Mixing Coworkers and Chasers

by Editing Working Girl

Another Cinco de Mayo has come and gone as have the celebrations that come with it. Add on other 'American drinking holidays' like St. Patrick's Day and really anything having to do with sporting events and there is the potential to be a Working Girl Mess.

I attend a lot of networking events as a freelancer, and as I am representing myself, I usually only drink one glass of wine (and instead double up on the business cards). Then there are times when I am representing my company at blog conferences or events like SXSW with the parties and cocktail hours and concerts and the lines between coworkers and friends are blurred, along with the amount I may have had to drink.

As a runner, I don't usually get into awkward alcohol situations, because I am usually training for a race and avoiding it altogether. Even so, there are times where I do drink in front of coworkers. Next week, for example, we have a team outing scheduled involving a tour of the city, on a "bus" of sorts that is powered by us - by pedaling - while drinking beer and wine.

Here comes my question for fellow Working Girls: what is the appropriate amount to drink on this afternoon excursion? What about at Happy Hours or other company networking events?

I usually avoid this situation by simply keeping my relationship with coworkers professional. Personally, I don't want my coworkers to know how much I drank the other night or how I look when I dance downtown or even what my drink of choice is. Have any of you had an embarrassing Working Girl story that involved alcohol?

E-mail Errors

by Editing Working Girl

I can be reached by e-mail at all times, both business and personal. I love the fact that though a few years ago this would seem obsessive behavior.But with the bounds and leaps of smart phones, pretty much every one of you can claim the same fate.

With all of this constant connection, something is bound to go wrong. Like that e-mail that you thought you only sent out to a coworker calling your boss' bluff but didn't realize you hit "Reply All". Maybe even that draft you keep to rant in that accidentally was sent? That e-mail to a customer that was meant for a coworker? Sometimes, it happens.

Luckily, I have only had this experience in a very mild manner. I was forwarding an e-mail to a coworker so he could see my prior conversations with a customer he was on the phone with and accidentally sent it to the customer. No harm, no foul. But what if I had said something bad in the e-mail? What would I have done?

I think the best way to handle that sort of situation, is to be completely upfront and claim responsibility. This can go further than you think. Instead of blaming it on the e-mail system, computer, internet, distraction - admit fault. Yes, you did accidentally send a horrible e-mail out, but trying to hide behind the computer further will only make things worse. Secondly, depending on how bad the e-mail actually was, make sure to throw the appropriate apology in there. Maybe it will open up discussion between you and your boss? Maybe your coworker will forgive the things you said? Hopefully, you will get the issue resolved.

As Editing Working Girl, this is where I plug the great habit of editing every e-mail. If you make it a priority to glance over your e-mails before you send it (starting with the Send To line) there is a good chance you can avoid this situation. I do it now for every work e-mail I send after that mishap with the customer. I take it to the next level and after I forward an e-mail I check my Sent folder to make sure it did, in fact, go to the right person. Be proactive.

As the woman in charge of Twitter at my office, I have, on more than one occasion, sent out a personal tweet on the work account, and vice versa. Luckily, I have always caught it right away and Twitter has a delete button.

Has this e-mail snafu happened to you? What advice do you offer Working Girls who may be going through this situation (or may go through it in the future)?

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Balancing Work and Working Out

By: Editing Working Girl

As a fitness freelance writer, I constantly have running on the brain. I am training for my first half marathon now, so usually at work I am planning when I will get out on the road for my medium-long run, or yawning from the tough speed workout the day before.

Working out and working is hard.

At SXSWi two weeks ago, I made a point to go to the GeekFit panel. There, we discussed working out in the workplace – everything from getting your company to help promote fitness in the workplace, learning to stock your kitchen with healthy snacks and even quick workouts to perform at your desk – and we were all there because we have a desire to not only keep ourselves fit, but help others achieve this goal too.

I am definitely one to sit at my desk and eat lunch on occasion, which according to Shape magazine isn’t a good thing. I read yesterday that people who eat lunch at their desks are likely to eat more during the day, because without a break while having lunch they are less likely to remember what they ate and more likely to snack later because of it.

