I’ve been there. I’ve walked through Williamsburg or Ft.
Greene, glanced at the large brownstone windows and whispered the affirmations: I will move to Brooklyn. I will write
from a nook, adorned with a desk and MacBook, and glance out on the bustle from
a bay window. I will meet a Dre or some tone black Afro-Caribbean man who’ll
bring me Starbucks for restlessness and keep my place in bed warm until I sneak
in during the wee hours of the morning.
You could taste that “Brown Sugar” couldn’t you? From that
cold night in a movie theatre, watching the movie’s protagonist place books on
her vibrant shelf, I knew Brooklyn was for me.
Although I was born in Flatbush, the heart of the borough, I
was uprooted at nine for a chance at better schools. My family and I moved to
Long Island, NYC’s suburban area. Every chance I got; I made a mad dash on the
LIRR to hang around my grandmother’s home on Schenectady Avenue. I was a Brooklynite
at heart: bare feet on tar and concrete in the summer heat, sliding Freezies on
my tongue, drowning the remaining ice in C&C fifty cent sodas, and ciphering
almost-sixteens on the steps with my boy cousin’s friends. This is where I
belonged.
Two nights ago, I finally moved back. After tenure at a
college in silent Virginia and a bout back home with the parental units, I
finally have something within New York City to call my own.
Check it.
1)
You
should start saving. Some people have this illusion that the minute you
step on the pavement of NYC, fame and fortune will come to you and record
labels, publishers or their new corporate job will take care of the rest. Nope,
not at all. Create a budget projecting how much you’ll need to spend each
month, make each month and save each month. Start off with a savings of about
$3,000-5,000; this will help when fending off rental broker fees, hunger pains
and tips for overeager food deliverymen.
2)
You’ll
need a secured gig. This economy is no joke and even if we were still in
the Clinton era, you’d still need a job the minute you get here. Unless you
have family/friends that are willing to let you sleep on their couch or in the
guest bedroom; don’t speed here to start looking for a job the next morning.
Even with a start off fund, you’ll need a gig to keep your head above water.
Shoot freelance queries to blogs/publications for some extra side money, apply
for NYCDOE certification if you’re taking the substitute/teacher route or find
something that’ll keep the lights on until you’re discovered.
3)
Don’t
wait to be discovered. While keeping the lights on, make serious
connections. There are plenty of conferences, events, rare bookstores, open mic
spots and more in NYC. Our kind dwell here. Just look for someone with hipster
clothes, a MacBook and “I’m-working-on-my-novel” plastered on their face.
Networking and surrounding yourself with positive goal oriented persons is the
one of the fastest routes to the top.
4)
Pick your
borough. I have a friend from Iowa who loves Fat Joe and decided, from a
few rap lyrics, she was going to move to the Bronx for her big move. The
problem is, she works in Queens. Regretfully, she does a 2-4 hour commute back
and forth to work everyday. Use Google maps to find the distance from your
desired borough, check out the train/car routes to get there and make sure it’s
conducive to your agenda. Come visit before you sign any leases or make any
promises! Make sure the spot you’ve chosen is right for you. Here’s my personal
guide to the boroughs:
a.
Brooklyn:
Ah, you know how I feel about the county of kings. Let me shake my bias off for
a sec. Okay. This borough is the epicenter to all other boroughs, except for
Staten Island. It features gentrified writer indulgent areas like Williamsburg,
Ft. Greene, Brooklyn Heights and so much more. Other up and coming areas
include: Crown Heights, Bedstuy (Stuyvesant Heights) and some areas of
Flatbush.
b.
Manhattan:
Enjoy the madness of the city life? This is where you need to be. Featuring
areas like Soho (Bohemian), Uptown (Harlem Baby!), Lower East Side (Artsy
Fartsy) or super savvy Chelsea.
c.
Queens:
If you prefer more sightings of trees versus skyscrapers, head out to the QB.
Long Island City features hot clubs, unique restaurants and eons of beer
gardens; it’s the new twenty-somethings’ heaven.
d.
