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Kirbie here. Today, while reading the poems in the Times, an idea came to me.
I wondered how Times Writers (the more well-known ones) earned that position. I
thought up a few interview questions, sent the Y-Mails, and got these responses:
Me: How did you first become a Times writer?
Jill20: Like anyone else, I just submitted a lot of articles. One time I was so
upset about not being a Times Writer, I wrote a poem about it. Well, the Editor
decided to publish that poem the same edition where I became one. Silly me!
Me: Do you remember when you submitted your first article?
Jill20: Yes, last summer, when I was a newbie.
Me: How do you like being a well-known Times Writer?
Jill20: Well, I'm not really well known like some other Times Writers, but I'm
always flattered when people come up to me and say they like my articles.
Me: Would you have any advice or tips for a person trying to get into the Times?
Jill20: Don't worry if your articles don't get published right away. Just keep
submitting articles, and it will eventually pay off.
The next person I interviewed was Giggler01.
1) I submitted my first article in December 2001. I had been reading the Times
before that, and I didn't think I had any chance of being published!!
2) Honestly, I'm fairly indifferent towards it all. Don't get me wrong, I don't
think I'm that great of a writer, and I think there are people that are
certainly much better writers myself, but they haven't submitted anything to the
Times yet.
3) Advice? Be honest. If you express an honest and original point of view, your
articles can pretty much write themselves
Finally, I interviewed TIKE.
1) Before I actually wrote for the Times, I read it on several occasions. This
was the time when the topic of "Cruelty to Animals" was infamous, and I thought
that the newspaper would be a great way for me to express myself. It was a few
weeks before Canada Day, and so I wrote an article on the pride that I felt
about being Canadian. Over time, my writing-craze continued until I broke my
boundaries and started writing much more professionally -- much like the
articles that you read today from me.
2) Wow, well it has been close to a year when I submitted my first article. It
doesn't seem as if I have been writing for very long, however. I still look at
myself as a beginner... but I suppose that I have been through a lot with the
Times -- written a lot of articles and read some controversial ones as well -- and
the time has gone by pretty quickly.
3) I get noticed a lot, and I do have some Times Writer stories to share. I have
actually been given street-names like "Mr. Long Articles" (that one is my
favorite). I like writing and I think that it will give me practice for the
future. I like experimenting with new ideas and researching new topics. It is
quite a rewarding experience and I hope I can use what I have learned as a
backbone for what is ahead in my future.
4) Enjoy what you're doing! I just think that the Whyville Times is so useful in
itself -- you don't have to be a writer. You can read it and get ideas or you
can even write poetry and tell jokes. Don't be in it for the status, but do it
because you *enjoy* it. Write meaningful articles, put effort into it, and
create your own niche. For those who want to start writing... good luck!!
Thank you to Jill20, Giggler01, and TIKE. You've been a great help. As you can
see, they all submitted their first article at different times. They all came to
write their first article in different ways. And they all give differently, but
they all give
great advice. Yet, they all are Times Writers, and all like to write. This is
how they said they became Times Writers. Pretty cool, huh? (Am I the only on
that thinks so....?)
This is Kirbie, over and out.
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