With my race about 22 days away, I am running an average of 20+ miles per week. Although the majority of these miles are put on during the weekend, it still takes a toll trying to have the energy to get out there for a 6-miler after a full day of work.

Because of this, I needed to change the way I thought about running. I needed to look at it as “me time.” Though I run with my training group on Wednesdays and Saturdays, those other runs are for me. They are a time where I can put my music on and sing, dance, think or clear my head. It is when I can focus on my goal and have control over my pace and breathing – when I may not have finished a goal or had total control at work.

Working out shouldn’t be work.

What about you, Working Girls? Do you juggle a fitness schedule with your work schedule? What is your favorite time to work out? On the weekdays, I am a total afternoon worker-outer. If I get up early to run, I am a mess (I really, really enjoy my sleep). On the weekends, I like to get up early and get my run out of the way, so I have the whole day to go to brunch, write and spend time with my boyfriend.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Do you run, take pilates or yoga, swim, etc.? Me? I am obviously a runner. Something I hope to be forever.

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The Connectivity of Writing

by Editing Working Girl

Writing helps bring people together. It really is as simple as that. Whether it is the relationship between the reader and the author, the author and their work or all of the people reading that piece of writing, there is a connection being made.

I am attending SXSW Interactive this year (yes, I do consider myself lucky) and had the chance to watch a panel featuring Tim O'Reilly. If you aren't a techie you may not have heard of him, but he is the founder of O'Reilly Media, which publishes books on various computer technology topics.

When discussing how he got started in the publishing industry, he talked about how it just started as a venture that he did between his consulting projects. He would notice the lack of documentation about certain types of coding, for example, and decide to put out his own, honest materials. If something didn't work as it should, he wasn't afraid to say it in the book. People really took notice when he crashed a conference one year and sold copies of his latest book outside of the conference - he had a book on a topic people were interested in and could connect with, that they couldn't find somewhere else. They wanted more - and he was able to provide it and establish himself in the publishing world.

This is not to say you can't write about something that already has been written about, but make it your own. Make it speak to someone else and you will find a following. As he continued to talk about communities, he said a great three-line slogan to sum up communities, "Harnessing collective intelligence." Are you a blogger? Don't be afraid to utilize the ideas of your readers? Author, maybe? Bounce some ideas off of your editor.

Your community does connect with you via your writing, but also via your ideas within that writing. Find what connects you to them and harness it.

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Are You Using Your Degree?

By: Editing Working Girl

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I am one of the lucky few to actually be using my college degree. But it wasn't always this way. I majored in Communications and minored in Literature/Writing and my first job out of college was as...a Medical Transcriptionist.

There were so many times that I was frustrated because I got that position not because I knew medical terminology, but because I could type fast (thanks Mavis Beacon!). Every month while I was paying off my ridiculously high University of California system student loans, I would find myself angry that my degree wasn't being utilized, that I wasn't prepared for the 'real world' and that my four years in college were a waste.

It looks like many women feel that way. In the U.K., Dailymail.com is reporting that many women are seeing university as a waste of time, because the time spent working toward a degree outweighs the actual benefits. "Tuition fees and little chance of landing a good job make higher education an unattractive prospect for them, a study shows."

Luckily, the time spent at the job I hated motivated me to really try to find something that I loved. Not only have I put my experience as an Editorial Intern to use in my freelance writing, but I now do marketing for a software company, utilizing many things I studied in college such as skills I learned in my Writing for Digital Media course.

At the same time, I am actually thinking of enrolling into my alma mater's Extension Program to earn a certificate in copy editing since we didn't have Journalism classes and I feel I can use it to help further my freelance career. So though I am using my degree, I always feel continuing education is a viable option to not only brush up on my skills, but help learn specific skills that may not have been included in my degree program.

What about you Working Girls? Was your degree worth it? Would you ever go back to school?

Tips for Freelancers

By: Editing Working Girl

Freelancing takes a lot of patience, and persistence. It also takes courage to face rejection. Most writers know that it is possible to turn writing into a career. The mistake comes from thinking it will happen overnight.


