Notes to New York, Edition the First

Dear New York City,

It still hasn't hit me that I live here yet. I take the subway into the city and walk around Union Square at least four days a week. I've given directions to tourists. I'm slowly building an arsenal of great places to eat. I picked the bodega I will forever be loyal to (well, at least until we move). I've done Saturday brunch. I have yet to get on the wrong train (knock on wood). I already have apartment horror stories to tell. I've so far counted 9 subway critters. It took a while, but I'm pretty familiar with most of the Brooklyn neighborhoods now, and can tell you which areas I'd like to live in (at the very least, I can definitely tell you the areas I don't want to live in).

I think, for three weeks, that's a pretty solid list of accomplishments. Especially the subway rats/mice. I mean, who doesn't love tiny animals with fur that run through muck and withstand all sorts of diseases on a daily basis? It's pretty impressive.

That being said, I'm not going to lie: you scared me at first. You're big and intimidating, and nothing like Wisconsin. Which I knew, obviously, but it's always much different to see in person. I've been nearly run over by a taxi more than once, you provided me with a heat wave when I didn't have access to AC, and unreliable realtors who never get back to me. Somehow you allowed my debit card to get hacked, so now I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off while I try to set up a new bank account. I need new shoes to counteract all the walking I do, and I long for the day when summer fades into fall and I can go back to layering and hats.

And yet I still like you. Love you, in fact. I'm convinced that moving out here was the best decision I've ever made. I love that there's always something to do, someone to see. Any type of food I could possibly want, you have it. The job opportunities I'd hoped to find really do exist. I haven't seen any celebrities yet, but I'm counting on it. I'm much better suited to the pace of life out here, and while I hate summer, I hate summer in any part of the country. So it isn't your fault. I'm excited to walk around Central Park in October, when the leaves change colors and I can actually wear a sweater. And though I'm horrifically clumsy, I may just venture out to Rockefeller Center and ice skate this winter. You're making me try new things and test ideas I already have, and I kind of love you for it.

After three weeks, you don't seem so scary. You feel a little more like home each and every day, and I suspect, given a few more weeks, I won't be tempted to write WI after my Brooklyn address. When that happens, I think I'll officially be able to call you home. And I can't wait.

Crushing on you,
Sammy

Catching Up & Moving On

The time I spent in DC last summer/over Christmas break was invaluable. Not only did I learn a lot about publishing, but I learned what it was like to live in a place that wasn't Cows Town, Wisconsin (I wonder if that's actually a real place...?). More importantly, though, I made some really great friends. I stopped by my old internship last week to play catchup, only to find that a manuscript I'd edited last summer recently sold in a three book deal! Soon enough I'll be able to hold a copy in my hands and talk everyone I know into buying it. (And as soon as I know I can officially say something, I'll let you guys know -- that way you can start getting excited too!) It was fun meeting the new foreign rights person/former intern, and catching up with Elaine. I'm jealous I'm not at RWA, though I can't say I'm sorry to be missing out on the 14.7% tax on hotel rooms in Manhattan.

Then this week I got to have dinner with one of the girls I interned with last summer, who now works at the Sagalyn Literary Agency, which is just outside of DC. It's always good to hear that your friends actually like their jobs, and hear about all the stuff they're learning. It just reinforces how much I want to work in this industry. Lauren and I had dinner, then headed over to Kramerbooks, which is a staple here in DC. It's a really fantastic indie bookstore in Dupont Circle, and if you're ever in the area, make sure you check it out. Not only does it have a wide selection of books, but there's food and alcohol to boot. It's like the best of pretty much everything. We also made our way up toward U Street and had dessert at ACKC, which was incredible. Another place to check out if you're ever in town.

Today I caught up with Naomi, who used to do foreign rights/handled YA submissions with Elaine. (As long as I'm plugging local DC hangouts, I'll tell you guys to hit up Nooshi as well. I'd never been, but it was awesome.) Seeing her brought back memories of last summer and how much I loved my internship and the people I worked with. And now, even though none of us work there, it's good to know those friendships are still intact, if not stronger. (Anna's included in this, but she's in New York right now, so I haven't had the chance to see her yet.)

So this is basically me being a big ol' sap and saying how glad I am I had the opportunity to intern out here last year. It was, by far, the best experience of my life. (Minus graduation, which goes without saying because, hey, who likes homework?)

Now, I don't know what's in store for me. Sometime next week, or the week after, I'm going to take the train up to New York City for a few days and see if I can't track down an apartment. I've applied for jobs, but even if I don't get any of them, it's time to head up that way. DC was always just a stop on the way, and as much as I love it here, I've got cabin fever. I'm itching to dive head-first into New York City living. So while my Plan That's Not Really a Plan is still kind of vague, it's slowly but surely solidifying. I'd definitely say things are looking up.

Movin' On Up!

To the east side! Of the country, that is.

That's right, folks. I'm moving to New York City. Gotham. The Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. In just five short months, I'll be leaving the humdrum life of small town Wisconsin to chase after my lifelong dream of living in a big city. The big city. It's been official for a little over a week, so most of you probably already know. But since this blog is supposed to be about my journey into publishing, whichever route I happen to take, I figured it was important to document this life changing decision of mine.

You know when you were a kid, and you told people you wanted to be a vet because you spent your days bandaiding your stuffed animals? Yeah, that wasn't me. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of leaving the Midwest. I love my family, and I love my friends, but the state of Wisconsin and I just don't get along. Publishing doesn't exist here, for one thing, but even before I knew that's what I wanted to do, I felt out of place. I liked big cities full of lots of people. I like noise. Mountains and rolling hills just don't do it for me; give me a sidewalk and some skyscrapers and I'm good to go. Living in D.C. gave me a taste of what it would be like to live somewhere bigger, somewhere better. Public transportation? Yes, please! (Though I will admit, I don't much like the idea of handing my car over to my siblings.) Businessmen and women everywhere? Why not? 9-5 (but more like 24 hour) jobs? Give me!

As soon as I decided I wanted to go into publishing, I knew I'd eventually wind up in New York. It was kind of a given, really. I just wasn't sure it would happen so soon. But I had a long chat with my parents about this, and they're on board. For a while they tried to pretend like I just thought I was moving. "Oh, Sam, you're so cute. Where do you plan to get all this money from?" Which, granted, is still a question I'm asking myself, but it isn't going to stop me. For the first time in my life, I've made a real, true, Grown Up Decision. To do the things I want to do in life, I need to relocate. So I am.

I am doing it.

Let the countdown begin!