Dear AA: Starting today, I am practicing the Zen of No-Gripe Fridays in memory of Pat O'Neill, a world-class reporter and universe-class mensch. Today is his wake, and I intend to be mindful of how lucky I really am to be alive and working at The Oregonian.
Dear Alive and Working: Sounds like an excellent plan. Remember: Peace of mind is a state of mind.
29 May 2009
28 May 2009
Getting ready
A project that took two years to unfold is getting into the starting gate at last. There's lots of little things to be nailed down now, but the overall sense I feel is great relief. And I feel proud to have pulled off this little miracle. I hope people will read it -- and respond to it.
26 May 2009
Not a sterling effort
Dear Auntie Annie: I really porked it last week. I let my lack of interest determine my performance on a story. That night, I had an attack of the guilts, and reading the story the next day was painful. Yuk.
Dear Yuk: Don't beat yourself up. Everyone succumbs to burn-out in various degrees. It's a new week. Go out to Hazelwood and kick butt, OK?
Dear Yuk: Don't beat yourself up. Everyone succumbs to burn-out in various degrees. It's a new week. Go out to Hazelwood and kick butt, OK?
22 May 2009
Deadline? Discuss
Dear Auntie Annie: Got a hair-on-fire one today. Am not feeling psyched for it. Would rather talk the editor out of the story and go sit by the river for the rest of the day. Can you call in bored?
Dear Bored: How can you possibly be bored? The ship is sinking! At the very least, keeping your head above water should provide ample entertainment. But then again . . . I feel you. It's hard to come to work revved and ready. But you must. And making your deadline today with a kick-ass story is just the medicine you need right now. So save the daydreaming for the glass of wine AFTER deadline and get on it.
Dear Bored: How can you possibly be bored? The ship is sinking! At the very least, keeping your head above water should provide ample entertainment. But then again . . . I feel you. It's hard to come to work revved and ready. But you must. And making your deadline today with a kick-ass story is just the medicine you need right now. So save the daydreaming for the glass of wine AFTER deadline and get on it.
21 May 2009
Video? Me?
Dear Auntie Annie: Admittedly, I've been a snob. I've never liked video as a news gathering device, although I'm happy to acknowledge that I'm in the minority, and the medium is here to stay. So now that Newspaperland has to feed a visual portal, how do I warm up to it? Signed, Off Switch Here.
Dear Off Switch: You warm up to it by wrapping your ink-stained arms around it. Really. Video can be a useful tool for a writer -- you can put down your pen and notebook and really watch your subject talk; you can listen with your whole body, and let the inanimate machine do all the labor. Like you, I sniffed at teevee. But I'm just back from doing a video interview, and I found it to be fun fun fun. Save your snobbery for something more important, like wine or cars or Oregon beaches. Get with the program, my child.
Dear Off Switch: You warm up to it by wrapping your ink-stained arms around it. Really. Video can be a useful tool for a writer -- you can put down your pen and notebook and really watch your subject talk; you can listen with your whole body, and let the inanimate machine do all the labor. Like you, I sniffed at teevee. But I'm just back from doing a video interview, and I found it to be fun fun fun. Save your snobbery for something more important, like wine or cars or Oregon beaches. Get with the program, my child.
20 May 2009
Auntie Annie Answers All
Dear Auntie Annie: How do I get myself psyched up to work in journalism every day? It's getting to the point where getting drunk at breakfast seems to be a suitable approach. Help!
Dear Help: Once there was a glorious time in newspaper journalism when getting drunk at breakfast was mandatory. Sadly, everyone who obeyed that law is now dead or wishes she was. So, let's throw that idea out. The way you psych yourself up is 1) stop reading Romenesko. Well, at least, stop reading it six times a day. Delete it from your bookmarks. If there's something good, someone will email it to you. 2) Go outside and take a walk around your building, six or eight blocks out. It'll be practically virgin territory. 3) Find a story. A people story. We're in a recession. Even you should be able to find a people story in a recession. Love, AA
Dear Help: Once there was a glorious time in newspaper journalism when getting drunk at breakfast was mandatory. Sadly, everyone who obeyed that law is now dead or wishes she was. So, let's throw that idea out. The way you psych yourself up is 1) stop reading Romenesko. Well, at least, stop reading it six times a day. Delete it from your bookmarks. If there's something good, someone will email it to you. 2) Go outside and take a walk around your building, six or eight blocks out. It'll be practically virgin territory. 3) Find a story. A people story. We're in a recession. Even you should be able to find a people story in a recession. Love, AA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)