I am currently freelancing for two publications. I have probably sent my resume and pitched articles to 200 (alright, less than 200, but you get the idea). I have had success, but also have had some failures - all of which I have learned from. I hope what I have learned not only helps some of you who are currently looking for freelancing, but encourages others who have thought about it to give it a try.


1. Know not all of your queries will be answered. Some of them may not even be read. Good news is , the more times you send out your resume and pitch stories, the more possibility that someone will see it and give you an assignment. Also? Usually publications have multiple editors. Find the one who edits a section that your article would fit best in and get in touch with them. Researching the editorial structure can go a long way.


2. Check websites for submission guidelines. Magazines don't always have submission guidelines, but the ones that do have them there for a reason. Before you send in a pitch or article, make sure you have check and re-checked for the guidlines, and if there, read and re-read them. Doing things right the first time not only makes a good impression, it saves the editor time (which may get you another offer from the magazine in the future).


3. Read staff bios online. Not only do these staff bios give you a sense of who the editor is outside of the magazine, but it also may give you a lead. Check out where staff members have worked in the past and see if there are publications you may not have heard of before.


4. Find your niche and embrace it. Just as bloggers usually like to have a central focus for their blog, it is good to have that as an author, also. The more you are interested and involved with your topic outside of your writing, the more engaging your writing is likely to be. Topics can be as broad as food, fitness or fashion, for example or can be more specific, such as cycling or runway reviews. Whatever the case, sticking to a niche will help you build your portfolio and keep things consistent.


5. Network! Interested in writing for a certain publication? Get involved, even before you freelance! Magazines often have events such as luncheons or charity happy hours. Go and meet the staff - introduce yourself - and get to know other atendees. These "atendees" are probably fellow readers and will help you get a good sense of the audience you would reach at that publication. It can all also give you the upperhand while pitching stories as the editors can put a face your name on the pitch.


The rest is all trial and error. You will learn what works for you and what doesn't work for you personally, all relative to the city you live in, publications you are pitching to and niche you are writing for. Most importantly: don't give up! Remember that freelancing takes courage. The more you try and learn from it - the more tools you will have to succeed!


Do you have anything to add to the list? What have you all learned as writers/editors?

Eliminating the "9 to 5"

by Editing Working Girl

I am not a morning person, so the first trip I make in the morning is to the coffeemaker. When 4 p.m. comes around, I start to get tired and by time dinner is over I am ready for bed.

What I hate the most about this schedule is that I constantly feel like 'real life' passes me by - I get off work and am a zombie until bed and then wake up to work all over again, the weekends are spent catching up on sleep and I can be grumpy sometimes because of this feeling (I'll admit it).

In the Netherlands, they have implemented a successful part-time work schedule that started with women, and is now transferring over to men also (See the article from Jezebel here). Not only do people have time for things such as exercise, they can spend time with their families and traffic is even lessened, as some people can work from home in the mornings, which is high traffic time here in the U.S.

The thought of only working part-time is exhilarating - now if only it was financially feasible. Besides the financial aspect, though, I believe the United States could easily benefit from this transition. Families would get to spend time with one another, lessening the amount of time children spend in childcare. As stated, traffic could possibly be lessened and people may even be more productive if they know they have less time to get things done in the office. It is possible job opportunities would open up - especially if more employees could be brought on and shifts were implemented.

But is this something the U.S. will do? Probably not. Our economy is still in recovery mode enough to be enforcing drastic changes on the workforce of America, some who are struggling to support themselves and their families on their current salary, let alone cutting their hours.

What do you think about this article? Is a part-time work schedule feasible in the US (and is money really the only thing that could hold it back?

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Editorial Resolutions

By: Editing Working Girl

It has been one heck of a year - both personally and career-wise - and if 2010 treated me this well, I can't wait for 2011.

This year I not only got a new full-time job, I was also able to kick butt in the freelancing world (by entering it). All of this change and success I have found has me ready to keep it all going full force in 2011, and with that, comes some resolutions.

