Belen Edwards

I've worked in social media in some capacity for almost my entire adult life, and that is largely due to believing that there is so much power in the media we consume daily. Representation, diversity, and relatability in social media can be a tool for helping younger generations grow up with more confidence, self awareness, and inspiration that they can see themselves in - more so than I ever had as a child. But lately I find myself, along with pretty much everyone I know, experiencing this intense digital burnout. Social media doesn't always feel fun anymore. The comparison game gets more unbearable, the pressure to do and be and look better is ever increasing. As I've been examining my own relationship with my phone and the internet, I've found so much solace in Substack as a platform. There's intentionality, discussion, community - all the good parts of social media. I close the app and feel smarter, relaxed, seen. I've been gearing up to curate my own presence on Substack, to contribute to something that reinvigorates the feeling of the early, good days of social media and blogging when sharing on the internet felt like talking to your friends. I'm excited to have launched my Substack yesterday - A Palate For Pages. If you know me personally, you know I'm a lifelong lover of reading, and I'm never far from a book at any given moment. I hope to use this space to digest culture, recently read books, and my own inner musings to cultivate community, veer focus away from rampant consumerism, and generate content that encourages people to make the most of their own lives - not covet those they see online. I'd love if you'd subscribe, read, engage - any or all of the above! And of course, my career in social isn't going anywhere. But as someone always actively thinking about what the next step in digital culture might be, I'm excited about stripping it back to basics and investing in the right corners of the internet together.

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What type of "editor" are you looking for? This is a question you should ask yourself before posting a job listing for an "editor." Does the position require improving on the work of writers and providing mentoring? Then the classic "editor" is likely what you're looking for. Does the position require the cutting and splicing of video. Then what you want is a "video editor." Does the position require looking at photographs, selecting the best one for publication and, perhaps, working with photographers as a mentor. Then you want a "photo editor." Does the position require selecting images, videos or stories to appear on a website or social media platform? Then what you want is a "content editor." If you use "editor" as a blanket term you're going to waste a lot of your own time with resumes that don't fit the bill and you'll waste your applicants time by inundating them with a lot of positions they aren't qualified for or interested in.

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Sometimes, I worry about the prospect of editing someone else's work. I know I'm good at it. I know I catch things the way editors do. I know I have fun ideas on how to improve writing and plot. But it feels like there's an infallibility necessary. I can't be 100% sure I'll catch every last thing, so maybe I shouldn't do it at all. But then I look at my camera roll, which is full of photos of spelling and grammar mistakes in very recently published books. - Pobody's Nerfect - I catch things that big publisher-hired editors don't - *Insert a third point here for poetic use of threes...* p.s. I have those photos to prove to myself I'm goooooood. And to make myself feel better; even the pros can't be perfect.

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I recently had a Q&A with TIG's Drew Figdor, one of the most experienced managers in the merger arb world-- he has run the strategy for three decades and never had a down year. We talked about the current market landscape and his team's approach of doing research and making bets. The secret sauce? "We use the old-school methods, boots on the ground." Check it out this Bloomberg Deals newsletter (and subscribe if you haven’t!):

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2 things that I think are relevant to everyone, not just writers: 1) For your passion projects, find yourself a GROUP that regularly checks in. Here's what I wrote about mine: "But I think our input operates on a different emotional level than a dispassionate editor’s, precisely because we are friends. Our work will be edited by that dispassionate editor too, but at least for me, my writing club friends occupy that liminal space in between my mind and the outside world. When we chat in the Google Doc comments about the writing, we keep in mind our backstories, our frustrations, our insecurities. That doesn’t mean we pull punches — we became friends *through* writing, the entire point is to be helpful and move the project forward and not just pat each other on the back." ⬇ 2) Try going back to your high school days and taking some notes by hand? I promise it'll be worth it. ⬇ ⬇

Joseph Brodsky in his work “Dall’esilio” mentions that the reader of a literary work is doomed to an interpretative role… Thus, we as critical readers are “convicted” to make a textual interpretation of the short story “Rip Van Winkle”, written by American author Washington Irving. The present essay investigates the symbolic analysis of the text, as well as the analysis of the protagonist Rip Van Winkle as an archetypal character of Homer’s Odyssey. These are the two outlines on which our essay is constructed, from which we will discover and analyze other topics such as the mixture of cultures or the need to create an American myth. At this point, we will treat the myth as a sign of the birth of a culture. According to our interpretation, the myth of the American Odyssey will signify the birth of the American Myth. Thus, Washington Irving creates the character of Rip Van Winkle out of the need to formulate/create an American Culture of its kind. You can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/daGK6H8U

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What happened yesterday to me with my latest and greatest rejection proves to me: Hiring managers have to re-learn how to read! I clearly state on my resume i have a “media and television” background. I clearly state on my open to work profile that I’m looking for “media assistant” “production assistant work” Im clearly specifying now that I’m looking to pivot because media is vulnerable. Yesterday: they just flat out rejected me. Excuse me? READ my resume. READ my LinkedIn profile. Don’t jump to conclusions right away and tell me I’m not qualified for your 22$ an hour contract because I am. I’m hung up on this because some of the interviews I had this year; I could of got the job! However? Hiring managers couldn’t give less of a shit in this market about EXPERIENCE and WORTH! They only care about in this market now about filling quota and hiring to keep their jobs and not allow new people to start theirs! Makes me sick. Me and other “QUALIFIED” people have to wait months and months only to hear the same horse shit. Enough! Go back to school and read. Don’t make assumptions based off of falsehoods. To everyone reading this: I’ve been currently looking for 7 months and I’m numb!

