All my life I've wanted to write.
I'd given up on that a long time ago, thinking that writing wasn't for me. I never had time to finish or even get through the first five or six chapters of my books.
Then Junior year I took a class at my high school called Yearbook. I had heard that you can do some Journalism writing in that class and I figured it would help me gain a better knowledge of how to write. Boy was I in for a surprise.
See, I'm not the normal high school student. Whenever a teacher would say the word 'report' and other students would groan I would sit up straighter in my chair ready to tackle whatever topic the teacher assigned. So when the Yearbook teacher asked me to write an article I completely threw myself into the project. Especially since I knew that this would be in the local newspaper, the Chronicle Progress.
When my teacher saw the work I had done he started asking me to write more. Of which I was happy to comply. Soon I was writing three to five articles a week. I loved it, and my teacher talked of making me head reporter of the school. I agreed to that as well, and in the process started my own club. See I needed help writing all these articles, and people kept telling me they were willing. So I made posters and put out announcements about the F.R.A. (Future Reporters of America) And my writers came running.
Things were great for a while, I had eight writers. All happy to take the assignments I gave them each week. But then fourth quarter rolled around and things got busy.
No one had the time to write anymore and now it was back to me. So my teacher and I distributed out who would write what article by who was on what team. It seemed that my club had diminished.
Next year, my teachers and fellow faculty members made sure that my club will have its own class time. Which means that I get to distribute out who will write what among the school activities.
Then summer rolled around, and I had been talking with the Chronicle about a job. They were training me and told me I was exactly what they were looking for.
I wasn't sure if they'd still take me on when I went to the office. But they were happy to hear from me and still wanted me there. So now I go out and find whatever story I can dig up and I get exposure and experience. Two things I was surly lacking.
I absolutely love the experiences being a writer (both good and bad) and I hope to keep doing it. As a close writer friend once said to me, "Its not being published that matters, its doing what you love."
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
My 10 Biggest Pet Peeves
So I was watching Julian Smith's '25 Things I Hate About Facebook' on www.youtube.com, and I got an idea to do this. (Mostly because nothing worth writing about has really happened)
Lets see...
#1. When I'm trying to have a serious/business conversation with someone and they will NOT stop texting. Is it really that important? I mean come on.
#2. When you go to open a door, but its locked. Ya, does that only bug me? I mean, your walking, you shift your weight so you can open this door but no, you just end up running into it because its locked.
#3. People that you don't know, but seem to adore you. We all have someone in our life that follows us around like a little puppy dog and thinks we are the most amazing thing that happened on this earth, and usually they're really creepy and smell really bad.. Ya..
#4. Those people who send you like eight texts if you don't reply. Really? I swear there should be a limit as to how many texts you can send someone until they reply.
#5. Old people on Facebook that add you as a friend and are all like 'hey! lets talk! I've got a family and I'm 37. Who are you?' ..that's just creepy.
#6. When your at a gas station and the nozzle hose is so twisted up, you pratically have to fight it to get the nozzle into your car so you can pump gas. That stupid nozzle hose always seems to beat me..
#7. People who give you compliment after compliment, and just keep going like that's all you want to hear. Its nice to be told something sweet every-once-in-a-while but that much? Come on now, it belittles us both.
#8. When guys have those testosterone fights. You know, when one guys says, 'oh ya, went skiing yesterday' and another guy just has to pipe and and be all like 'dude you don't know skiing until you go with my family' and it just keeps elevating from there. If I had any interest in that guy before, its probably gone by then.
#9. Wind. Enough said.
#10. Last but not least, when your having a bad day, and you tell someone to leave you alone, and they just have to poke and pry and be all, 'Ooo, is someone having a bad day?' and then they just keep doing whatever it is they were doing to make you even angrier. Ya, that's when the devil on my shoulder is screaming into my ear, 'The world could use one less annoying person...'
Well now you know, ten things that annoys me. They aren't in any particular order. And these aren't the only things that annoy me, but they're what come to mind first.
Thanks for reading!
Lets see...
#1. When I'm trying to have a serious/business conversation with someone and they will NOT stop texting. Is it really that important? I mean come on.
#2. When you go to open a door, but its locked. Ya, does that only bug me? I mean, your walking, you shift your weight so you can open this door but no, you just end up running into it because its locked.
#3. People that you don't know, but seem to adore you. We all have someone in our life that follows us around like a little puppy dog and thinks we are the most amazing thing that happened on this earth, and usually they're really creepy and smell really bad.. Ya..