Embrace the unknown - This year I was given more than one writing assignment that I wasn't too sure of, whether it be a topic I didn't know much about or needing to learn a new blogging software or even learning new style guides. That being said, I managed to pull it off in the end and have learned so much more than I would have imagined (especially at the software company I work for). Successfully writing about a new or foreign topic gives me a huge confidence boost. I want that all year long in 2011 - and just think of all the new things I will learn!

Focus on social media, really focus - At my full-time job I am in charge of social media and blogging initiatives and I want to kick it up next year! We have been working on a lot of brainstorming on ways to maximize our social media efforts to reach customers and I am ready to implement them all in the New Year!

Decorate my office - One of my tasks in 2011 will be to transform my office into a cozy place I am excited to go to everyday (though I love coming to work, my office is a bit lacking in color and playfulness). I want pictures! Posters! Frills and pink everywhere!

Blog, more - In 2010 my personal blogging kind of went kaput and took the back burner to all of my freelance writing and contributing. Not only am I ready to start my blog back up - I am currently applying for even more contributing!

Most importantly:

Don't think of work as a job - I've been inspired by workisnotajob. I hope you get inspired too.

What are your Working Girl Resolutions? Did you keep your 2010 resolutions - and are there any that will carry over to 2011?

Is 'Title' Everything?

By: Editing Working Girl

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about titles and how they affect us. Not only do they delineate your position with the company, but also your responsibility. And ultimately, title can affect your future positions and opportunities.

In the editorial world, Editor-in-Chief is a title I have been striving for, and it looks like I am thisclose to getting my dream and dream title at a small, local newspaper. At the same time, it looks as if my Regional Editor title with another publication I work for may be changing into a regional contributor position, as the magazine is re-working their editorial priorities and structures. The writing world is an unpredictable one, and I have always been leery of transitioning into the world of newspapers. But to have the title of Editor-in-Chief, I would immediately make that transition and eagerly.

It is funny what titles do to us. Now that I have been Regional Editor, I have been wondering if there will be future implications if and when I have to change my resume to say Regional Contributor. What if I don't have a chance to explain the magazine's transition and it looks like I was demoted? What if they think I couldn't handle the responsibilities of Regional Editor? Then I move on to thinking about the future Editor-in-Chief role. What if I don't get to play as much of a role in shaping the news as I would like? Are people automatically going to come my way if they don't agree with an Opinion piece, or the writer?

Most importantly: will all of these title changes affect how I work or my writing style?

I have always prided myself on my ability to take on any writing assignment, put in the research necessary and have the finished product on time for deadline. I don't want titles to change how I write or why I write or where I am headed.

Do you have a dream "title"? Do you feel the title you hold now will affect you in the future? Have you met someone who has judged you or placed you in a certain category based on that title? And most importantly - is title everything?

Work Relationships and 'Real Life'

by Editing Working Girl

At my last job, most of the staff was either a daughter of our boss or close friends of either those daughters or of our boss. This led to drama galore. With everyone seeing each other constantly in and out of the workplace, non-work and personal issues were constantly being brought into the office, as did the gossip that goes with it. As soon as I got my new full-time job and put in my two weeks, I vowed to personally never let that happen to me in a future work setting.

I do have one close friend at work, and she is actually the one who helped me get my job. She has the office next to mine, and it is nice to have a familiar face around and someone to grab coffee with from the second floor break room, get lunch with or just sit and talk with when things are a bit slow. Though her boyfriend works at our company also, along with most of the staff hanging out constantly and being close, there is very little drama brought into work. This may be because we are all divided between the three floors, or into different departments, or everyone is just able to separate work from their personal lives. That or I am too out of the loop to notice the drama, because my coworker is really the only one I have allowed myself to get close to, mostly because of the vow I made at my previous job.

I do wonder, am I missing out? Is keeping myself at a distance hurting me? I have plenty of friends outside of work to hang out with. I live with my boyfriend and I consider him to be my best friend. I have a running group I meet with twice a week. Almost all of my best friends from high school and college are still some of my best friends today and I set aside time to call them and catch up (as they are over 1,300 miles away from me in California). With all of these groups of people I get to interact with daily, am I missing out because I don't want to let my work friends into my personal life?

