Happy October 1st! I received some good news today. Three months ago I submitted an article on cyberbullying to my (now former) employer's magazine. And they liked it, they really liked it. It will definitely appear in the magazine's Dec/Jan online issue, but if there's room (I hope) it will also appear in the print version mailed to subscribers worldwide. Because this was my final contribution to the organization, I see this as my little legacy. I wrote it because I've grown quite saddened through the years at what young people are facing at the hands of their peers.
Not so long ago, I was a public school student. My hair and clothes were different so I dealt with my share of ostracism, but compared to others, I had an easy time. Back then, bullying had a face. Today it doesn't. And as I've tried to keep up with all of the technologies that allow us to exist as avators and usernames, I'm often dumbfounded at the cruelties that torture students during their classroom life, and too often, in their online life. So writing this review was very rewarding to me, and I hope that when its made available someone who was unaware of the depth of the problem will look for ways to pass along the awareness.
Receiving news of my article's acceptance was the B12 injection my fatigued writer's soul needed. I've been struggling to wrangle the right words from the tornado occurring in my mind. Alphabets are flying all over the place, grabbing them is the easy part...configuring them to form words is the problem. Metaphors aside, I'm suffering from writer's block. I'm a technical writer by day---creative writer too tired to dream by night.
My characters miss me, and I miss them too. Yesterday I purchased a collection of short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I enjoy his writing style. I think a consultation with him will help quell the winds a little. It's so hard to court my creativity after shunning its advances for 8 hours, my priority given to the search and conquer of technical jargon.
Wish me luck,
Jennifer Singleton
Cyberbullying, this type of cowardice is not innocent, it is hurtful. Anyone that has ever been bullied knows the torment. But to have the torment and harassment brought to the attention of onlookers via the internet is criminal. And those who watch it for entertainment are bullies as well.
ReplyDeleteI was the fat kid in school. And for me it wasn’t so much the bullying but small acts of insult. Do you know that I remember once being at recess and this older boy passed and did a quick jester of trying to mount my back for a pony ride?
Your article is very timely.
Oh no, I'm so sorry that happened to you! It's interesting how we all have to wear the other shoe sooner or later. I imagine he's felt what you felt more times than he's cared to.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the article! Another piece to add to your wonderful collection of fabulous writings.
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