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9 a.m. – Woke up late again. If I hurry, I can stop for Starbucks.

10 a.m. – Dart in for an overpriced but stronger-than-nasty-office-brew grande dark roast.

10:15 a.m. – Arrive, walk into office while passing graphic design station … feeling the glares burn. (They just have no idea how late I work. I’d like to see them report on a formal benefit on a Saturday night. Or go to an outdoor festival when it’s 90 outside, or a downtown ice sculpture during a blizzard. Ha. Stare at me because I’m walking in an hour later than you. Yeah.)

10:30 a.m. – Eat a sweet muffin from the store (while feeling the fat trickle to my thighs with each bite) and check e-mail and voicemail. Twenty e-mails over the past eight hours: annoying. Ten voicemails from the past two hours: too time-consuming. Finding that one message offering the perfect cover story: priceless.

11:00 a.m. – Interruption from sales rep. “No,” I say, “I cannot do an article on a Chinese restaurant for their 17^th anniversary, even if they’re advertising.” The nasty reply? “Yeah but don’t forget that sales reps pay your bills.” My rebuttal? “If there weren’t newsworthy articles, there wouldn’t be readers. If there weren’t readers, there wouldn’t be advertisers.” (Okay, slight fib.) My reply? “I don’t agree. I’ll have to talk to the publisher.”

11:10 a.m. – Consumed with the frustration of working at a direct mail newspaper.

11:15 a.m. – Begin working on new business article. Refer to notes from yesterday’s interview. Download photos.

Noon – Phone call from monthly columnist, fabricating her usual monthly excuse for missing deadline. I reply with a question. “You had a month to work on it. I’m wondering why your excuse only explains that you were busy yesterday.” Moment of silence ensues, acknowledging her guilt and my intent on begging my publisher to fire her. Gritting my teeth, I eventually follow up with fake pleasantries, knowing she’ll be late again next month and that the publisher doesn’t have the guts to give her the ax.

12:15 p.m. – Check 10 new e-mails. One is useful.

12:30 p.m. – Return to new business story.

1:00 p.m. – Order lunch? Okay.

1:10 p.m. – Return to new business story. Finally wrap it up—write headline while on phone with annoying PR rep. “Yes, I received the release, but it just doesn’t fit our guidelines. Sorry, not what I had in mind at this time.”

1:30 p.m. – Eat lunch (soup, salad). Read “Days of Our Lives” online recap for the day (mindless guilty pleasure). Begin editing press release, typing with left hand, taking bites with right.

1:35 p.m. – Consult Associated Press stylebook (aka the bible of newspaper journalists) on a state abbreviation.

1:40 p.m. – Check in on staff writer. Pass off some straightforward (read: fairly boring) press release work.

2:00 p.m. – Map out dummy. (Dummy: Design layout of upcoming issue.) Realize that, again, there is not enough room for editorial. Do my best anyway, knowing full-well it will change approximately 15 times before going to press.

2:30 p.m. – Sales rep tells graphic designer to add three ads in the first five pages. I overhear, and confront, per usual.

3:00 p.m. – Hand-written, faxed column rolls in, one and a half days past deadline. Damn. Staff writer? I’ve got another assignment for you …

3:30 p.m. – It’s 3:30 and I have three full stories and five projects to finish for tomorrow.

3:35 p.m. – I am a writing machine!!!

3:40 p.m. – Publisher wants to talk about next month’s special section.

5:00 p.m. – It’s 5:00 and I have three full stories and five projects to finish for tomorrow.

7:30 p.m. – Send over articles for graphic designers to place on pages (though most have left for the evening).

7:45 p.m. – Hit up the local bar to take photos for the local people section. Find some dinner at the bar. Get some free drinks … bartender’s very friendly. (Or just familiar with me and wants good press. Then again, I can’t write anything bad about a business. We’re direct mail. But they don’t know that.)

9:00 p.m. – Love a good drink and Pistons games on TV. Spend time-outs hanging out and gossiping with co-worker—a graphic designer who, similarly, feels overworked and underappreciated. (How is it that I’m making $24k AFTER a raise? That’s still less than my college tuition!)

9:30 p.m. – Discuss attire for benefit on Saturday night. Figuring out how to pull off the same dress and make it look fresh, unique … new. I don’t have the money to get a new one, but interviewing NFL players and Motown bands and winning actresses really requires a new look. Hmmm. Also contemplate the feasibility of fitting digital camera, notebook, pen, business cards, wallet, cell phone, lipstick and mints in evening purse.

10:30 p.m. – Another drink? I really should go home. “Well, if you’re having one,” I reason.

11:30 p.m. – Time to go home. Still need to write my editor’s column. I’ll do that while in bed.

11:45 p.m. – You know, I’m so lucky to have this job. Where else could I, an attractive, outgoing, social, yet intellectual and educated young woman, have variety every day, interview sports stars and celebrities, make a difference in my community and meet new and interesting people on a regular basis? I mean, really, who else at age 24 can say they had a one-on-one interview with an Academy Award winner, have schmoozed with politicians (if you consider that a good thing), are on a first-name basis with mayors and are recognized by thousands of people? I’ve got the whole world, in my hands … !!

Midnight – Fall asleep. Notebook and pen in hand.

Middle of night – Dreaming about Quark pages. Envision ad sizes, photo boxes, aimlessly shifting on the page.

9:00 a.m. – Woke up late again. Maybe if I hurry …

Renae Placinski graduated with a liberal arts degree from Kalamazoo College. She is the former managing editor of a metro Detroit area community newspaper. She is currently attending DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in Chicago. She is pursuing a masters in business administration with aspirations to work as a publisher and/or owner of a newspaper or magazine. Apparently editing was not a challenge enough. Now, she’s trying to make it as a freelancer while she’s attending school. E-mail her with questions, comments … job offers …  at renaenoelle@hotmail.com.

©2005 Renae Placinski. This article may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in any form, for any reason, without the express, written consent of the author. Violators will be prosecuted.