A writer's reflection

I want to write something. But I don’t want to write just anything. I want to write something special. Any two-cent blogger in his mom’s basement can squeeze out six words about Brett Favre, Michael Vick or any number of hot topics in sports. And most do. I want to be different. But right now, I realize that this blog is more for my own personal growth as a writer than getting hits. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I have a feeling it’s somewhere in the ballpark of 3.
But do I care?

No.

OK, maybe I care a little bit. It would be nice to be getting just a hint of attention like I used to. Back in the days when I was called the “15 year-old NFL draft expert” and was a regular guest on a local AM sports talk radio show. Back in the days when I had a blog on that same station’s communal blog site and received around 100 hits every day. But I’m not 15 anymore. I don’t have that appeal I used to.

Think about it. How many homeschooled 15 year-olds are passionate about sports
writing? Not many. Back in the day, I was an interesting story; a rare anomaly that made for a good half hour of radio. But I’ve lost that appeal. I’m now just like countless other college freshman who are journalism majors aspiring to be sports journalists. I sat next to one three days a week my first semester in college.
What do I have to separate myself from the pack?

I was the only freshman on staff at Indiana Wesleyan University’s award-winning student newspaper. We were named one of the top 10 4-year college papers in the entire country. But what else? I have two and a half years of experience working at a public newspaper. Although I admit it was probably one of the smallest newspapers in the country. When it all really comes down to it, what can I offer future employers that Joe College Graduate cannot?

Maybe this realization is a good thing for me. Maybe it’s a sign that I shouldn’t take anything for granted now or ever. Maybe it’s far too early to give up on hard work, and I should be wary of complacency. Maybe I still have a shot to be the national sports journalist that I know I can be, but it’s not a guaranteed thing. So there’s only one thing to do: keep on writing.