My Career in Journalism (short story) by Leanne Dyck

My Career in Journalism was as brief as Stephen Leacock's career in finance (My Financial Career by Stephen Leacock)--but not as funny.

My Career in Journalism

My parents lead me through the maze of buildings that, together, form Red River Community College. We stand in front of classroom 101-A.

 "What if I can't spell or find the right word?" I'm dyslexic. Spelling and vocabulary always cause me problems. 

"You have a dictionary and thesaurus," my parents remind me.

I pat my backpack and walk into the classroom. I choose a desk at the front of the room so I won't be distracted by inventing stories about all the other hopefuls.

(I may not have been a journalist, but I have made the news. 

This article appeared in a rural Manitoba newspaper. 2009)

A man with graying hair closes the door with a thud. He frowns at my books. "Clear your desks. Everything you need should already be in your head." He stands like a mountain in front of me. "If you're going to be a journalist, by now, you should know how to spell."

The room fills with laughter.

I sweep my hand across my desk. The dictionary falls to the floor, followed by the thesaurus.

(This article was published in the magazine Aqua:  Gulf Island Living Winter 2009/10)

The man walks down aisle after aisle, stopping at each desk. "This test." He places a stapled document print side down in front of me. "Consists of short answer questions plus four essay questions." He eases into the chair, behind the desk, at the front of the room. "You may turn the test over and begin." Announcement made, he props his legs on the desk and buries his nose in a newspaper.

I skim the first page. What is the name of...? When was the...? Names. Dates. I gulp. I don't know any of this. But who cares? I don't need to know. This is history. I want to write the news. Something will happen; I'll be there; I'll write about it. I sigh. But only if I pass this stupid entrance exam.

The sound of pens on paper and pages being turned is deafening.

The man rustles his newspaper. "Twenty minutes left. And let me stress, in journalism, speed matters."

Applicant after applicant set their pens down, march to the front of the room, and deposit their test.


Well, I don't have to be here for the rest of my life, I tell myself and add my blank test to the pile. My career in journalism is over.

(front page of The Islands Independent 2011)

More...

What would have happened if I passed that test and others, graduated and became a journalist. Would I still have a job?

Postmedia lays off staff; Vancouver Sun/Province combine newsrooms

Sharing my author journey...

There was something missing in one of my picture book manuscripts. 

Leanne Dyck's author interview

A friend recently said, "Leanne, I think you should start doing interviews."

Inspired by this comment, I offer this post...

Have I been interviewed?

Yup. I've been interviewed in The Mayne Liner Magazine (Mayne Island's monthly magazine), 

Aqua:  Gulf Islands Living (the Southern Gulf Island's quarterly magazine), 

The Island Independent (the Southern Gulf Island's newspaper)

The Interlake Spectator (Manitoba's Interlake regional newspaper)

and online by other authors. I answered questions such as...

When did you first realize you were destined to be an author?

I realized I wanted to be an author in my teens. However, instead of pursuing this goal, I built an ever-growing list of reasons why I could never fulfill this dream.

Until…

In an attempt to attract surfers to my knitwear design website, I began featuring short stories on my blog. I got more hits from these stories than any other post.

Even though, I didn’t know I was an author my readers did.

What do you consider the most important elements of good writing?

As a writer, I enter into a contract with my reader. It is my responsibility to entertain. If I deliver, the reader agrees to keep reading.

Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

 Make a daily commitment to write, read and work on your business. Believe in the power of your words and others will as well.

Tell us a bit about your book--something you wouldn't find in the blurb.

Something you won’t find in the blurb, eh? Well, how about this. The Sweater Curse could serve as your introduction to the rich Icelandic-Canadian culture.

What would constitute your own personal happily ever after?

Living on a beautiful island, daily engaged in my passion, I think I may be living my happy ending.

Have you ever battled with any of your characters over their personality traits?  If so, who won – you or the character?

I have. They won. It is, after all, their story.

Prior to becoming a published author, how many rejections did you receive?  How did you handle the rejections?

A rejection isn’t necessarily a devaluation of the story, but rather, sometimes, simply, a declaration of lack of fit. This lacking may be due to a variety of reasons.

It is my job as a writer to craft a quality manuscript and to market it effectively. All I need to find is one yes. Rejection may guide me in this process.

The old maxim rings true—every no brings you closer to a yes.

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a flexible plotter.

In my teens, I wrote never-ending stories. Fearful of similar outcomes, I like to start with a plan. My muse grants me permission to change this plan as often as I wish.