Bylines and bowerbirds
A writer’s lonely task is to write line after line, crafting, editing, and sweating over the outcome and for what? The byline; those two words between heading and text—our name. The journey to journalism is often a long and daunting road. You need to hone your craft on a daily basis and tenaciously grasp any opportunity that might get your foot in the door and wedge open a writing career.
There’s one among us who has done this. Like the ornithologist concealed in the hide, I’ve spotted a bower bird tucking her learning and experiences into a nest from which to charm writing opportunities.
For my money, the name Megan Green reads well as a byline. I expect to see it regularly in newspapers and the spines of books. From the time Megan and I met in the enrolment queue, at VU while waiting to pay fees for the year ahead, I was struck by her determination.
‘Why are you doing the course?’ I asked.
She replied, ‘I want my kids to know that you can always make your life better. If I can do it, so will they.’
We became firm friends— workshopping our embryonic pieces, encouraging each other through writing blocks, attending writers’ festivals, sharing great books we discovered. This year Megan, despite her intermittent lack of confidence, developed a robust ‘have a go mentality.’ It started with a short piece she’d written on a woman kick boxer. (That’s one of Megan’s passions; so don’t cross her). She submitted the article to a local paper. No word. Finally, the answer came, ‘Maybe next time she has a fight scheduled’.
Disappointed but not defeated, Megan held out hope, ‘At least they didn’t say it was rubbish.’
While she waited, Practical Placement fuelled her writing path. She offered to write a play for the children to perform (a musical no less). While she was at it, she offered to write short pieces for the local school. Via the principal, these went off to the local paper.
‘It’s got a very small circulation,’ she argued modestly.
‘It’s a newspaper—and your articles are regular.’ I affirmed.
It grew from there literally by word of mouth. Suddenly there were two local newspapers printing her articles. When a larger local newspaper printed a front-page story about a woman kick boxer, it wasn’t Megan’s, although the article shared an eerily similar structure to the one she’d submitted months ago. Despite her disappointment, Megan realised that she had been on the right track—the style of the article had been spot on.
It flipped a switch.
When we went to see a play at the Williamstown Little Theatre (WLT), Megan wrote a review and submitted it to an editor at The Altona-Laverton Mail.
There was a flurry of excitement, when it was accepted. Then her wings were clipped when the article was rejected because the play had closed. Megan didn’t sulk for long. Undaunted, she went back to her bower; looked at all she had learned about writing, editing, contacts, and networking. She offered to write a review of a forthcoming play, prior to the season. The editor must have recognised Megan’s ability in her first article.
Suddenly, she had an interview with the play’s director and was dragging me to an open rehearsal for moral support.
Between that time she was given the assignment and the day of the rehearsal, our email strings, and scores of text messages, attest to Megan’s struggle with deadlines, momentary panic, overcoming initial gaffs and finally a rush of adrenalin—especially when the editor asked her if she wanted a photographer along.
She was being treated as a writer!
The day arrived. A frantic text message came. On my way. I need cards.
Media Alliance? Birthday? Playing?
Business!
Resourcefulness. All writers need it. Thanks to a few minutes on the PC and Celcast business card printing paper, Megan left my house with twelve business cards—Megan Green, Freelance Writer. Finally, we were welcomed into the theatre.
‘This is Megan Green from the Altona-Laverton Mail.’
We didn’t realise that our short stay at the rehearsal would yield a wealth of information, contacts, and exposure to the process of putting on a play. What a bonus!
We found out about WLT’s Six Plays event (for new writers to submit short plays for production). We met interesting people. We are now on the Director’s list for an invitation to the dress rehearsal. Megan got her interview, they got her business card, and we had fun (at least up to the point that Megan realised she was now on deadline).I’m looking forward to the delivery of the newspaper. Megan always has a killer opening line.
In classes, we are rightly reminded of how tough the creative industries can be, but that should not dissuade us, it should firm our resolve. Rejection should not always break our confidence. Instead, we can use it to improve our writing, think of an alternative and look at our work in another light.
It’s rare for someone to come to your door and ask you to write something, so step outside and have a go! Think up story opportunities, make that call, develop your contacts, and send that article along with your carefully crafted introductory email. Summon your mettle and overcome self-doubt. Take a page from Megan Green’s book.
You too could be a bower bird with a byline.
