Why I am a wordsmith – Tag

Unmana tagged me to write about my job. Now I have loads I’d love to write about my workplace but I seal my lips because I don’t want to be dooced. But since this is about my career and not this particular place, here I go.

I’ve been writing for years. My grandma wrote for the publication that I write for, many years ago. It’s a sweet coincidence! So yes, I was her dream grandchild. Interested in reading and writing and poetry and she wanted me to be a lawyer or try for the IAS. Somehow that didn’t appeal to me.

Around Class 10 I began to work for the school magazine and by Class 12 was on the edit board. Once I got to college my love life took over and my extra curricular activities had nothing to do with college! It was either studies or the boyfriend.

And when it was time to graduate I suddenly realised I had no life plan. What was I going to do? I panicked and applied to a 5 star hotel and joined them on the Guest Relations side. That lasted 5 days. I hated being in uniform I realised. No offence to others, but something damn insulting about it as an adult, to my mind. Which is why I last did that post on wearing uniforms to school. You either do it the proper way or you leave. I left. Well that wasn’t the only reason, but it will do.

Post graduation plans were made (fortunately still in time to get into a college) and I ended up doing mass communication without really having planned it long.

Again, I wavered towards the end as classmates started off with jobs that paid Rs 2,500. Yes, seriously. My maids make three times that amount! So I panicked and joined an airline. That lasted 2 days across 3 flights. (What can I say – same mistake again – I don’t wear uniforms and I don’t take orders very well. Hospitality is the worst choice of job for me!)

And I finally stopped fighting the inevitable and joined television. It’s been 9 years now and I’ve done TV, newspaper, magazine and Internet – and enjoyed it all, but somehow I feel that I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Oh I know I want to be in media. But I still haven’t got the perfect job in terms of fulfillment.

Don’t get me wrong. I am right now just where I’d like to be. In a place where I work flexitime. Good colleagues. And not at the head office so the pressure is lower. So yes – this particular job suits me fine.

And this is why I love this line of work in general –

– I have opinions. (Ahem, you guys might have noticed that) and I like to be in a place where I can air them. I don’t have a column yet so I can’t air it, but I hope to someday. NO – I don’t have a book in me and I don’t hope to be published either. Give me anyday the pleasure of a regular column with feedback. Naturally only yes men/women need mail me back. (If that doesn’t bring the trolls in, nothing will.)

– I am creative. And nothing could have satisfied this urge like my job. The day I don’t find a line to write, I’ll quit and grow roses. ugh. Not roses, maybe lilies.

– I like meeting new people. People seriously interest me which is why I will make up stories and backgrounds in my head as I sit in a bus or train or mall. I like to know more. This is the best way to do it.

– I have grown to love the lifestyle beat. Knowing the hottest restaurants, stores and joints is now something I love doing. It started off feeling rather trite, but I’ve realised that it’s got its moments.

– I learn something new all the time. Maybe only a little bit but enough to get by. I did business news for 4 years and it’s made me confident enough to sit in on any discussion. And now I’ve learnt a lot about politics, food and fashion. It’s always a learning process.

– It’s one of the few jobs that can work successfully in terms of freelance and flexitime.  Well a lot of jobs can, if HR heads begin to give it some thought – but this one has a history of being laidback and flexible, making it most suitable for a person like me.

– It’s a job for those who want to seek fame so although I don’t which is why I bumble along, turning down offers, refusing to report live and preferring to stay in the background, I love that the option is always there, should I care.

– And while in the real world marketing guides every pen, I hope someday to work myself into a position where my pen is free and I can write as I please. I do it here and someday I want to be able to do it for a column that people pay to read.

I further tag Dipta, Sue, Dot and Kodi’s Mom.