Colorado Voices

Sunday, February 15, 2009
I need some help, Hot Chicks and Smart Mean.

I'm considering submitting an entry into the Denver Post's "Colorado Voices" contest for guest columnists, but since I've never written a column in my life, I'm a bit at a loss as to what I should write, or if I should recycle some particularly good blog entries (sans profanity) for the contest.

According to the website, any entry should reflect a particularly "Colorado" point of view, rather than commenting on national issues.

I'm open to suggestions - if there was something I wrote that you particularly liked, I'd appreciate your input, or if you have a topic that you think would be appropriate, let me know that, too.

Thanks!

4 comments:

mom in northern said...

I think you should consider education as a subject. Lord knows there is a wealth of material out there and it works for every state in the union.

You could do the "no child left behind" issue as it impacts testing...are kids learning only how to "test"?

Then there is the power of the teachers union in this state. They have a strangle hold on the legislature. They gave Bennett a run for his nickle when he was the Supper of the DPS...

The possibilities for material are rich.

Janiece said...

Mom, maybe you should write and submit an entry. I know you have strong feelings on education (while I get wrapped over other issues).

Maybe we could do a mother/daughter tag team...

Keith Wilson said...

Whatever you write, you should be congratulated for the opportunity. We fired an editor this week for replying to a press release about an anti-fur rally with a friendly "fuck you". The problem was the person who sent the email worked at a local radio station and our name was blasted all over the place with calls for his head.

Whatever you write it's an open door. Just keep in mind that opportunity presents itself when you least expect it. Want to work in Tilbury Ontario?

Cheers.

Steve Buchheit said...

Well, writing snark is fairly easy, so I think you should try something different. You could write about the struggles with your home owner association and painting your house (just make everybody look good in the end, even if they're made to look silly inbetween). There was your recent plumbing issue that ended well (the angst of getting there and the pleasant surprise of a plumber who knew their job and wasn't going to over charge you at the end). You could write about being a blogger in Denver with a worldwide readership (and I would definitely use that in your cover letter, not that you blog, but you have a successful blog, that'll tell them you can write regularly and people have an interest in what you say).

One thing I did notice was there was no mention of pay. For me that would be a big limiter on the contest, but I'm not like all people and I've done the free thing before (one of the reasons I'm not doing non-fiction for my industry again). You could also consider it an apprenticeship to get a clippings file.

Whatever you do I'm sure it'll be excellent.