20 lessons I learned in journalism school

1. Don’t doubt yourself.

There will be times you will doubt this industry and yourself. You will compare yourself to other writers, which is unfair to yourself and everything you’ve done to get here. Don’t do this. Continue writing no matter the situation.

2. AP Style is always there.

It’s best to accept sooner rather than later that you will never memorize the entire AP Stylebook. That’s perfectly OK! But always keep the stylebook handy.

3. Help from small places.

Never write off a contact/source after a story is done and published. You never know when you’ll need inside information for any future stories or anything in general.

4. Writing never ends.

Another lesson to accept is the fact that this industry never stops. News never stops happening, and it will fall on you to educate yourself on what’s happening and to get the story out there. I originally saw this as a negative part of journalism, but it doesn’t have to be. Nobody truly understands this industry fully, so there will be blind spots and pitfalls every so often. This is OK.

5. Always say “Yes, and…”

I took this from Lisa Rhenze-Rhodes, sorry Lisa. Always say “Yes” when publications ask for assignments and projects as long as it’s paid—more on that later. Never write off an assignment just because it seems uninteresting, etc.

6. Do nothing unpaid.

It’s fine to do an unpaid internship, but beyond that, nothing you write should be unpaid. Publications will try to take advantage of unpaid labor, so be prepared for this. This is the time for self-recognition and to understand your self-worth. Don’t take any B******T.

7. Find time for yourself.

This is a lesson I have yet to learn. Take time for yourself. Read that again. If you’re not all right “upstairs,” then your writing will suffer.

8. Be bold but kind.

You’re a writer/designer/photographer, whatever the case may be. Act like you know what you’re doing. Yes, we’re the messengers of the public, but that doesn’t mean we’re not people. The more you think you’re an expert, the more you’ll start to believe it. Just don’t let this go to your head.

9. Don’t be afraid to ask.

This year, I got the chance to interview two singers, an actor and an adult film star. All of those conversations begin with asking for an interview. I didn’t try to make myself sound more than what I was or sound like I wrote for The New York Times. Be yourself, and the right people will flock to you. The worse people can say is “No.”

10. Mental health and writing go hand-in-hand.

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Depression and anxiety are hard to maneuver, but they can be inspiring for a writer. If you find yourself having a hard time, find time to express those feelings through a blog, journaling, art, whatever works best for you.

11. When in doubt, write it down.

There’s no shame in writing down random notes at the moment. Whether you’re lying in bed, at your desk, or taking a shower, ideas come at strange times. For me, it’s 3 in the morning.

12. Watch the pigeonhole.

It’s easy to get lost in one type of topic or form of journalism. Your passion is your passion, but employers won’t see it that way. Be true to yourself but sprinkle your skills over everything.

13. The beginning is always the toughest part.

Have a great idea but don’t know where to take it? Ask your colleagues, friends, or partners about writing ideas. They’ll be sure to give you honest feedback.

14. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

If you’re having trouble getting that source or haven’t heard back from job/internship searching for a reasonable time, don’t do what I did for two years and brush it off. Bother sources until they hate you, if you must. In this industry, our actions can speak louder than words.

15. Have your ducks in a row.

Always be working on an assignment, whether it’s an article, project or blog. If something falls through, you’ll have something in your back pocket to publish.

16. Separate emotions from journalism.

We’re human and naturally drawn to those tear-jerking stories that we reminisce on years later. Don’t get caught up in the sideshows when interviewing sources. Remember, this is your job, not your social life. There’s a reason journalism is not called socializing. Of course, this doesn’t mean to act like a robot with sources, but maintain some sense of professionalism as you’re representing more than yourself.

17. Time reveals everything.

I hope you know what I mean when I mention this. Something about time reveals important aspects of life to us. We learn more about ourselves and the world around us as the years pass. This applies to journalism. In time, you will naturally seek out sources and those compelling articles. It’s unexplainable, and sometimes you might not know how you do it, but it’s a part of the magic with writing.

18. I still hate “effect” and “affect.”

“Affect” is used as a verb when something happens to something else. “Effect” is the noun, so whatever is being affected. I hope this makes sense. I’ve always struggled with these words.

19. Make your writing space your own.

After doing online courses a full semester, you learn quickly where you write best. For me, it’s my bedroom, and I don’t think I could write anywhere else as well as I do here. I added some plants, animals, posters and voilà you got your safe space.

20. You must start somewhere.

Whether it’s a crappy job or a failed project, at least you tried. You did something, and that’s better than what most people will do. Focus on where you want to be, not how to get where others are.