First freelancing assignment!

One evening a couple of weeks ago, I stopped by the office of a local quarterly magazine to ask about the freelance opportunities I saw mentioned on its website. The graphic designer, who was the last person left in the office, gave me the editor's business card and advice on how and when best to contact her.

I followed her advice, sending off an e-mail query on Dec. 30, after the publication deadline for the last issue along with clips of my work.

Yesterday, the editor called, raving approvingly about my clips, particularly the somewhat twisted nut graf of one of my magazine articles. She interviewed me over the phone and gave me two assignments on the spot with a February deadline and asked if I would consider copyediting as well.

The sun broke through the clouds, warming the earth into spring with birdsongs and blooms; the angels began to sing and I rose into the sweet, rose-scented air.

OK, not really, but that's how I felt.

This morning my editor (I can say that now!) sent me the contact information for my subject, and I called to make interview appointments. One my subjects still hasn't returned my call, but that's fine; I'll phone tag her next week. The other said, "How about in half an hour?" And that, my friends, is why you should always dress for work even when you are working from home. I showered and dressed in record time, and got to the location just in time. Lucky me, it was within walking distance from home.

On the way, while I was scribbling away in my notebook, jotting down questions to ask, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP stopped me, pegging me for a journalist and gave me information about upcoming events. I think he hopes I will cover the events or otherwise report on them. I just might, pitching it to the local paper as a stringer assignment.

AND, at the interview site, the publisher of the magazine showed up. We were introduced by my interview subject, which was a little AWKWARD! (The publisher didn't know I'd been brought on yet.) But it was all good.

Now, after the interview, I just have to write the article (a short one) but first, I have to find the "so what?"-- the story that's hidden in all the information.