Though we are all Facebook friends and they can see my Facebook status updates and photos and many can see my Twitter, I still feel like it is a nice barrier to have as they aren't directly able to have actually seen the whole night of dancing Downtown last month or my whole visit home with friends - they are getting to see the person I want to present myself as through that medium.

Do any of you Working Girls have this issue? Are you able to take the break room talk further and turn it into Happy Hours or Girl's Nights? Have taking work friendships outside of work caused professional drama? Have you ever mixed personal and work relationships and hung out with a big mixed-up group? I want to hear from all of you!

Print Journalism vs. Technology

Anyone who took any sort of writing class in college has heard it: "Print journalism is on its way out." Anyone who actually majored in Writing/Journalism definitely heard it: "Good luck finding a writing job; this is a bad time for you to be graduating."

The source of these quotes? My college professors. Yes. Plural. Multiple professors.

We all know that newspapers are definitely struggling and that many are trying desperately to revitalize their image. What I find interesting is the way most of them are doing so: their websites.

Can technology save newspapers? In their print form, probably not. But just because newspapers in their print form start to dissolve, doesn't mean there won't be the need for journalists and that the news is dead.

Mashable says it best: Newspapers Are Still Dying, But the News is Not Going Anywhere. They discuss how newspapers will always be of value to those communities without access to the Internet, but soon the cost of printing papers will outweigh the benefit. This means more papers moving solely online.

What will the move to the internet mean for us in the industry? Will there be a strict distinction between journalist and blogger if everything moves to the web world?

What about magazines? Many are creating iPad versions, but still remain in print. I hear very little about the magazine world being in the same boat as that of newspapers, and am grateful to work in that world. Once I started interning for magazines in college, working for newspapers immediately was eliminated from my mind. Does this make me one of the lucky ones, or will magazines someday reach the same fate as newspapers - even if it is years later?

Can we look at this in a more positive light - is technology help saving print publications - both newspapers and magazines? Is technology helping a broader audience find the news? If newspapers and magazines were to stop being printed tomorrow, would technology help them survive?

I don't have answers to a lot of these questions, though they are always on my mind. What do you think, Working Girls? Even if you aren't in the Publishing industry, do you think this affects you?

Counting Sheep

It is no secret that stress and worry can effect your sleeping habits. According to this article about sleep deprivation around the world, "Monday-morning anxiety prevents 78 percent of workers around the world from getting a decent sleep on a Sunday night." What are we all worrying about?

I know that it is rare that I don't wake up at least once during the night, but what factors is this tossing and turning attributed to? The noises in the new house we moved in to? My boyfriend occasionally snoring? How early I always fall asleep? Am I stressed?

I will admit that my sleep habits have gotten much better with the new mattress I get to sleep on every night, but I also will admit that I am the poster-child for the part of the population that finds ways to worry about everything. Did I lock the doors before bed? Is the stove off? Is the washing machine making weird noises in the garage? If I don't either make my boyfriend get up and check at least one of these things or get up myself to check (which happens at least twice a week), I definitely have a harder time getting myself to drift off into sleep.

So how do I manage stress? Nine months ago, I couldn't have told you. My first edit deadline was a mess. I was up until all hours of the night re-reading copy sentence by sentence making sure each word was perfect. I thought I could handle writing my first feature with complete ease until I realized that 1,400 words is a lot of words. I hadn't yet mastered the interview and realized there were still questions I had that I didn't have time for. I was a newbie.

Now, I'd like to think I handle edit deadlines with a bit more grace. I usually have my edit in a day early and have built an excellent list of freelancers to take care of that feature for me. I am more prepared going in to each month as I now know what each section requires and what I need to do to get it completed. But editorial isn't my only responsibility in life.

I met with a friend of mine about a month ago and she helped change my weekly routine in the best kind of way: she taught me how to plan more effectively. Now I carry around a little Moleskin notebook wherever I go and it not only has a calendar, but it has my ever important to-do list. This list is split up into categories - i.e. my full-time position, my magazine, freelance and personal - and then I make my list based on this structure. It not only helps me see what I need to accomplish based on what position I am fulfilling, but gives me an idea of just how much I have to accomplish each week. I find myself doing tasks more efficiently and quickly because I love the accomplishment of crossing them out once finished.