#4. Those people who send you like eight texts if you don't reply. Really? I swear there should be a limit as to how many texts you can send someone until they reply.
#5. Old people on Facebook that add you as a friend and are all like 'hey! lets talk! I've got a family and I'm 37. Who are you?' ..that's just creepy.
#6. When your at a gas station and the nozzle hose is so twisted up, you pratically have to fight it to get the nozzle into your car so you can pump gas. That stupid nozzle hose always seems to beat me..
#7. People who give you compliment after compliment, and just keep going like that's all you want to hear. Its nice to be told something sweet every-once-in-a-while but that much? Come on now, it belittles us both.
#8. When guys have those testosterone fights. You know, when one guys says, 'oh ya, went skiing yesterday' and another guy just has to pipe and and be all like 'dude you don't know skiing until you go with my family' and it just keeps elevating from there. If I had any interest in that guy before, its probably gone by then.
#9. Wind. Enough said.
#10. Last but not least, when your having a bad day, and you tell someone to leave you alone, and they just have to poke and pry and be all, 'Ooo, is someone having a bad day?' and then they just keep doing whatever it is they were doing to make you even angrier. Ya, that's when the devil on my shoulder is screaming into my ear, 'The world could use one less annoying person...'
Well now you know, ten things that annoys me. They aren't in any particular order. And these aren't the only things that annoy me, but they're what come to mind first.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, June 20, 2011
OCM
Let me introduce you to the little city I live in. Well, it isn't really even a city, more like a town. Its called Oak City. Its an amazing little place.
See, people here are different, the feeling here is different. I don't know how to explain it other than if you live here for a year you'll feel it.
I did most of my growing up here in Oak City. And no I didn't move here at an early age or anything, but something about this place changes you, makes you grow, makes you see who you are.
I love this town, with a passion.
Now for the best part, the people.
Welcome to O.C.M. The Oak City Mafia, trust me, its not at all as threatening as it sounds. Its just a group of guys that hang out and do fun crazy stuff, a group of which I have become a part of.
They taught me a lot, although they may not know it, and I'm not sure how to tell them, but they're the funnest to hang out with.
You see, these guys, they don't see me as a girl, which is to say they don't see me as someone they can hit on and take on a date. Which I love. And some of you are probably thinkin 'What??' but I do love it. They consider me a friend, someone who you can hang with and BS with. I'm one of the guys. No worrying about making an impression, none of those stupid little games guys and girls seem to have to constantly play, its just me and the guys doing something a little crazy, a little fun, and a little stupid.
They taught me that you really can just kick back and enjoy life. Sometimes you just need to pour gas on a couch, light that sucker on fire, and watch the sun set behind it with a couple of buds.
See, people here are different, the feeling here is different. I don't know how to explain it other than if you live here for a year you'll feel it.
I did most of my growing up here in Oak City. And no I didn't move here at an early age or anything, but something about this place changes you, makes you grow, makes you see who you are.
I love this town, with a passion.
Now for the best part, the people.
Welcome to O.C.M. The Oak City Mafia, trust me, its not at all as threatening as it sounds. Its just a group of guys that hang out and do fun crazy stuff, a group of which I have become a part of.
They taught me a lot, although they may not know it, and I'm not sure how to tell them, but they're the funnest to hang out with.
You see, these guys, they don't see me as a girl, which is to say they don't see me as someone they can hit on and take on a date. Which I love. And some of you are probably thinkin 'What??' but I do love it. They consider me a friend, someone who you can hang with and BS with. I'm one of the guys. No worrying about making an impression, none of those stupid little games guys and girls seem to have to constantly play, its just me and the guys doing something a little crazy, a little fun, and a little stupid.
They taught me that you really can just kick back and enjoy life. Sometimes you just need to pour gas on a couch, light that sucker on fire, and watch the sun set behind it with a couple of buds.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
My talk with Mike Rumsowers on his Walk For Christ
Around ten thirty this morning, my editor called me in and in a rushed voice told me that a man who was walking across America and happened to be at Lyndel. She wondered if I could hurry over there with a photographer I work with and interview him.
On my way over, my editor called me and told me that he was carrying with him a Cross attached to a fifty pound hand cart. The first thing that crossed my mind was 'And here I was having a normal day, I guess I need my daily dose of crazy.'
As I started talking with Mike I realized that he was actually a very normal man set out on a calling. A calling he believes came from Christ. He had a dream of him walking across the Golden Gates Bridge with a cross. After the dream had recurred several times and many talks with his Reverend, they both decided that this was his ministry to Christ. So he packed up and flew out to the Golden Gates Bridge and is walking from there to Missouri. He is currently in Utah.
