Facts of life for a newspaper writer

Well, I find myself once again in my summer dilemma - working too much. Now Eli, our editor and publisher (“God” if you ask some people from the New Richland Star office), will probably read this and get concerned that he’s assigning me too much. No, Eli, you are not. It is entirely my fault that I have a tendency to work a lot of hours: I just feel bad if I don’t.

Last summer was when this started, I believe. I had just come on as Eli’s intern and was excited to get as many hours as I could in order to learn as much as possible about the newspaper and journalistic writing. The problem with working at the paper is that the “work day” is rather loosely defined. News writers don’t really have the normal eight hour day in the office. There is no 9-5 that happens where I can walk out of the office knowing I am done for the day. Unfortunately. 

But luckily for the community, there’s always something going on and something that needs to be covered by the paper. I might walk out of the office one day, but then have an event to cover that night along with writing of the actual story. All this is fine, don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy going to these events and getting to talk to people and take pictures. 

But because of this, I usually don’t work eight hours during the day in the office: There is often no reason to come in until ten or eleven, and then I leave at four or five. My mind thinks that that is much too short, that I am not working enough hours. After all, I came in late and left early. 

So I try to work more. I find useful things to do in the office. I take on more stories and think of more story ideas. I volunteer to paint the new office on the weekend. I put in the time. 

But then I’m tired. The workaholic in me crashes a bit, she needs her caffeine. Especially if she’s working the bar that weekend, which usually happens. 

Now it’s time for me to get back to work. Stories to write, people to interview, pictures to take. I have learned I am not the only one who shares this workaholic trait though. While Eli says he too is a workaholic, Deb Bently says she is not, that she just does what needs to be done. Ok, Deb. 

My Determination: “I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” - Thomas Jefferson