It is impossible to avoid stress and worry completely, but as I have learned, it is possible to deal with it. Dreading Monday morning? Treat yourself to a pedicure or massage Sunday afternoon to help relax. Take a bubble bath. Even more drastically, try disconnecting from the internet world sometime mid-Sunday and see if the break from the busy world of social media helps you focus on only what you personally interact with that day, allowing for more focus on the immediate. Even work on setting up your plan of attack for the week. Seeing what I need to accomplish on Sunday night vs. right when I get into work on Monday morning helps me go into the week a little more prepared.

Are you one of the 78 percent of the population with sleep issues Sunday night? How do you handle stress and deadlines and making sure that you are refreshed when your alarm goes off, instead of dreading the day?

The Editor Letter

The hardest thing I have to write every month is my Editor Letter. To give myself some credit, I have gotten much better, but when I started with my publication earlier this year, I was at a loss.

I write for a running publication and at the time of starting the position, had yet to even run a race (if you don't count my single year doing Track and Field in high school). Therefore, my first letter said I was a spectator of running. Seriously.

The amount of pressure I put on myself every month was ridiculous. I would save the letter for last, hoping the need to write it would disappear or that some idea would magically appear out of thin air and I would write the most prolific 400+ words I have ever written.

It took awhile for me to realize that it didn't matter that I didn't have years of experience under my belt or had yet to run a 5K. What mattered is that I was trying and planning. It was in my Editor Letter that I declared I was going to run a 5K and a half-marathon, and here I am today getting ready to run my second 5K this upcoming weekend and have my half-marathon training program starting December 1.

The Editor Letter isn't where I am supposed to spout off all of my knowledge about the sport - it is where I get to share my stories and set goals myself in a space readers can see I am just like them. It is where I can relate to the rest of the Texas running crowd and hope they'll look for me if they attend the same races.

I never used to pay attention to Letters from the Editor much. Now I try to pour through all different magazines reading them at the store or Barnes & Noble when I get the chance. I have become fascinated with all of the different personalities that shine through and all of the different writing styles and layouts. The Editor Letter is really the place to be you.

Do you read the Editor Letter in magazines? Do you have to write one? What is your favorite - and least favorite - part about them?

Editing Needed: Ads for Working Girls

The world of advertising is one of targeting consumers with images and wordplay. What are key phrases that will make people buy products? What images do we want to associate with our product?

I can't go to Thundercloud Subs in Austin without immediately hearing their jingle (if you haven't visited Austin and haven't heard it, be thankful) and definitely can't think of the Santa Barbara Zoo back in California without singing the whole song - yes, there is one ("..a wild adventure is waiting for you. We're as wild as it gets, the Santa Barbara Zoo")! Advertisers help us associate products or places with songs, images and phrases for this exact reason - so that we can easily identify and take time to think about them as a brand.

I usually don't think about advertising that much until a ridiculous infomercial comes on. Now that I truly identify myself as a Working Girl, there are plenty of those targeted at us that have been brought to my attention. Has anyone else seen ads for Working Girls and thought to themselves, "Why would they do that?!"

First up, we have 'Cami Secret', a "revolutionary product" apparently:

My issue with this ad is not the product itself (though I do think it is a bit silly since there is such a thing as Camis already to just wear under your shirt), it is the way the product is presented. The first image shown is a Working Girl whose boss is looking down her shirt. This automatically gives the impression that this product is important because it will help Working Girls be taken seriously at work, or that if you aren't being taken seriously this is the solution. I think if your boss or coworker is staring at your chest that obviously, there is a bigger problem than your shirt and a better solution that adding a Cami Secret to your wardrobe.

