Since I haven’t really checked my email over Thansgiving Break this assigment is late. I figured I better write it now instead of blowing it off completely.
Nicole LeBlanc wrote the book Random Nights. Photo Courtesy of Google Images.
Recently in my book for digital journalism class I read about what it is like to have a career in the magazine and book business. I must say I learned a great deal of information that I did not know.
Nicole LeBlanc, author of the book “RandomFamily” talked about freelancing say that it is a major “gamble”. She went on to say it isn’t just writing a good story but it is convincing other people that the story is worth there time.
I also learned that it is much more difficult to have a career in freelance writing then it was in the past. Long narratives are published less and less in magazines now. Because of this it is very important that the writer spend a great deal of time pitching the story as well as write it.
Joesph Gonrad is a writer that said you should never take a break from a piece. He said “abandoning projects can become a bad habit.” I thought that was interesting because sometimes I do just that.
Susan Orlean is a very successful writer that was in the book I read for class. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
Ways to eliminate that habit are to give yourself a sample due date or spend more time thinking about the book like during your lunch break or dinner.
The chapter went on talking about how difficult being a freelance writer can be because of all of these situations but one thing that Susan Orlean, a writer of many books, said stayed with me.
“Spending time with the orchid poachers made me realize that I do have one real passion: for my work and the idea that it matters.”
When I finished the chapter that quote stayed with me because enjoying what you do and feeling like it is worth while is the most important thing. Being a writer might be a tough job with the low pay and competitiveness but I enjoy it. I love writing about sports and I plan on doing that no matter how hard it might be.
