Inspiration for Editors

• October
• 11

3:33 pm Footprints history, Updates, Writing

Prior to attending the “Editing the Magazine” conference in Manila, I was a bit nervous that I was attending under false pretences. Much as I love Footprints, it is small fry really – it’s not even my day job, it’s something I do in my spare time as a labour of love, and I don’t receive any payment for my Footprints work.

However as it turned out, I was one of the more experienced editors there! And now at least I have the certificate to prove that I am indeed an “Editor Extraordinaire” (as if 12 years in the role wasn’t convincing enough LOL).

Our trainers were top notch and included Mark Galli, Senior Managing Editor at “Christianity Today” from the USA; Estera Wieja, Managing Editor of “Nasze Inspiracje” (Our Inspirations) a Polish women’s magazine; and Terry White, who has founded three Christian magazines and taught journalism at colleges across the USA.

One of the highlights of the conference for me was hearing about everyone’s magazines, and their editing experiences. Some were from print publications, others ran online magazines (webzines); some had been publishing for years, while others will be launching shortly. It was fantastic to ask some of the curly questions that have been troubling me, and get ideas and suggestions from the group.

Attendees came from a range of countries and publications, including Japan (Japan Harvest); Philippines (Kopino Children & FEBC Friend – both newsletters for Christian organisations; Moms magazine; Rainy Days & Mom Days, a webzine); Korea (Young2080 QTzine); India (Campus Link); and the USA (Four Fold Gospel Witness).

I have come home with a lot of new ideas, skills and resources which will help to take Footprints to a whole new level, but I also have a renewed confidence in my abilities as an editor. I haven’t been doing too badly considering that I have been 100% self-taught up until now! One of the trainers couldn’t believe I did all the layout myself, she was so impressed – which was a lovely compliment and much appreciated. Writing (and editing) can be a lonely vocation at times … although we don’t do it for the “praise of men”, we can never under-estimate the power of a simple word of encouragement.

I’ll share some of the lessons I learnt in another blog post, but thought I would finish today with a “pearl of wisdom” from each of the conference trainers.

“Being an editor is a great spiritual discipline as it causes you to put others before yourself” – Mark Galli, Senior Managing Editor, Christianity Today.

“Don’t just write about things that are wrong – how can we make it right?” – Estera Wieja, Managing Editor, Nasze Inspiracje.

“Writing is good stewardship. One article may reach hundreds of people.” Terry White, BMH Books.

What the world needs is more “culturally appropriate publications – where God puts the vision into people’s hearts to publish and reach their own …” Sharon Mumper, Magazine Training International. (Which is exactly how Footprints came to be!)