Op-edited: A Cautionary Tale
"You need to start sending more of your writing locally, like to the hometown newspaper, to increase your visibility as a writer, maybe meet some more folks with your writing interests".
This I have been told by more than a few well-wishing, forward thinking friends and coaches. They say these things with my best interest in mind, and I know there is some truth in what they say.
So, after polishing up a piece from a few months back that I thought would have rather wide reader interest, I emailed it to the local press and asked, if there was space, would they please print it. When the weekly paper came in the mail yesterday, I eagerly turned straight to page two to find the editorials.
And there was my essay. Correction. There was two-thirds of my essay. I looked frantically for the next column that would bring my thoughts and words to closure as I had so carefully crafted them. I expleted loudly (hey I don't care if that's not a word. It ought to be.)! Someone had amputated my creation in mid-paragraph. To the resulting stump, a staff writer's shave and a haircut abrupt end had strange and illogical words coming out of my mouth.
Dwarfed and truncated, it would seem that the afflicted writer must have had an acute episode of hemorrhagic aphasia there in mid-sentence. Maybe the piece was found on the unfortunate chap's desk as they wheeled him off to the home. Poor fellow.
And so much for proclaiming my presence as an area writer. I wish I'd used a pseudonym. But then, Fred First couldn't be anybody's real name, could it?
Comments
Yeah yeah Fred the one that got away story ;-) No, seriously, perhaps if you read the international news section you'll find the orphaned txt spliced neatly in the main story.
Posted by: Philip | October 31, 2003 6:39 AM
What a letdown! They must have treated it as a news story, figuring you had made the main point in the lead paragraph.
Give it another shot. You have so many more stories!
Posted by: David | October 31, 2003 7:36 AM
I thoroughly disagree with the advice to get published in local newspapers. Look through the bios of the writers you admire. How many of them started in their local newspapers? None, I'd bet. Mark Twain said of newspapering, "Get in. Get smart. Get out." You're already smart enough to avoid steps one and two, thereby negating step three. I'd like to see you published. Small literary and nature magazines is a good place for someone with your talent to start. Not newspapers.
Posted by: travelertrish | October 31, 2003 8:08 AM
I hope I didn't say, "go see the journalist." Journalism is a totally different game that I once tried. I am sure Trish has some thoughts on this. Jump in Trish! I could never write those short clipped paragraphs. (oh yeah Fred snail mail letter and suggested reading en route to Goose Creek as we speak. Watch for the mail truck next week or warn Anne at least.) I was approached by the News and Advance here in Lynchburg to do a little lifestyle freelance. I did my research, conducted interviews, and took some pictures. I submitted the two stories and the editor tried to work with me but I wouldn't bend. So later they wrote a story from my story and used my pictures and gave me no credit. That's journalism for you.
Anyway, letters to editor are not your gig. My friend Joe writes them all the time and he has it down to a science. Don't dwell on it to much we are all here hoping for the next long post!
Posted by: Seth | October 31, 2003 8:39 AM
I've had a couple of my writings printed in the Kentucky edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Even had one of my poems published but I've yet to become a household name, on the lips of all the important people. I've given up on ever being famous or rich because of my writing.
Don't let that stop you though Fred.
BTW....Fred First is not your real name...is it?
Come on! Fess up Fred.
Posted by: Clarence | October 31, 2003 8:39 AM
I think small newspapers are Ok, though if they edit your stuff too much or misplace your work carelesly...then stuff them. Writers can make it in many different ways, so long there is an initiative to move out into the public and so long as their writing is good (yours is.) Why narrow your playing field? I would feel proud even of a small newspaper, so long as what 'I' wrote was published and not a drastic edited version put out without my agreement ( a bit of an ideal these days probably)...dissapointing for you in this case though try again and better luck next time.
Posted by: Philip | October 31, 2003 8:49 AM
Fred:
I once knew of a man with the redoubtable name of Chirdvit Rippenharsett. So for me, "Fred First" is an easy reach.
;-)
Posted by: Curt | October 31, 2003 12:34 PM
Seth, "travelertrish" and "trish" are one and the same. Philip, the nature of newspapers is that they have X-amount of space to put X-number of inches of type into. If they need to fit your piece into a smaller space, they cut. Always have. Always will. Because it goes out every day or every week, nobody's stuff is all that sacrosanct, which is usually a good thing, because too many of us think we've channeled our golden phrases directly from the lips of God. Seth, if I were you, I'd ask for a correction in which they gave you credit for your photos. It is NOT journalism to print pictures without credit lines.
Posted by: travelertrish | October 31, 2003 3:57 PM