobs (last resort)