A paying gig.

It's been two years since I started this blog, and along the way there have been some watershed moments that I considered significant. Being mentioned and linked by the Mansfield News Journal website, getting to do the weekly Daily Record football picks and plugging the site, and writing for Orrviews and getting a press pass for the state semifinal game. All of those things were great, but yesterday and today may have topped them all.

As of Saturday April 24, 2010, I can officially say that a story I wrote was published in The Daily Record.

Here's a scan of the article...in case you're still skeptical.

And here's a link to the article on their website.

The long and short of it....I got to sit beside DR sports staff member Mike Plant at the Orrville/Newton Falls regional title game (thanks to Orrviews) over in Canton.  He mentioned them possibly needing some extra help.  I had explored this before, but it didn't work because of other family commitments I had. 

I traded a few e-mails with Mike and sports editor Aaron Dorksen and an opportunity was given to work as a stringer (basically an independent contractor who is paid on a per-story basis).

Right now, it'll be a few evenings a week, and maybe some weekend work.

It's different than blogging, that's for sure....many more rules to follow and styles to adhere to, and that's fine.  There's also much more appreciation for statistics & scores, and that's right up my alley.

I think it will take me some time to find my "voice" just as it did when I first started blogging, but this is really a great opportunity for me personally.

Nothing will happen to this site, it will continue as normal.

Once again, thanks again to all my readers.  Your faithful readership gave me confidence that my writing was something that you enjoyed reading and that maybe I could make it more than a hobby.

Lastly, thanks to Carol Ubelhart & the Orrviews steering committee who were so encouraging and apreciative in my writing. It never once felt like a job, for what it's worth.

We'll see where this goes....now go buy a Daily Record!! :)