When I was asked to become an assistant editor this semester I was worried. With only one semester under my belt, I was not sure that I could handle it, but after a pep talk from a few people, I decided to take the opportunity.
My biggest concern was not that I would edit a story and miss a mistake that would go to print, although that was on my mind at the time. But what was even more frightening to me was that I was going to have to write the columns and editorials that the student body reads every week. I was horrified and extremely nervous.
I had taken editorial writing and learned the techniques and rules to opinion writing. I knew how to do it and knew I could do it, but I was still horrified that not only would I have to write these opinion pieces on possible uncomfortable subjects but more importantly that people I knew from my school were going to read my opinions.
I was not worried that when people read my work that they might not agree with what I was saying After all everyone is entitled to their opinion and that does not mean it has to be mine. Beside that, in all honesty I secretly hoped that one of my pieces would grab somebody’s attention and get them angry and heated. That did not happen, but I am over it. What I was scared of most was that my writing was not going to be good enough, that I did not have the skills to be an opinion writer.
Writing columns and editorials is tougher than it may seem and was an area that I was not confident in. With news writing, it was easy, you gather the information and state the facts.
With opinion writing, there is a little more to it. Come up with an idea that is of worthy news value, gather the information, state the facts and then throw in your opinion to spice things up. Not too overwhelmingly difficult, as long as your facts support your opinions and your point is clearly understood.
If the work is not clear and supported, then the writer comes across looking like an incompetent fool who has no business writing for an esteemed paper like the Campus Times.
I was afraid of looking like that incompetent fool and making Campus Times look bad.
What I have learned from my experience this semester writing my columns is this:
1. Practice makes perfect. You cannot improve your writing, or for those of you who play sports or instruments or whatever, unless you practice.
2. Nobody is perfect and they do not expect me to be either. I no longer fear that I am going to make Campus Times look bad. My work may not be the best work that this paper has seen but it is good enough, and because of that I have no more doubt.
3. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” in the words of wise old Franklin Roosevelt. I came into this semester being afraid to put my head on the chopping block and show this campus what was on my mind, but I did it. And guess what? I still have my head and nobody called me an incompetent fool so I guess that means I did alright.
I have learned that we should not be afraid of going out on a limb and trying something new even if you are not that comfortable with it. Hey you might actually like it.
I think the one thing that I have enjoyed the most out of my experience as an editor for is now I can write columns and editorials, confidently.
Michelle Thornton, a sophomore journalism major, is assistant features editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at mthornto@ulv.edu.