He plans to take highway 6 all the way up to 189 over to 40, and 40 over to 36, on the other side of Colorado. His kids are waiting for him at his home in Missouri.
Now, you must understand, I am not one to believe in such grand callings as this, but this guy had some amazing stories. He told me, ‘I’ve had experiences where people were spitting, throwing beer cans at me. I’ve had people pull guns on me. I’ve seen beautiful blessings where people came right to the foot of the cross and gave their lives to Christ right along side of the road.’
He is trying to fulfill a mission, a show of visual faith to the people of the world. He wants people to understand that he is not Christ, nor is he trying to be. But he wants to bring as many people he can to the light, and believes this is the way he was called to do it.
Now I've met my fair share of crazy people, but this guy, he didn't give off the crazy person vibe. He was happy, easy to talk to, willing to share his stories. He told me of stories where he has let people carry the cross with him, told me of how he talked to people, how he did all he could to ease their broken hearts. His mission (go to thewalkforchrist.com if you want to learn more about it) was a strong one, and although thought of as crazy by most, it is endearing and impressive.
God speed to Mike. Maybe he's right after all.
On my way over, my editor called me and told me that he was carrying with him a Cross attached to a fifty pound hand cart. The first thing that crossed my mind was 'And here I was having a normal day, I guess I need my daily dose of crazy.'
As I started talking with Mike I realized that he was actually a very normal man set out on a calling. A calling he believes came from Christ. He had a dream of him walking across the Golden Gates Bridge with a cross. After the dream had recurred several times and many talks with his Reverend, they both decided that this was his ministry to Christ. So he packed up and flew out to the Golden Gates Bridge and is walking from there to Missouri. He is currently in Utah.
He plans to take highway 6 all the way up to 189 over to 40, and 40 over to 36, on the other side of Colorado. His kids are waiting for him at his home in Missouri.
Now, you must understand, I am not one to believe in such grand callings as this, but this guy had some amazing stories. He told me, ‘I’ve had experiences where people were spitting, throwing beer cans at me. I’ve had people pull guns on me. I’ve seen beautiful blessings where people came right to the foot of the cross and gave their lives to Christ right along side of the road.’
He is trying to fulfill a mission, a show of visual faith to the people of the world. He wants people to understand that he is not Christ, nor is he trying to be. But he wants to bring as many people he can to the light, and believes this is the way he was called to do it.
Now I've met my fair share of crazy people, but this guy, he didn't give off the crazy person vibe. He was happy, easy to talk to, willing to share his stories. He told me of stories where he has let people carry the cross with him, told me of how he talked to people, how he did all he could to ease their broken hearts. His mission (go to thewalkforchrist.com if you want to learn more about it) was a strong one, and although thought of as crazy by most, it is endearing and impressive.
God speed to Mike. Maybe he's right after all.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Dear Blogger's,
Well, this is my first time blogging. My editor reminded me and a photographer I work with to start a blog because it gives us 'exposure'. So here I am. I am I new reporter, working for the Millard County Chronicle Progress. If you'd like to look us up our web sight is: millardccp.com
I hope to be in Journalism wherever I move to. I've always loved writing, its always come naturally to me, I first thought my calling was books. I was proven wrong when I got no where with books and my teacher in Yearbook class put me in charge of the Journalism club. Which I later officially became head of making my mark in school as School Reporter, (nifty title right?), and starting a club called F.R.A. (Future Reporters of America).
As I was working with the willing writers in my school I also started working with the local newspaper, The Chronicle Progress. When summer came around I decided it was high time I started really putting my portfolio together to be a Journalist.
-Danielle Erickson
Well, this is my first time blogging. My editor reminded me and a photographer I work with to start a blog because it gives us 'exposure'. So here I am. I am I new reporter, working for the Millard County Chronicle Progress. If you'd like to look us up our web sight is: millardccp.com
I hope to be in Journalism wherever I move to. I've always loved writing, its always come naturally to me, I first thought my calling was books. I was proven wrong when I got no where with books and my teacher in Yearbook class put me in charge of the Journalism club. Which I later officially became head of making my mark in school as School Reporter, (nifty title right?), and starting a club called F.R.A. (Future Reporters of America).
As I was working with the willing writers in my school I also started working with the local newspaper, The Chronicle Progress. When summer came around I decided it was high time I started really putting my portfolio together to be a Journalist.
-Danielle Erickson
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