by Mark Y.
Member since:
January 12, 2007

My Reporting Gig

July 28, 2008 09:41 PM UTC (Updated: July 28, 2008 10:51 PM UTC)
views: 0 | comments: 14

For a month now I've been a reporter for The Livingston Enterprise http://www.livingstonenterprise.com/news/  in Livingston, Montana. There are more published writers here per capita than any town of its size in the country; all with New York agents. Tim Cahill, founder of Outside Magazine is a long time resident; western novelist Richard S. Wheeler lives down the street; Jim Harrison; Doug Peacock, author of The Grizzly Years; and over on the next river valley, Thomas McGuane. I'm hoping it will rub off.

Pokin around the mountains, trying to make a few bucks, buy a nice little spread called Rancho Deluxe

 Jimmy Buffett

  

Comments: 14

Mark Y. Jul 28, 2008, 10:45pm UTC
Hey Rick, thanks. That's a cool piece of trivia! There are vaulable lessons to be learned from successful people. Never give up.
Linda D. Jul 29, 2008, 1:35pm UTC
Congratulations on becoming a reporter in such a special place! There are many writers on Gather, but not many who actually get paid to do it for a newspaper or anything else. This gives you credibility in the publishing world, and I'm sure it will be a launching pad for your writing career.
Mark Y. Jul 29, 2008, 2:48pm UTC
Thanks so much Linda! It is. Here's hoping this will do that for my career. That's true about writers on Gather. When it comes down to it, articles published online only, and with vanity presses sponsored by Gather, or not, still don't count as credits in the publishing world. Nothing will change that no matter who claims the wave of the future is at hand.
Linda D. Jul 29, 2008, 3:26pm UTC
I think Gather has been (at times) an excellent writers' support group and a place to learn the craft and share experiences. It has facets of a wonderful social networking Website for sophisticated adults. My main complaint has been the discussion threads becoming too enjoyable and, in fact, addictive, which is fine if you don't have time constraints. Also, the gunning-down, mob-like behavior has been a turnoff in the past. It reminded me too much of high school.
Mark Y. Jul 29, 2008, 10:13pm UTC
Well said. I think support group covers it nicely. As with the first contest, be supportive or get out of town when it comes to the finer points of writing and publishing. Even basic technical points for that matter. Right! Come to think of it I ran from mobs back then too. Something about daring to be different in any way brings that fear out in groups. It's unfortunate really, but some people graduate, ultimately.
Mark Y. Aug 16, 2008, 11:59pm UTC
Tom, thanks. I've written and submitted to repeated rejections this past year. Now I publish every day:News, prfiles and features. It's harder to break in now than ever, old novelists tell me. I know. So do you. Keep at it, and if you really want to be daring, get another journalism gig. It can help. Gather is a waste of time and counts for nothing. It's a vanity site and nothing more. Socializing is cool, but most here have bad habits they aren't willing to overcome to succeed. It's a sink or swim deal. Swim away from the ship with the cracked hull.
Jamie C. Aug 17, 2008, 11:07am UTC
Congrats on the new job, Mark! And those mountain vistas make me drool. Beautiful part of the country.
Mark Y. Aug 17, 2008, 11:46am UTC
Thanks Jamie. It sure is.
James R. Aug 17, 2008, 9:44pm UTC
Hey Mark, look's like a great place to live. It's even better to have a paying job there. Good luck with this.
Pat Bertram Aug 17, 2008, 9:48pm UTC
Congratulations on the job! And on finding such a great place to live.

You could be right about gather being a waste of time, yet here we both are. I think of it as pre-publishing publicity. Someday I will get published, and a couple of people from here will recognize my name.
~Sia McKye~ Aug 18, 2008, 9:00am UTC
It looks like a jewel of a town. A paying job always helps in these areas. Mountains are fabulous in this area.

Do tell me how you feel come winter and the snow is up to your butt, lol! I lived in Northern Idaho for awhile, gorgeous as well, but lots of snow.
Mark Y. Aug 18, 2008, 9:44am UTC
Well the snow may be at times but it's fairly dry. 93 today. Thanks for the well-wishes. Good luck.

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