January 3, 2024
I have adjusted my semi-retired career path--from striking gold as an author of literary fiction, a writer of popular songs, or alternatively, a posh gigolo--in the direction advised by my psychiatrist, Dr. Marvin Piburn, to market my textbook first. It has been a mere 178 months since I ignored his advice, resurrected my set-aside literary fiction, polished it up a bit, and undertook an agenda of queries and kibbitzing with literary agents and national publishers--"undertook" being the juste mot in light of results to date.
What could an aging egoist do but follow
doctor’s advice? It aimed not at the epicenters of hypercompetitive national
literary, musical, and erotic cultures, but at employment committees at
thousands of far-flung colleges and universities. Yes, I have set my sites on
you, administrators in need of an inspiring visionary in English Composition
Education and a model instructor of the same. Standard modes of teaching
college-level Rhetoric and Composition have been superannuated since the days I
was forced to sit through them. I did learn Composition, but in the style of
Joseph Smith, peering into a dark sack of letters and relying on my talent for
fakery.
I continue to seek a reputable literary
agent--in my folly, or justifiable perseverance--but in addition, I have begun
to beat the bushes in search of a part-time instructorship or lecturer position
in College English Composition, preferably a two-year year institution seeking content affiliation with multiple online, degree-granting consortia.
