Finding Faith ... in a new writing gig

The cover of "News & Tech" magazine, a publication for which I am now blogging.

I have a new writing gig.

I am now a blogger on topics relating to the newspaper industry for a magazine called "News & Tech," a publication that I've been reading for years. And, in my opinion, is one of the top industry mags, alongside maybe only the venerable "Editor & Publisher."

It surprisingly came up. ... I wasn't looking for the gig. ... Wasn't out there fishing for a new writing job. ... Gratefully, it just landed in my lap.

I was working a trade show booth for my media start-up company Modulist in Forth Worth, Texas, when Mary Van Meter, the publisher of "News & Tech," approached me about publishing a story regarding Modulist in her magazine. As you can imagine, I was stoked because as a new media tech company, we need all of the free publicity that you can get.

After we settled the details about that, I told Mary that I very much appreciated her magazine, and that I had subscribed for years. Which, truthfully, I have.

I told her, that, in fact, I love writing about the newspaper industry, as it involves two of my favorite things: writing and newspapers. I told her that I'd done some writing about the business, and would willingly pitch in if she ever needed. After all, a publication can never have too many writers.

And without losing a beat, Mary said, "Send me something."

That night in the hotel, I banged out my first column for "News & Tech," and sent it off. A couple of days later, Mary wrote back that I was essentially "hired," asking if I'd like to write a blog for them. ... I was in. ... How could I refuse that invitation?

So, I have a new writing gig. A new place to publish the words that seem to always want to pour out my fingers and into the keyboard. And I know that writing was a gift given to me by our Creator, so I want to honor that gift in as many ways as possible. My newest way will be a blog about the newspaper industry. As nerdy as that may sound to y'all, it has me absolutely jazzed.

And so today, I am finding faith ... in a new writing gig. ... Amen.