& if it wasn’t for the Bronx...If you’re working out in Harlem or the city and want to
find something a little less expensive, BX has got your name all over it. I
don’t know much about the upcoming areas here. Research, research and more
research.
e.
Staten
Island: If ferries and bus rides in heels/suits are your thing…by all
means. However, no one really goes to Staten Island. NO ONE.
5)
Go get
your brownstone. Ha! Brownstones could go anywhere from $500,000 to a cool
million these days. I don’t think so. Unless you’ve got some secret trust fund
or just won the lotto, I’ve got some other suggestions for you. Search Craigslist
or other real estate related websites for sweet deals. You can rent anything,
from a $1,500 cute studio in Harlem to a $1,200 ground floor of a two-family
residence in Queens. If you’re still contemplating the brownstone route, you
can rent an entire floor of one for anywhere between $1,200-1,800. Make sure
you can envision your writing area before you say, “I’ll take it!”
6)
Utilities
included. I love seeing that in an ad. The truth is it’s rare. Remember,
when you’re crafting your budget, you’re not only paying for rent. Factor in
light, gas, heat, water, food, cellphone, cable/internet and outings as well.
7)
The MTA
is a lifesaver. When I went away to college, it agitated me that everyone
knew I was a New Yorker b/c I didn’t drive. I immediately got my license and
got a car to prove all of my classmates wrong. When I got back home I knew that
I’d be zipping around in my vehicle, while my friends were still walking. All I
encountered was traffic, traffic and more traffic. My advice is, take the
train. I’ve shown up a half an hour late to most functions when the train
would’ve taken me there pronto. Grab a weekly or unlimited MetroCard it’s worth
it. Apps & websites like Hopstop or Mapquest can help you find your
way.
8)
If you
see something, say something. After a week on the train you’ll see this and
understand the phrase entirely. Be careful when walking late at night in
certain areas, keep your belongings by your side in the train and look both
ways before entering your home too late. The city can be great, but all cities have
their flaws.
9)
Be smart
about your money. New York is flooded with ways to spend your money. Food,
books, purses and specialty stores litter the streets. Keep that wallet in the
bag and treat yourself every once in a while. The more you save, the more you
can advance your environment here. There are tons of free events that just
require RSVP’s, libraries with awesome books and Living Social deals that will
have you dancing on the 1 on the way home. Frugal it up!
10) Write.
In all the chaos of the city and its benefits, we sometimes forget what we came
here for. Grab that journal/computer once a day and work to your heart’s
content. Set goals, create vision boards and grab a planner for deadlines. Your
pen’s future awaits it.
On Saturday night, I let go of my vision of being Sidney
Shaw. As I unpacked the boxes, I suddenly stopped and stood still. I took in a
breath of fresh paint and cardboard. I
whispered my successes: I live in Brooklyn. I can envision a white desk and
Moleskins in our tiny extra room. I am home again. I am safe.
This morning I walked into the bustle with a smile.
Goal list. Check.
-riv-
6 comments:
You know, sometimes I wish you would stay out of my blogger drafts, okay! lol!
I'm in the process of writing a post similar to this (though of course not a writer's guide to moving to BK but more geared toward on women's finances).
I have a huge smile on my face right now, you go girl!! Congratulations!
This is an excellent post, Riv. I think that if I was going to move to BK, I'd certainly be thinking about things that I wouldn't have thought about before.
P.S. What about Canarsie? Been in that area a few times...thought it was pretty nice.
You're living the dream. Embrace it. Breathe it. But above all, make it count. You got this!
You already know that I'm favoriting this lol
Seriously though, this was helpful and got me even more excited as I chip away at this grad school application.
I'm excited about the possibilities and can almost feel that same satisfaction you felt as you unpacked.
Congratulations on your new place Riv!! =)
Every time I read your posts I sit in awe of how your goals/dreams/realities are so close to mine. Seeing your hard work pay off def. gives me motivation. Best of luck =)
Congrats sis! Live your dream, babe!! LOL @ Staten Island... NO ONE. I don't quite fancy myself a New Yorker, but I bet this would be alot of good advice for any young writer moving to a new city. Kudos!
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