An opportunity recently fell in my lap to illustrate a children’s book, thanks to some of my professors. Even at this early stage–preliminary character sketches–it’s been an incredible challenge. I’ve been pushing myself in ways that I hadn’t realized I could be pushed, pressing myself to more finished, clean-looking drawings. Thank goodness for John Cech’s class; it really gave me the warm-up I needed.

Looking at the drawings I’ve done so far, I can’t help but wonder what my art was really like back in high school. I had notebook upon notebook filled with sketches of role-playing characters, but they often had an unfinished edge to them. I don’t think it was because I wasn’t capable. I think it was because I didn’t push myself. I could draw well enough generally that I didn’t have to try to make things look really polished, or whole, or complete. To be fair, through high school, I felt that way about a lot of things. Like many other people, I had plenty of page-long novels. In all classes but English and art, I only pushed myself hard enough to get Bs. And I’m not sure I pushed myself much harder than that in those subjects, because I never really had to.

Several factors have contributed to an improved work ethic over the past three years or so–starting with nearly finishing NaNoWriMo 06, continuing with keeping track of what I read (and therefore taking my reading more seriously as a contributing factor in my writing), finishing the rough draft of a YA novel over the summer, writing a thesis I was really proud of, continuing to send my work out. I promise listing those meager accomplishments isn’t intended as bragging. The truth is, every step of the process–all processes–was hard work. I guess this is just a way to say that I’ve learned to push myself hard enough to finish what I start. I don’t really want to be a mediocre anything anymore (except maybe banjo-player–I’m fine with that being just a hobby, unlike most things I try to tackle), and I’ve realized what it takes, how much effort one needs to expend, to not just be talented but good.

As of June 1st I will be gainfully employed at the UF Foundation.

This is the only post you’ll see about it (in fact, I plan on doing some minor blog revamping anyway to accentuate that it’s a personal site; a C.V.? doesn’t really belong here). As my new employer has already found the site, I wanted to reassure her, and my co-workers, that I’m fully aware of the dangers of being dooced, and that I intend to employ (heh) discretion. My readers are really here for the food and geekiness, anyway.

Mostly, though, I wanted to share the good news. Yay!

I’m in the newspaper!