This was my first semester serving as a co-content editor for Sparks. With the new position came the responsibility of overseeing eight writers. However, I wasn’t given this daunting task alone; I worked alongside the previously experienced content editor and looked to her for guidance.
Guiding the new writers wasn’t easy, especially since I was also relatively new to Sparks and the magazine writing scene. Unsure of the technicalities, I remember consulting countless AP style guides online to ensure my suggestions and edits were correct before adding them to the draft. I knew quality and correct edits were essential responsibilities of the role.
For me, writing for Sparks was just the beginning of a great adventure. I hope our stories continue to tell the adventures of Asian Americans for many years to come.
For the writers, it wasn’t easy meeting weekly deadlines. Time was always the limiting reactant. Some of the writers struggled, but many of them thrived under pressure. Slowly but surely, drafts were coming in and edits were being made. I think we were all surprised by the speed and intensity the deadlines hit us, even though we saw them coming from literal weeks away.
Things don’t always go as planned. A week before our print deadline, one of the writers announced that they would no longer be able to work on their draft. One of the editors had to pick it up or else the hard work of the photographer and graphic designer would go to waste. With encouragement, I decided to pick up the piece.
I remember the first night of writing. I was completely lost, had no connection or direction to the topic, and my draft was in incoherent shambles. However, my co-content editor gave me a few suggestions and offered some resources. Suddenly, the article was taking on a life of its own. Instead of talking about skin whitening, I was suddenly knee-deep in a more serious topic: colorism. Writing and learning about colorism was an amazing experience. I still don’t believe I did the topic justice, but nevertheless I am still proud of the article, especially the work by the photographer and graphic designer.
For me, writing for Sparks was just the beginning of a great adventure. I hope our stories continue to tell the adventures of Asian Americans for many years to come.
