Auroraadvocate.com - In Other Words: Leaving behind comfort zone, heading back to school

by Stephanie Fellenstein

Hudson Monthly Editor

Somewhere between high school, when the possibility of a career in writing had grabbed my soul, and college, when I absorbed all I could from the experts, I realized that the role of quiet observer was perfect for me.

I like being the interviewer versus the interviewee. I like sitting in the audience as opposed to standing on the stage. And I definitely prefer reporting on speeches over giving them.

With that in mind, I headed to Summit Christian School in Cuyahoga Falls March 25 to talk to the fourth-graders about magazines and my job as editor of Hudson Monthly.

The class had just finished a huge unit where they created a miniature golf course and now were gearing up for their next big project -- a magazine.

Nine bright faces in Stephanie Fleser's class looked back at me as I stood in the front of the room.

Forty-five minutes later, I glanced at the clock and realized time had flown by.

They had listened intently and then asked good, solid questions:

How many sources are needed for each story? How long does it take to make a magazine? How much does it cost to fix a mistake in the proof phase of the magazine? Did I always like writing?

I did always enjoy writing. And even more than that, I've always enjoyed meeting new people and learning about what is important to them.

About a month ago, my uncle mentioned some boxes in a closet at his house that had been collecting dust since I put them there more than 15 years ago.

I headed up to the closet to see what I hadn't missed all this time.

It was a treasure trove -- my collection of Nancy Drew books, copies of The Carroll News (John Carroll University's student newspaper) and old notebooks.

It was the notebooks that caught my attention. They were filled with my early loopy handwriting -- stories, thoughts, bits and pieces of my childhood.

There were lists of characters, plots and potential settings. And there were stories.

I had forgotten all about those notebooks, and they reminded me of how much I have always loved to write.

To my new friends at Summit Christian School -- Julie, Kelton, Jacob, Elisa, Katie, Dana, Hannah O., Hannah K., Rachael and Samuel -- maybe one day it will be you in front of the class talking about your love of writing.

In the meantime, keep reading and writing.

E-mail:

sfellenstein@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3163