My Fond Farewell to ASJA Confidential
I know I’m not the only ASJA member who likes to pick a word to guide them as they enter a new year. It’s usually something inspiring: courage, self-care, relaxation – you know the drill. In January 2023, I chose a much shorter word. “Yes.” No more second-guessing myself or letting inner anxiety talk me out of things. If something appealed, I would say “yes.” I’d trust my gut.
I share this because I had the chance to put my word to use when, just a few weeks into the new year, I received an email from then-ASJA president Laura Laing asking if I would be interested in taking over as the editor of ASJA Confidential. Until that moment, I’m not even sure that I had paid much attention to ASJA’s blog. I vaguely knew it was there. I’d written for it some years ago. Now I was being offered the chance to get more involved, and coming out of COVID’s isolation, that appealed.
I said “yes.”
Editorial Duties
Already being familiar with WordPress, formatting the posts and getting them online was not difficult. As with any task, having great support makes a huge difference. I have been lucky to have worked with an excellent team, including publications chair Michelle Rafter, newsletter editor Holly Leber Simmons, and social media brain Merlisa Lawrence Corbet. Together, we created an editorial calendar and used Trello to keep us all up to speed with what is being posted and when.
There’ve been challenges at times. The ASJA conference is a busy time for everyone, and the daily recaps tend to come in late in the evening but I want to get them posted by the next day. Sometimes a planned post may fall through at the last minute and you are left finding something to take its place. And we are all freelancers, which means things fall through the cracks or we may have (gasp!) paid work suddenly pop up and take precedence.
But the benefits have far outweighed any occasional inconveniences. Through working with other ASJA members and the various committees, I have learned much about what goes on behind the scenes of running the organization. I’ve learned more about other members, their work for ASJA, and their work as writers. I’ve been a part of something bigger. When you tend to work from home and are a solitary creature, it’s an oh-so-welcome reminder that you are not alone in this crazy freelance world.
One of my favorite pieces to write was a post I did in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Members shared their tips for natural disasters and being prepared for the worst. Advice ranged from having computer backup plans to taking care of your mental health. For me, the piece was a valuable reminder of how members all pull together and are there to help one another when things get rough.
Looking Ahead
As we near the end of 2024 and my second year as editor of ASJA Confidential draws to a close, it is time for me to move on and pass the reins to someone else. This has been a year of personal and professional challenges, but I look forward to exploring new avenues in 2025.
I mentioned that my word for 2023 was “yes.” In 2024, I adopted a phrase from comedian John Hodgman: “Go through the door.” He argues that when a door is presented, you should go through it. You may find incredible new opportunities and, even if you don’t, you can always go back. But if you don’t go through the door, you’ll never know what could be.
In 2025, I will continue to “go through the door.” I have a local book due to my publisher in February. I have edits to complete on my first novel and another novel in the incomplete first draft stage. I have ideas for a new historical non-fiction book, possibly two. I am also hoping to take on more book fact-checking projects as I have discovered they feed my love of research. Most of all, I want to spend less time chasing article opportunities, and more pursuing my own writing interests. It will also be a time of personal goals, more travel, teaching myself Icelandic, and planning another lengthy walking trip.
I want to share my thanks to Michelle, Holly, and everyone at ASJA, and to Laura for bringing the opportunity to my attention. I know that I am leaving ASJA Confidential in good hands, and I encourage you all to “go through the door.” Who knows what you might find!
Fiona Young-Brown is an author, fact-checker, and editor of ASJA Confidential based in Lexington, KY. Her next book “Secret Lexington: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure” will be published in 2025. She is also currently working on her first novel.