For the past year, I have been working for a small weekly as a feature writer. I don't necessarily dislike my job, but it does get stale at times. The community where I work is very wealthy, so I do get to attend galas, fundraisers, etc. -- which can be fun -- but I really feel like I need to be doing something more worthwhile with my time. Also, the pay is terrible (around $20K per year), and the newsroom is not exactly brimming with optimism.
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I'm in my mid-20s and recently got married. Because my husband owns a business in our city, I can't pick up and move (And there are very few publications where we live.). I had success as a student journalist and always thought I'd do something with writing, but basically, I can't decide if journalism is truly the right career path for me. For one thing (And I'm truly no 1950s-era woman.), I don't know how much career-ladder climbing I could see myself doing, because I plan on staying home (But continuing to write!) when I have children in a couple of years.
Also, I enjoy writing features, but it doesn't feel like I am making a difference in the world if that's what I do 24/7, and unfortunately, I dislike the urgency and hard-nosed reporting that goes with news writing.
So, I'm thinking of becoming a journalism/English teacher and freelance writer. However, it's kind of a scary career leap after all of the time and effort I put into landing my first journalism job, and I'm afraid I might regret it later. Any advice or guidance is much appreciated!
Caroline
You seem to have ideas about what you'd like to do next but are afraid to make a big leap. So, make a little one. Look before you leap.
You can freelance or dabble in teaching at a local community college or perhaps in volunteering as an adviser at a local school's newspaper.
Once you know more about the possibilities, you can take a leap that won't seem so scary.
Coming Monday: She's writing a lot at her small daily but not learning much, and she wonders whether she should move to a bigger daily or a weekly.
