My Google Search of Future Careers

What will you be when you don't grow up, Lizzy?

One of my favorite Mary Englebreit drawings

I'm in a rather cheery frame of mind regarding my future at the moment, so I thought I'd make myself a nice, multimedia list. Job descriptions, listings, and illustrations included. Kind of like a fun way of "doing my homework"?

Anyway, read on if you are interested and feel free to comment with thoughts. 

1. Obviously I will be an author. I say "obviously" because it is my dream. The occupation that I will never, ever give up on occupying. And now I've published that on the Internet, so (for those of you who didn't already know) it's official.

 It's kind of impossible to provide a job description for an author, because they/we all have their/our own methods of working, hours, etc. So here's J.K. Rowling's wiki page, 'cause she's basically living the dream, as far as I'm concerned. And here's an interview with Tamora Pierce, where she says things about fantasy that very much expresses my own thoughts on the genre. She's another of my favorite authors, who once said, either in a reading I went to or an interview I read, that she starts writing at noon every day and spends her mornings doing whatever she wants. Hello, my future.

Listing: You can't apply for author-ship. You can only write, submit, and pray. Or, write, exercise, and shower. Either way, or all of the above, but unfortunately without sending anybody your resume.

2. Journalist

The thing about journalism and me is that it's not the THING that I've wanted to do forever. You know, there's that kid who wrote for all his school papers and has already done four internships at various newspapers and watches the news like it's his favorite sitcom. And I'm just not that kid. I watch my favorite sitcom like it's my favorite sitcom. Period. (Actually, I have more than one. Specifically, they are New Girl and How I Met Your Mother. And then in the category of drama, there's Glee and Once Upon a Time. And I miss Gilmore Girls like crazy.) Writing fiction is my THING. I majored in creative writing, wrote stories starring my dolls and stuffed animals, and pranced (yes, pranced) around the house "reading" aloud something I made up out of my head while holding a book. (I have since honed my creative process. A little.) The point: I look at journalism not as a career path, but as a possible conduit for writing experience.

Listing: Editorial Intern, Syracuse, 2nd Nature LLC

3. Art director

I realize this is not a position one starts in, and this is an entirely unrealistic listing. So basically it's a pointless one. But I already looked up some stuff about being an art director, so it's getting included anyway. Plus I found a cute picture to go with it. So judge me.

Listing: Creative Director, Syracuse, Bankers Healthcare Group, Inc.


4. Public Relations

This is something I think I'd be good at on the writing side. No idea about anything else it entails, but it might be worth an internship to find out. I actually already applied to this listing, but I missed the (unspecified) fall deadline, so I'm planning to reapply in the winter. The cool thing about this one, though, is that I'd also get to work in an art museum, thus pleasing my artsy side. And actually, several of these internships look good to me as possible experiences, given that I am very open-minded about what I'd like to do career-wise outside author-ship.

Listing: Public Relations Internship, Syracuse, Everson Museum


5. Advertising/Marketing/Copywriting

Weird picture. I know. But relevant, in a tattoed-baby kind of way. (?)
Basically, my reasoning behind trying copywriting would be the same as my reasoning behind being a journalist or working in PR. It's another avenue for gaining writing experience. However, it is another really competitive field (anyone else noticing a pattern here?) in which I have only marginal interest. Basically, it would be a use-my-skills-to-pay-the-bills job until I can devote myself to being a full-time J.K. Rowling. Ahem, author.

Listing: Marketing Internship, Syracuse, Daily Orange, Corp.


6. Illustrator

Illustration by Page Tsou, more of his work here

I know this one is a bit out of left field. And it would require an education search, rather than a job search. But if I had unlimited money, this is only one of the things I would get a degree in. I love illustrations. I love art that inspires a story or a vision, that deepens the way you imagine a setting or characters. (Clearly I'm talking about book illustration here.) But again...super-competitive field. And a huge commitment, time-wise. If I were really going to be an illustrator, it would have to be my dream at least almost as much as writing is my dream. So it remains a big, fat, maybe. But it is still included in the list, as much because I want to explore a future in something artistic as anything else.


7. Something in design.

Okay, clearly, I'm getting lazy. And tired. Ouchy eyes tired. Making up words like "ouchy" and typing them out tired.

Anyway, those are the career possibilities I've given real thought to. Top choice is, as always, making up stories. Second choice would (if money were not an object) be something artsy, which would involve going back to school. (Actually, I will probably go back for my masters within the next few years, it's just that I want to do more artistically than I do now. I don't care if it results in a BFA, but my dream life includes art as well as writing. But I digress.) Third choice would be all these money-making using-what-I-learned-in-college-to-sell-stuff-to-people options.

Next time, on Lizzy's Career Decisions Lists:
Basket Weaving
Scuba Diver Instructing
Porpoise Training
Circus Motorcycle Driving

 Actually, I would love to run away with the circus...I wonder if Cirque du Soliel is hiring art directors with tons of imagination and no experience...