Next up, my personal favorite, the Summer's Eve ad, disguised as an editorial to help Working Girls ask for a raise:

Please divert your attention to the first, and apparently most important suggestion, to ask for a raise: "It should start with your usual routine ... including showering with Summer's Eve Feminine Wash or throwing a packet of Summer's Eve Feminine Cleansing Cloths into your bag for a quick freshness pick-me-up during the day." WHAT?! AOL News describes the problem with this ad the best way possible. "That's right, ladies. Forget all that you've achieved during your time at Acme, or wherever it is that you work. First and foremost, wash your lady bits." The article goes on to state how bloggers and Working Girls alike were offended by the ad, citing a correlation between being a woman and needing feminine care products to the way their ads play on possible insecurities (i.e. smell, appearance, cleanliness, etc.).

So what can be done? When will ads for Working Girls not make us out to simply be at the office for the visual pleasure of our male coworkers and career counterparts or make us think our 'feminine cleanliness' has anything to do with our success in our careers? Have you come across any ads that need editing?

The Effects of Advertising on Editorial

Before I started working for magazines, I never truly understood the way editorial and advertising works together.

I first came across the duo at my time interning for a local San Diego publication. It was a guide to San Diego and when advertisers bought ad space, they automatically got free editorial space. I understood the idea behind it, but at the same time started to wonder, "Just how do I know we are showcasing the best San Diego has to offer?" I was uneasy about simply plugging advertisers, but in that setting, I understood why it was and had to be done.

That experience shaped my whole view of the balance between advertising and editorial.

Now that I am the one in charge and make the call, I will admit, I don't automatically cater to our advertisers. This isn't to say I will automatically write them off because they are present in our ad spaces, but I make sure that they represent an event or company that truly has a place in our limited editorial space and stand for something I believe our readers should take special note of. I pay a lot more attention to the radio now, also, and when I hear them do a quick spot for a local eye doctor or fast food restaurant, I remember that they are getting paid every single time they mention that advertisers name. Then I remember to be thankful I don't have that same obligation.

Or do I?

The thing I am learning in my time as editor, is that advertising affects my job more than I originally thought. Though I am not obligated to write about our advertisers, I need to also remember that ad sales affect the page counts of the magazine. That in turn determines the number of editorial pieces that will fit. So do I write about advertisers to keep them with us and keep page counts up? Or do I keep writing in things I personally believe in?

As I stated, it isn't that I don't believe in our advertisers products or events, but it is safe to say that I don't want to be limited. I am lucky to have the ability to choose my own editorial content and push for topics I think our readers will appreciate. I am lucky to not have to "sell out" to the advertisers and simply write about them because they bought ad space.

It is a delicate balance. Advertising and editorial go hand in hand - but how far do we take it? Have any other Editing Working Girls dealt with this pair?

Should you edit your in-office behavior?

I work in an office everyday, though it is not for my editorial position. Being a pre-25-year-old female, people often seem surprised when they learn I also hold a position as an editor. There is always room to wonder if part of this reaction comes from my young age or my California-girl appearance (a la Clueless). Part of me feels even more proud of all that I have accomplished as a 20-something due to the possibility of this being the cause of surprise.

As Working Girls, we know that office stereotypes are always possibility, no matter what we wear, how we act or what position we hold. That statement really could hold true for everyone. So how do you determine how to present yourself at work?

According to Jezebel.com, to stay on top at the office as a Working Girl, maybe a little flirting is in order?

This article is very interesting. You can never quite gauge where the writer is coming from, with the editorial tactic of leaving the conclusion to the reader in full swing. It starts off with outside quotes stating that flirting at work may be necessary, travels into the realm of it being wrong and finally heads into the discussion of the process of flirting being inevitable. It is that last point that interested me the most.

That final paragraph includes a quote from Denise Frost that says, "In that age range, if you're an attractive female and smile at a male colleague you are automatically assumed to be making a pass at them or alluding to the same." The point is, does it matter if workplace flirting is right or wrong, if it is assumed by the other party?

It was in my Cultures of Glamour class in college (that was somehow considered a class fit for the Literature Department) when I first learned about "the gaze." The idea was it didn't matter how women portrayed themselves in old European black-and-white films, it only mattered how they were perceived by the men watching them (or something like that).

