25 July 2010

Being Chief Editor...

I was asked today, "What's it like. Being Chief Editor? Is it fun?"

Whoa... Slow down.

I was an editor before, in a time gone by. This is harder.

I was a publisher long, long ago. This is more difficult.

I was an author, edited, and published. This is more complicated.

I was a columnist, regularly. This is tough.

I've been there and done that, all of that. I am finding that being Chief Editor for 4RV Publishing makes me more aware of the lack of hours I have in a week and makes me pay more attention to what I type. Arrggghh!

I have many projects in the works from music I am composing, music I am arranging, music I am publishing, children stories I am writing, editing, and publishing, a photo studio to run, private chores around the house I share with my dogs, neighbors to help out, friends to learn about, Twitter to arouse, and of course assigning evaluations and editing for 4RV. Oh, and last, but not least, editing, final proofs, reproofs, re-edits, and more of both for 4RV.

Through the process I have learned a lot that I hope will be of benefit to me in the future. The odds are I am on the shorter side of my life line now. What I do and when I do it I hope has more meaning and value than most of what I have done in the past.

The tasks I do for the benefit of 4RV are not replacing my insomnia, nor improving my health, but then none of the other projects I take on have provided either benefit. It, nor them, have cured the loneliness that my dogs try to cure for me. Life goes on. I go along with it.

I'm still kicking and struggling with fate. I find being Chief Editor is lots of fun, lots of work. If somebody asks you about your job, your life, your task...you say "Whoa..." and think about it.

I'd take the train through the mountains before I took the speedy tunnel with nothing to look at. How about you?

5 comments:

  1. It's my kind of post, nice to read, no-nonsense, authentic.

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  2. Very good essay - and yes, by all means take the slow ride over the speedy tunnel!

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  3. Because I'd rather lose an exciting game than win a boring one I've always tried to get work on the train going through the mountains.

    I think I've seen you there.

    Aren't you the guy with the big smile on his face?

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  4. I'm in the middle of learning that you don't just "write a book" then "get it published" - LOL, so many things - plotting, pacing, conflict (ext vs. int)...

    But I love to learn, so I'm taking it in stride. And by "in stride" I mean I blog about it extensively.. ;)

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  5. Good to see the train ride will have great company.

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Think it through, type it out, leave it here, we'll shout it out...