My freshman self strutted into my first brainstorm ready with a list of three potential pitches… all of which were immediately snatched up or shot down. I watched silently as the news and feature slots filled up. Minutes later, only one section was left — opinion.
I hated the idea of writing an opinion. I’m just not an overly opinionated person, at least not in a publish-a-700-word-rant type of way. After a desperate brainstorm on my sister’s bed, I decided to preach “the power of lists.”
I adore lists, crafting them for any idea or task in a series over two. The story’s page design even mirrored my floral-lined stationery.
But don’t get me wrong, I hated everything about the story.
The cycle was rough from the first day, followed by an overwhelming writing process, met with “add more voice” comments that just made it cheesy — plus, who doesn’t love a bizarre Pompeii analogy! I’ve gone to delete it before but couldn’t bring myself to click “trash.” The story marked the start of my Harbinger career, and its actual content was so formative to that career.
As fast-paced cycles rolled by, I clung to my lists to keep myself organized — whether that be a general to-do list, page brainstorms or my seemingly-bottomless edit list.
Three years and 68 stories later, opinions still haven’t grown on me. Even my ideas for this column felt forced — until I made a list.
I’m not kidding. Instinctively, I grabbed my floral notepad as I do every issue, freezing when I saw the single sheet left. That notepad had lasted me four years of edit lists, homework lists, pack lists — you name it, I listed it — and now I’m on my last sheet.
That single page transported me to my first issue, reminding me how far I’ve grown as the notepad dwindled. That cycle was a chaotic disaster, but I survived. There have been plenty of disasters since, but — with the help of a list — I’ve always pulled it together and made the deadline. It’s only fitting that I finish my last cycle with the final sheet.
Finding sanity through lists has helped me survive 56 issues, allowing me to grow and balance Harbinger with my life outside of the backroom. Despite me loathing my first story, that somehow-900-word rant became the mantra for my Harbinger experience.
So for one last Harbinger list, I’d like to thank…
- My co-staffers, for making me laugh on the bleakest of deadlines
- My sister, for being my rock one door down
- Tate, for teaching me so much in so few words
- Lastly, the experience, because each story helped me build who I am today — even those stupid little freshman-year opinions.
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