I wish I had known that when I was younger. Some of my readers and friends may know that I used to be a so-called digital journalist, but I don’t know what that means anymore. I’m pretty sure that people got actual jobs as journalists and write for respectable news wires and what not, but when I was working as one at a supposedly respectable lifestyle publication, I wasn’t even allowed to go out as much. Anyway, here’s why being a so-called journalist was detrimental to me as a writer.
- The type of writing journalists do is different from the type of writing as a fiction writer
Most of the time, I was in my grey cubicle, working at a clunky laptop and doing event listings. I had to learn how to format the events properly, made sure I got all the facts right, and write a short blurb about the event that would be compressed even more into the print copy. I had to write in such a way like I was too cool to be seen at these events, but in actual fact, I didn’t make enough money to even go to them — they were far too expensive. I didn’t even use the free media passes because there wasn’t enough coverage to warrant them. Moreover, editors would pick on certain words just because they didn’t like them — “tipple is so aunty”–so I had to do as they said. Did I do anything related to plot and characterisation? No. I just churned out event listings.
- It doesn’t pay, and is a job for the privileged
A lot of the fellow journalists/writers working in the industry are pretty privileged. I got to know a food writer who spoke with a heavy American accent. S/he obtained his/her degree from overseas, and had well-off parents. They were able to bring him/her to expensive places to eat all the time, and s/he talked about going to these places like they were no big deal. S/he was able to excel at the job partly because of his/her background. Most of the people do this because they like it, and it helps that they’re well-off. I’m not saying this with any malice — people being more privileged is part of how the world is, but it’s a job that requires a lot of financial support, because you’re supposed to hunt for good food on your own. I didn’t have that privilege, and I lost out.
- It consumes your life
You’re supposed to be on the lookout for what to write all the time. You don’t get to rest. By the end of my probation period, I was burned out. I was working all the time, even when I wasn’t working. It was insane. It came to a point where I didn’t feel like working on my personal projects, write a poem or even a short story. I was sucked dry. After I left the industry, I was finally more motivated to do work on my own, and slowly but surely, a story emerged. It turned out that being a journalist, perhaps, wasn’t the best way to become a writer.
I’d read about all these writers who used to be copywriters, journalists, and whatnot, and some even have cited that being a journalist has helped them with their writing career. For me, it’s hindered my creative process and my work for now. Unless I work under a supervisor who is invested in my growth, I think it’s time to stop hammering away at the keyboard writing clickbait and start doing something else instead.
Featured image via David Precious