Finding Eutopia in the boondocks

Eutopia: A perfect (imagined or hypothetical) society or state of existence; a place of supreme happiness. Also: a literary work describing such a place; a vision of an ideal state of existence.

In a time of uncertainty and confusion, the kernel of creativity is rising above it all. Diaries from out of the darkness are being written, added to and enhanced across the globe. Now I'll add a page of my own.

I was asked once - how did I end up writing and working in the publishing industry. My answer - I fell into it. I never intended to ever write one single word, let alone ever write for anyone else and least of all ever end up working for a rurally-based media company. Moreover, I never dreamed I would be working online from a lifestyle block in Northland.

It started in 2007 as editor of a small rural town newsletter called the Maungaturoto Matters. It was a role I did for four years learning everything from subediting through to writing my own content. It was crap - I've got to admit. My now long-since departed sixth form English teacher would be horrified if he read any of my early pieces for structure and grammar. I know I am! 

In 2008, I met up with the (now former) editor of Rural Living Angelique Jurd and wrote my first journalistic article about the Northland Lifestyle Field Days. Thanks to Angelique's guidance I was introduced to the first fundamentals of journalism from a rural perspective. Still, I didn't want to be a writer - lacking confidence, doubting myself constantly I stuck to blogging instead and yet - it was still writing. 

Later on - I started writing for Rural Living again for a short duration and Jon one of the writers helped me again to improve and gain a little more confidence. After that blogging continued, leading into contract heritage research and a level of academic writing equal to BA in History. I don't have a degree in history - my work instead was peer-reviewed by Heritage New Zealand and passed muster so to speak.

In late 2017, I applied for a job as a proofreader (an endangered species as market forces change) and started in January 2018 in the deep end. I learned again about headlines, straplines and other technical jargon involved in getting news out. Wrangling with a style guide was a journey in itself. 

Two years on I now work from home five days a week in my paradise of 10 acres and animals as company. I've gone from a proofreader to photographer, lead generation and writer and copyeditor to boot. It's a mix of all things - I love it. My role title remains the same - but like Scooter, in The Muppets, I'm also a 'gofer' (I gofer whatever is needed to get a publication out). 

I found Eutopia - in the deep sense of immense happiness, I experience every day.

Finally, we're being challenged to rise above the confusion and isolation and create hope through a weave of words, art and photography. The truth is we need hope - it's fundamental to our wellbeing. Keep creating and bring light in the dark of confusion. Kia kaha and keep the faith.