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byline
I’m not going to lie; writing for you is easy.
[Obnoxious inner conversationalist: Then why don’t you do it more often? Me: Shut it.]
It’s like turning on a faucet, I get pent up about something and then pour it out. The good posts, the ones you come back here for, the ones that are all-too-infrequent, they take less than thirty to oraganize, an hour to make nit-picked enough for me. Sending it off, I feel a release. This was good. Let’s do it again sometime soon.
But writing like I’ve been doing for two days, writing with deadline, writing unfamiliar material not immediately fascinating and not even a little bit in my language is like…
Did anyone see Deadwood last week? The kidney stones? Yes, I’m blind too, now; I may never recover. But I swear, it’s the only analogy I can come up with.
It was that bad. It didn’t help that it seemed everyone in Cubicle Land was excessively noisy and the music from the next office, louder than ever. It didn’t help that I realized that all the people who write are actually plugged into their iPods most of the day, understanding this issue already. It didn’t help that it was my first full story, oh, and I had bad cramps. It didn’t help that the other publications had it up yesterday.
I sweated internal bullets. I couldn’t read a paragraph, no a sentence, without going back to the first word – what was this about again? It was anxiety-ridden. Stressful. I couldn’t wait for it to just finish itself already.
And then it was all over, you know, after the editing pen took 95% of it out and rewrote the remaining. I left it with my boss to finalize. I had an appointment (with a wedding photographer – what else?); I rushed out, feeling no relief. Afterward, I had a glass of wine with dinner - no relief. I’m home now, no relie...
I lied.
I just saw my very first byline.
I just saw my very first byline.
I just saw my very first byline.
!!!
I could get used to this.
comments (15)
Congratulations!
1 | Kabe | April 6, 2005 11:24 PM
Huzzah!!! Cheers to you! Here's to many more!
2 | Laura | April 6, 2005 11:38 PM
Whoohoo!
Congrats!
uh... what's a byline?
3 | Mathieu | April 7, 2005 04:15 AM
Ah, yes, the first byline. Isn't it a wonderful feeling the first time you see your name attached to a REAL piece of writing? I still have the edition of the first newspaper my own byline appeared in. God I miss that business.
4 | Agategoddess | April 7, 2005 07:52 AM
Congratualtions! As someone who regularly feels the relief and joy of blog-writing, as well as the sweat-inducing anxiety of this "other kind of writing," I can honestly say that ALL of it helps one become a better writer. Whether you know it or not, in those moments of sheer frustration, you are sharpening all those skills that make you a better wordsmith and a more articulate and concise writer.
On another point, I just finished a book that made me think of you: "Hypocrite in a Pouffy White dress." Do you know it? Specifically, the chapter
with the same name is one that would particularly speak to you, I think. Go out and pick it up if you haven't already.
5 | wendy | April 7, 2005 11:21 AM
awesome
6 | Master Foley | April 7, 2005 11:32 AM
Congrats on your first byline!
7 | Matt | April 7, 2005 01:01 PM
Since your writing for us comes so easy for you I am wondering if the words from "Cubicle Land" will ever be made available here for further reading enjoyment? Pretty please?
8 | Rochelle | April 7, 2005 01:04 PM
congrats.
9 | Dan | April 7, 2005 01:07 PM
Do we get to see it?
10 | Robert | April 7, 2005 01:31 PM
While it will bore you to tears, yes one day you will see it. Not yet. :)
11 | deb | April 7, 2005 01:54 PM
whats a byline?
12 | jocelyn | April 7, 2005 02:33 PM
Oh! I remember how that feels. Even better: The day you walk into a coffee shop and you see someone reading your article. Good for you!
13 | Georgia | April 7, 2005 05:18 PM
Congratulations! How exciting!
14 | Anonymous | April 7, 2005 06:28 PM
I'm thrilled for you!
15 | Leslie | April 7, 2005 06:29 PM