Ultimately, though, us Working Girls need not despair (or flirt our way to the top). You are in control of you, and believe it or not, your actions can shape the thoughts of others. Yes, I may be young, but I do my best to not come off that way (at least, unless we are discussing things as my first concert to which I must confess *NSYNC or my love of teen novels). If you dress professionally, come prepared to meetings and maybe even need to act a bit older than you really are (because lord knows no one thinks Agnes the bookkeeper is winking at them because she wants to smooch behind the copier), you can avoid the inevitable "flirty Working Girl" stereotype.

Maybe now is the time we all treat our workplace behavior like a manuscript. You will find places you may want to edit and some parts of the narrative will flow perfectly. Either way, eventually, it will tell the story of a Working Girl who succeeded.

The Editing Working Girl

It all started with a piece of fiction.

'Never Been Kissed' (that teen cult classic starring Drew Barrymore as an undercover journalist turned high school student, I really hope you know the one) came out in 1999. I was in 7th grade. Back then I wore uniforms to school, watched the boys play sports during break and started planning my last year of junior high and eventual rise to high school cheeleader (a goal which was accomplished, by the way). Also? That was the year I started editing my friends' papers because Ms. Josie Gellar indirectly helped me learn that yes, people can actually have a career telling others their grammar is wrong.

Her character was a copy editor for the Chicago Sun-Times. Her character helped me discover my desire to be an Editing Working Girl.

Throughout my high school years I continued marking my friends' papers with red pen and for some reason could not get an "A" on a paper in Senior Honors English (yes, I'm still bitter). I went on to a UC and started out my college career as a Literature/Writing major with a minor in Communication. This little plan changed when I realized my major required me to take Literature in a Foreign Language. I did what any respectable girl who tried both Latin and Greek to no avail would do - I flip-flopped my major and minor and bypassed the whole thing. I took the standard Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry classes and even got to spend time on Writing for Digital Media and Media Writing. I realized that writing was something that is really subjective and grades are kind of a moot point but I respected the critiques of my professors and even some of my peers. I formed friendships and fell in love with the possibilities words presented and knew that sadly, my studies wouldn't be enough.

As one of the few Communication and Literature/Writing students not planning to go on for an MFA in Fiction, I knew I would have to start putting my degree to use before I even received it. So besides my job shelving at the University library, I took on an editorial internship at a local publication which was a guide to the city. I was there for over a year and did the beginner's grunt work of fact checking: I got to call each and every client and make sure we had correctly printed their hours, phone number and address and any other relevant information we had included. I moved up to becoming the Publisher's Assistant and was in charge of babysitting the sales team who didn't like filling out their required paperwork. I didn't get to write and wasn't needed to edit, so I quit.

I then became Editorial Intern for a national magazine. I got to transcribe radio interviews, actually copy edit pieces for the Senior Copy Editor and

got to sit in on editorial meetings. I was in love with what I was doing. At the same time I was spending a few hours a week as Intern at a local literary agency learning how not to write as I sent out rejection letters and learning how to edit as I was assigned to edit a 350-page manuscript. I was so excited that I read through the manuscript three times.

Then, I had to graduate. I stopped all of my internships, packed up my Jetta and moved half-way across the country hoping to move somewhere where the unemployment rate wasn't 12% (sorry California). I wound up in Texas with no job, no friends and a degree that I thought was worthless. To be honest, it may have been without those internships.

One day during one of my many sessions perusing Craigslist.org for writing opportunities and cursing my internships for doing me no good, I saw it: the national magazine I had interned for was looking for someone for the editorial staff in Texas. I applied and really it shouldn't have been as easy as it was for me to get the job but lucky for me I made a good impression in my time there.

Today is my edit deadline for my 9th issue.

Sometimes when I am at home working on things for my issue or assigning freelance assignments, I can't believe I get paid to do what I love. I keep 2 copies of every monthly issue on my bookcase at home and still get a bit giddy seeing my name in print.

I am looking forward to sharing my editing journey with all of you as I tackle and finish my editorial for each month and would love to hear from other Editing Working Girls out there! My e-mail is editingworkinggirl (at) gmail (dot) com - let's share our love of writing and grammar (my boyfriend will thank you).