Being a Columnist; a year later.

Since then, there's been a general line of questioning: what does being a Columnist entail, exactly? Short answer: a lot, really. That's why I wanted to share with you what I've learnt by being one year in the 'job', with just a few personal anecdotes and advice included:

You have to be punctual.

It's a lesson driven into us, time and time again; do not be late. And if you are? Have a good and legitimate reason as to why. 'Writing'-the overreaching arch of everything that I do-is very fast paced. If you miss a deadline, your copy may not be necessarily published. (Let's be honest: we all have that crushing feeling when that happens, don't we?) Nowadays, the copy deadlines are highlighted months in advance in my planner.

To borrow a phrase: "if you don't ask, you don't get".

Very simple, right? I've been to some wonderful concerts, simply because I asked to review them. (They're one of my favourite places to be.) It's the same with interviewees. And if ever you need help when writing-be it ideas, proofreading, etc-your friends are usually there for you. And they're the biggest help! This'll be what I'll use in further articles. Because it's not being impertinent, surely? You won't land work experience or a byline otherwise!

Ideas are fundamental.

To write an article, you have to have the idea and pitch behind it; they will always be needed. So that I don't run out of ideas, I've decided to keep a running list of them; that way, they will also be refined.

To be divisive is to our own detriment.

Can we all be honest for a moment? In terms of public affairs, 2016 was fairly horrible. And it looks like 2017 is shaping out to be partially like that. But to be divisive is to our own detriment-and the same goes for writing. Controversy isn't necessarily a bad thing, yet in mixing opinion and fact, I feel this is a bad thing. The same goes whether politically or culturally.

There are many things that I've learnt during my year as your 'teen columnist'; what I've mentioned is just a mere fragment of what I wished to express. It has been a privilege, although I'll probably never get use to saying "Hi, I'm a Columnist for the Mid Sussex Times!" For somebody like me who considers themselves to be an 'aspiring journalist', this has been ideal, and an experience that I will probably never forget.

Currently I'm Reading: The Big Life By Ann Shoket. And listening to: Spoiled Girl By Carly Simon.