Angry, frustrated and peeved...
Plainly put, I've had a kak week at work. My boss went off and left me in charge and I was severely let down by colleagues who just couldn't function under pressure.
Rule number one:
When the paw-paw hits the fan, as it sometimes will, especially when you work in the media industry, it never pays to lose your head. Before you run screaming and hyperventilating in ever decreasing circles, sit down, take a breath, and figure out what you need to do to get the job done.
Then, forget about your deadline and systematically do your job. You don't have all the copy? Well, then focus on gathering the copy. You don't have all the pics? Well, phone the photographers, the clients, rope other people in to help you if they're not busy.
Then, prepare your work space. Have all your files ready.
Don't look at the clock. Start at the top and work your way down until you have finished.
And... DON'T BE AFRAID OF ASKING FOR HELP.
My only mistake yesterday was to give someone a task hoping that the pressure would help them focus. I should have delegated my urgent but not-so-urgent tasks sooner and focused on getting stuck into the job that needed urgent attention. Sure, so I would have ended up working overtime tonight just to make up for this but hell, I don't have a life, do I?
What makes a good editor?
An editor is someone who, in a publishing environment, can successfully manage people, deadlines and trouble-shooting. In an ideal situation, an editor shouldn't have to still worry about layouts.
Rule number two:
If you are hit by a bus tomorrow, make sure that the next fool who has to pick up from where you've left off can find what he/she needs to to get the job done.
The last time that I knew that I was dying and would not be able to get out of bed the following morning, I stayed at work and prepared my pages that I would have worked on by assigning all the copy and visuals so that the next sub-editor who took over wouldn't have to scratch through the snowstorm of paper on my desk or access my email or documents folder fruitlessly hunting for material.
I drew up a concise list with names/contact numbers/email addresses for any outstanding material. I gave this to the editor.
I then went home and spent the next four days trying not to shuffle off this mortal coil and didn't have to field any calls from frantic colleagues looking for stuff, or the gods forbid, make me drive out to the CBD in this state.
Anyhoo. **takes deep breath**
That is a day in the life of a layout sub-editor working in newspaper publishing. I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have studied electrical engineering when I got accepted at CPUT in 1997...
Good stuff:
I've reached chapter 29's edits for Khepera Rising.
I'm stuck into the first draft of the first of 13 short stories for my story cycle.
I'm meditating twice a day this week, filling myself up with the Starry Void.
I've lost weight and can almost fit into the green velvet trousers I bought more than three years ago.
There's still food to eat, all the debit orders have gone off, I have a roof over my head and a warm bed waiting for me.
Rick's Café Americain in Gardens makes kick-arse chilli poppers and sell Jack Black beer.
Rule number one:
When the paw-paw hits the fan, as it sometimes will, especially when you work in the media industry, it never pays to lose your head. Before you run screaming and hyperventilating in ever decreasing circles, sit down, take a breath, and figure out what you need to do to get the job done.
Then, forget about your deadline and systematically do your job. You don't have all the copy? Well, then focus on gathering the copy. You don't have all the pics? Well, phone the photographers, the clients, rope other people in to help you if they're not busy.
Then, prepare your work space. Have all your files ready.
Don't look at the clock. Start at the top and work your way down until you have finished.
And... DON'T BE AFRAID OF ASKING FOR HELP.
My only mistake yesterday was to give someone a task hoping that the pressure would help them focus. I should have delegated my urgent but not-so-urgent tasks sooner and focused on getting stuck into the job that needed urgent attention. Sure, so I would have ended up working overtime tonight just to make up for this but hell, I don't have a life, do I?
What makes a good editor?
An editor is someone who, in a publishing environment, can successfully manage people, deadlines and trouble-shooting. In an ideal situation, an editor shouldn't have to still worry about layouts.
Rule number two:
If you are hit by a bus tomorrow, make sure that the next fool who has to pick up from where you've left off can find what he/she needs to to get the job done.
The last time that I knew that I was dying and would not be able to get out of bed the following morning, I stayed at work and prepared my pages that I would have worked on by assigning all the copy and visuals so that the next sub-editor who took over wouldn't have to scratch through the snowstorm of paper on my desk or access my email or documents folder fruitlessly hunting for material.
I drew up a concise list with names/contact numbers/email addresses for any outstanding material. I gave this to the editor.
I then went home and spent the next four days trying not to shuffle off this mortal coil and didn't have to field any calls from frantic colleagues looking for stuff, or the gods forbid, make me drive out to the CBD in this state.
Anyhoo. **takes deep breath**
That is a day in the life of a layout sub-editor working in newspaper publishing. I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have studied electrical engineering when I got accepted at CPUT in 1997...
Good stuff:
I've reached chapter 29's edits for Khepera Rising.
I'm stuck into the first draft of the first of 13 short stories for my story cycle.
I'm meditating twice a day this week, filling myself up with the Starry Void.
I've lost weight and can almost fit into the green velvet trousers I bought more than three years ago.
There's still food to eat, all the debit orders have gone off, I have a roof over my head and a warm bed waiting for me.
Rick's Café Americain in Gardens makes kick-arse chilli poppers and sell Jack Black beer.