The Issues with Employment and Self-Publishing

Employment and Self-publishing are two topics I seem to fall back into from time to time.

Employment: I did it for quite a while but now I am finding it impossibly hard to find any decent part-time work.  I even just got off the phone with a local bookstore chain to see if they had my application *sigh*. (Goodness!  My house–which is on a slab–literally just shook with a rumble of thunder and I still need to go out and get groceries)

Self-publishing: Many notable writers did it early in their careers but if you do it today there is a certain stigma to it.  What will I do?  I’m still not sure.  I have the two chapbooks I’m sending around to contests but when I started to send them out, I had it in mind that I would only send them around for a year.  I imght change that to two years so I can hit some of the contests I missed in the first year, but I’m not sure.  I know people spend more time than that sending work around but how much money am I willing to spend for that publication credit?

Which then flows into employment.  Maybe self-publishing a chapbook wouldn’t be a big deal but if you did that with your first manuscript (ah still in production) have you pretty much set yourself up to fail in the academic job market?

Decisions.  Decisions. As always.  I really would like a part-time job.  Not just for the change of pace but because I have a bathtub that needs to be repaired/replaced and I want to be able to do something nice and not just the cheapest things.

Opinions here on tubs appreciated.

1–Refinishing–$1000 (my guess is that this will not help resale and will have to be redone in 3-5 years)

2–Bathfitter–$3100 for converstion to a shower of a cultured marble/faux tile look without doors. Old tub compoletely removed.

3–Remode–$4000? Final price pends but cultured marble or inxpensive tile on the surround and then an acrylic tub.

Thoughts? Opinions? Experience with the remodel process?

I’m only doing the tub which is damaged maybe later I can put down new vinyl floor and get a new vanity.  Maybe when Ikea Charlotte finally opens in Spring of 2009.  Hey, Ikea don’t be late you promised!