Now that the Christmas feast has been eaten, the delicious desserts have filled our bellies and we make way for the final bash of the year I’m sure many of you are focusing on goals or so-called resolutions to begin the new year on the right foot. I was never one to make resolutions, but I’m always down for introspective thoughts that lead into the new year. Each year I take into account how much I have grown on all fronts in life and this time is no different. However, as the year is nearing a close I’m more in tuned to figuring out how do I continue to grow professionally as I navigate my way through the journalism industry.
It’s no secret that I feel a bit stalled at the moment and that it’s frustrating the begeezus out of me. As always, the last few weeks of the year are a slow drag. I’m anxious to get the new year started but the current year lingers and it feels like a slow death. “Just get it over with!” is what I feel like yelling. While this month is meeting me with those same anxious feelings, there was one week in particular I was spinning in a whirlwind and it jump started my motivation for the new year.
The week of the 11th was rather interesting. I started the week attending a local play tackling the issues of domestic abuse and breast cancer. It featured one of my long time girlfriends. She gave a wonderful performance as her booming voice left not a dry eye in the house. The atmosphere got some of my creative mojo going. So much so, I returned to my abandon Tumblr blog and decided to use it more for a random platform; yanno posting random things via writing, quotes, pictures and music. My digital creative outlet if you will….
Later in the week I attended two events in one night, but first I ended up reaching out to one of my journalism sisters. It’s funny, because we’ve been friends for a long time. She’s become one of my mentors in this industry as she’s been in this for well over twenty years. We met online, and have managed to remain in contact with each other for a little over ten years via phone and email. We’ve never met in person. I initially called to invited her to one of the events. It was a holiday party hosted by the Capital Press Club (CPC), the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) and the DC chapter of the Black Public Relations Society; I’m a quasi-member of the CPC. Then naturally our conversation turned into some kind of pep talk with her giving me advice on how to work with and pitch to editors.
I was telling her about the wonderful ideas (well at least I think they are wonderful) that I’ve been pitching to different publications; local and national. No one has taken a bite. I don’t even receive some kind of notice to say it was looked over and the final decision was no. I just follow the submission guidelines as I send my pitch and then…..silence. Sometimes I send a follow-up email, but again it’s silence. This baffled her, especially as she thought I had some good ideas. Then she heard me say that I was sending the pitches to whatever the generic email address is to submit them.
“No. You have to connect directly with the editor,” she told me.
In the back of my mind I kind of knew this. It’s a basic and old school “rule”. The few editors that I have built some kind of relationship with are those I’ve worked with at some point or that taught me while in school. Yet, with this ever morphing industry their status may have changed and their help may be limited due to buyouts, layoffs, etc. Still, those are the ones that I know. What about the ones I don’t know as of yet?
Basically my journalism sis suggested that I start off by sending an email to an editor asking them what kind of topics do they need more coverage on. She even suggested that I go a small step further by suggesting an informal meeting over coffee (I’m not a coffee drinker but I’ll drink some tea!). What’s funny is, as I listened to these suggestions I almost felt like the kid that is being told that I must eat all my veggies in order to get dessert. While I do network with others, sometimes I feel uncomfortable doing so. Mainly because my mindset goes to these adjectives; groupie, beggar, desperate. I love it when I make a new connection and it’s natural. It’s not forced or the motive isn’t clearly on the table; my motive being “please publish my totally awesome story!”
Without complaining, I listened to my journo sis go on.
“Nothing impressed me more as an editor than a writer that reached out to me directly asking what do we need. Especially since editors generally don’t have a lot of time to groom writers. So they want to get to know a writer first before taking a chance in publishing them,” she told me.
I understood this logic completely, especially remembering some of my days as an editor and cringing at some of the submissions. Yet, I’m a bit different, where as I don’t mind grooming a writer. Well, I don’t mind grooming a writer that’s in school or fresh out of school and hasn’t found their footing just yet. Writing is something that gets better with time.
I continued to listen and took down notes on what editors I need to contact at the opening of the new year. I’m trying to change my mindset with a few things, and networking is one of them. I went on to the holiday party that evening – courtesy of another journalism sibling whom I call my “big bro” – feeling a little unsure on why I was really attending. When my big bro offered to pay I was excited and figured this would be just what I needed to get out of the house for a bit and yes, in the back of my mind I thought about (deep inhale) networking (long sigh – woosaaaaah).
Just as I was consuming my white wine and scarfing down some catfish nuggets I was beginning to think the evening was a mistake. I didn’t see my big bro in the room and the crowd was completely different. I didn’t recognize anyone from my days a full member of the organization. Then I spotted a female that I attended high school with. Granted I was a senior when she was a freshman, but she remembered me.. at least my face. We briefly caught up; she’s in public relations. As I continued to munch on my light fare, I was pulled into a conversation with another female. She too is in public relations. The connection didn’t feel force. We talked about our backgrounds and careers and then it took a crazy turn as we ended up laughing with this gentleman that joined us in conversation. He was totally the odd man out as he wasn’t in neither the journalism or public relations industry. He deals with insurance.
As the crowd got bigger I began to see familiar faces. My big bro spotted me before I saw him. He dragged me to the other end of the room to meet his former boss and mentor. Based on a past conversation with him,my big bro knew I needed to meet with this person as it could lead to a potential job situation! The person confirmed that they have my resume, but there is a current hiring freeze within his agency.
I talked, I shook hands, hugged and exchanged business cards. The night was just what I needed to reconnect with old journo connects and meet new ones. To my surprise, two days later I received a “nice- meeting- you- looking-forward- to-connect-again” email from the PR female (not the one from high school) I was in conversation with. I loved that and of course I responded with the same.
No sooner as I was getting really comfortable at the party I had to dash up the street for another event; the launch of a non-profit that speaks on mental health awareness. One of the stories I’ve been pitching is on poet Bassey Ikpi. I’ve been researching, following her on Twitter, spoken to her a couple of times via email and finally met her in person over the summer. Her story touches me and I’m sure it will touch others. I wish I could just indulge a bit more on the subject matter, but I’m trying to keep it under wraps until I’m able to publish the story. I’m determined. At her event I connected with a few folks as we had conversations about some of the issues concerning mental health and the one weird conversation around…..
What was Mary J. Blige talking about In “Family Affair” when she says “dancery” Yes! We were in deep discussion about this. It was pretty hilarious.
Still, none of it felt forced.
Needless to say I ended the week attending a birthday gathering for a friend…to which we found ourselves at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar dancing our cares away. It was just what the doctor ordered.
Even as I closed out the week loosing my head and my heart on a dance floor more news flooded in for me that has me excited about what 2012 will bring. I totally forgot about an opportunity I applied for with a locally based national publication. I was contacted to perform a few duties just as a test. As of yet no final word. I’m praying this comes through.
Then more news on the creative writing front about an anthology I was selected to be included in. The book finally has a name, The Perfect Pair, and is schedule to be released mid-year for 2012. I received a contract to review, sign and return and an open invitation to (if I elect to do so) to participate in book signings. Awesome!
So yeah I have work to do in 2012, especially on working this networking thing. I just have to remind myself I’m not a groupie and perhaps the connection is a two-way deal. They need something from me as much as I need something from them. After all, there is power in networking and actually following up with the connection!
Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River 
Eleanie Campbell
December 29, 2011
Sis I am excited for you and the things that are in store for you in the coming New Year. I know you are going to get out there and network your tail off and do the damn thing. Go head girl!