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In all honesty, writing and producing words and stories for other people’s eyes and minds to consume makes me a bit uneasy. I enjoy writing. I enjoy photography. The idea of getting paid to do both is exciting. But something happens to me when I think too much about the fact that other people will read and, for good or bad, criticize my work. The writing and photography go from just being expressions of my thoughts, to material on paper. A product that readers will either choose to buy and read or not. And then, the quality of that work will be judged.
I am a very social creature. I look forward to the work I get to do because it almost always means I get to meet someone new or interact with the community in some fashion. This is a good thing in the Gurdon and Prescott area because, so far, all of those people are, well, really nice. The reaction I get from folks out around town is a positive one, and that helps a tremendous amount as I try to become more comfortable in this new position.
Now, I am not naïve enough to think that this will always be the case. I have already experienced several minor circumstances where someone was not happy to see me coming; my notebook and camera in hand. I am sure there have already been instances where someone was not happy with the words I wrote. I realize there will be many more of those instances, and for good reason. If I am doing a good job, I will have to report news that will be hard for some to read.
When it comes down to it, two things will keep me getting up in the morning to come to work: words and people.
First, communicating and sharing ideas has a rare phenomenon attached. It is one of the only; if not the only thing you can share and not lose. I believe the adage goes like this: If I have an apple and you have an apple, and we trade apples, we are each left with only one apple. But if I have an idea, and you have an idea, and we trade, then we are each left with two ideas. The power of words is too often abused and I will strive to maintain accuracy and clarity in anything I write. I am reminded of this every time I hear the following lyric from Talib Kweli:
“These days I am learning that words have power, so I will try to be specific.”
Second, the people and community I am becoming part of are pretty rare, as well. Nothing says it better than an experience I had a few Friday nights ago in Hope. I found myself spending my Friday night date with my girlfriend at a 7- and 8-year-old All Star game. I am not related to, nor have I personally met a single boy on the team and I barely know any of the parents. The game ended up lasting later than my bedtime on many nights. None-the-less, when the Gurdon All Stars defended a one-point lead in the top of the sixth inning to win the game, my girlfriend and I were both jumping up and down cheering. At that moment, I realized that I am in a good place.
A few months ago, when I was considering coming to work for the Gurdon Times and Nevada County Picayune, I was talking with a former editor of the Times to get his perspective on the job. “One thing is certain,” he said. “If you take the job, I guarantee that you will be working with the nicest people around.”
I am typically leery of guarantees, but I have to say that so far his advice has been spot on. I will try my best to continue taking care of the “words” part and hopefully we as a community can continue to take care of the “nice people” part.
P.S. – A bit on the name of the column is coming up in a week or two.
Sean Ruggles is a writer for the Gurdon Times and
Nevada County Picayune. He can be reached at gurdontimes@yahoo.com
In all honesty, writing and producing words and stories for other people’s eyes and minds to consume makes me a bit uneasy. I enjoy writing. I enjoy photography. The idea of getting paid to do both is exciting. But something happens to me when I think too much about the fact that other people will read and, for good or bad, criticize my work. The writing and photography go from just being expressions of my thoughts, to material on paper. A product that readers will either choose to buy and read or not. And then, the quality of that work will be judged.
I am a very social creature. I look forward to the work I get to do because it almost always means I get to meet someone new or interact with the community in some fashion. This is a good thing in the Gurdon and Prescott area because, so far, all of those people are, well, really nice. The reaction I get from folks out around town is a positive one, and that helps a tremendous amount as I try to become more comfortable in this new position.
Now, I am not naïve enough to think that this will always be the case. I have already experienced several minor circumstances where someone was not happy to see me coming; my notebook and camera in hand. I am sure there have already been instances where someone was not happy with the words I wrote. I realize there will be many more of those instances, and for good reason. If I am doing a good job, I will have to report news that will be hard for some to read.
When it comes down to it, two things will keep me getting up in the morning to come to work: words and people.
First, communicating and sharing ideas has a rare phenomenon attached. It is one of the only; if not the only thing you can share and not lose. I believe the adage goes like this: If I have an apple and you have an apple, and we trade apples, we are each left with only one apple. But if I have an idea, and you have an idea, and we trade, then we are each left with two ideas. The power of words is too often abused and I will strive to maintain accuracy and clarity in anything I write. I am reminded of this every time I hear the following lyric from Talib Kweli:
“These days I am learning that words have power, so I will try to be specific.”
Second, the people and community I am becoming part of are pretty rare, as well. Nothing says it better than an experience I had a few Friday nights ago in Hope. I found myself spending my Friday night date with my girlfriend at a 7- and 8-year-old All Star game. I am not related to, nor have I personally met a single boy on the team and I barely know any of the parents. The game ended up lasting later than my bedtime on many nights. None-the-less, when the Gurdon All Stars defended a one-point lead in the top of the sixth inning to win the game, my girlfriend and I were both jumping up and down cheering. At that moment, I realized that I am in a good place.
A few months ago, when I was considering coming to work for the Gurdon Times and Nevada County Picayune, I was talking with a former editor of the Times to get his perspective on the job. “One thing is certain,” he said. “If you take the job, I guarantee that you will be working with the nicest people around.”
I am typically leery of guarantees, but I have to say that so far his advice has been spot on. I will try my best to continue taking care of the “words” part and hopefully we as a community can continue to take care of the “nice people” part.
P.S. – A bit on the name of the column is coming up in a week or two.
Sean Ruggles is a writer for the Gurdon Times and
Nevada County Picayune. He can be reached at gurdontimes@yahoo.com