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I just caught a typo in New Hart's Rules! No one is perfect, and manuscripts are rarely completely error-free. But it is reassuring when we manage to spot errors in texts that have been thoroughly edited and which are used by millions of editors arround the world. In fact, it feels a bit like finding an Easter egg. NHR is the main style manual for texts in British English, and it's used not only in the UK but in other countries as well. Editors who have worked through the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) courses know this text backwards! I forget the exact stats, but I know that even the biggest publishing houses do not expect 100% of errors to be caught. The best way to catch as many errors as possible is to have multiple sets of eyes on the manuscript by doing multiple rounds of editing. Proofreading especially should be done by someone who's never seen the text before. So I've caught this error. But I know it's not the only one in there. What have you found? PS - I left a typo in this post because it proves the point! #AmEditing #UKEnglish #Style

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PSA: So, I have tons of journalism students/journalists and curious cats asking me why I returned back from US after studying in one of the best J-schools (Boston University) the industry has to offer. Add to that the expenses. Was it truly worth it? Did I get the ROI (Do scholarships exist)? To answer that briefly: Yes. The faculty. The exposure. To sit there and share knowledge with some of the best journalists — many whom who later might have chosen different fields — but for that one moment connected on a microscopic level about everything and anything. At the same time, it’s what you make out of that opportunity. I wouldn’t have gotten jobs at premier media houses had I not put in the effort to use those 2.5 years — from not only presenting my graduate thesis in front of those journalists to studying and securing a job, too, in a bad economy (a small pat on the back here). Good organisations don’t just look at your degree, it’s your work that counts. I did party hard but studied harder and trust me my GPA wasn’t great but it was all about the clips you had at the end of the day. The resume you built matters more than your marks. Now to the harsh reality: it isn’t easy living alone. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies…it’s compromises and sacrifices. Once you take off your rose-tinted glasses, you’ll realise it’s just another country, despite Instagram reels telling you otherwise. But that’s something you decide — to take a leap of faith or stay with the uncertainty and regret that you didn’t try. Most importantly, you’re not a failure for choosing to come back to your country or being forced to because of visa regulations or paucity of employment options — an advice I’ve given to many who consult me. So just remember this. It’s a difficult ride, but it’s you who makes it worth it. #journalismmatters #internationalstudents #education #journojobs

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Calling all journalists. Give us your best advice for a student to have a successful internship. What should they know, do , watch and more. My tips: -Be a sponge, learn everything. -Introduce yourself to everyone and let them know you’re an intern. -definitely shadow the people who have the job you want when you gtaduate. -Leave the internship with names of people who will be your recommendations and got to know you during the internship, including your work ethic. Recommendations help in getting another internship or job Now what is your advice? #journalism #callingAllJournalists #localnews #internships

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I've been receiving interest from AI companies looking to hire me. I appreciate the attention, but I have to decline for the sake of my integrity. When I wrote 'Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence' during the 2023 WGA strike, I made my intentions very clear. I'm not against AI; I recognize its revolutionary potential in our technological landscape and find it interesting to see how it develops. I've only used AI to help with grammar, punctuation, etc. While it may provide some benefits, I believe in my expertise and skill. AI can be helpful, but it shouldn't replace humans. An AI company (whose name I will not disclose) sent an email showing their interest after my page appeared in their feed. They claimed I was perfect for the role of a Content Editor, and it piqued my interest. I was curious since I never made it a mission for my writing to be utilized to train bots. What were their intentions? Is this company a red flag? I decided to be upfront with them while receiving their very kind and overly praising emails. I asked, ''Does this company use work from others to train the AI? It is a valid concern.'' The employee who sent the email said, ''I will check and get back to you,'' but never answered my question. And that's where I drew the line. AI companies often use copyrighted material to train their bots, including works from well-known authors like John Grisham or George R.R. Martin, and journalism organizations like The New York Times. It is one thing to use AI to help fix errors or use it for fun, such as making a silly image of a cat playing a guitar. But when companies can't even give you a clear answer on whether or not they're essentially plagiarizing, it becomes evident what their intentions are, and it seems to stem from a place of malice. Using AI to assist with creative endeavors is a personal preference, and writers and editors alike who don't use it aren't technophobes. An amazing post by Rachel Lapidow on AI explains this perfectly, and I highly recommend you all read it! Plenty of AI companies and corporations are exploitative. Therefore, I will continue to pursue what I love without bending the knee for high-end AI tech companies. What I write, what I create, and what I choose to showcase is NOT meant to be used to train chatbots. I hope that in the future, we can live in a world where AI doesn't interfere with genuine creativity. Sources: https://lnkd.in/eDZbagD5 https://lnkd.in/ed26nqUK Rachel's Post: https://lnkd.in/e79_vCtt Also, here's a funny comic that I found on marketoonist. https://lnkd.in/eUf5Q7sN

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I take this approach with every story I write/direct. From mapping out the 10-12 beats I might use to tell a visually-stunning story (from a director's perspective) to capturing the ever-changing momentum of a thrilling action sequence (as a writer), I use this method to keep my audience/readers guessing. Approaching work this way always keeps things interesting; which can break the tension when scenes are really giving you fits...like one scene is giving me right now...which is why I'm here, taking a break from my writing and re-posting this gemstone; this, in the hopes either you or I will make a major breakthrough in our writing...or even do it at the same time. Hell I don't care. As long as we both get un-stuck!

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So, what's next? We can't move forward after this election, or any big change event, without trying to understand what happened (NB: This post is for nonpartisan journalists who have the professional obligation and personal headspace to document the public's values accurately. If that's not you today, that's okay). I found a note in this morning's "The Daily" useful -- "No party has ever retained the White House when so many voters disapprove of the president and think the country is heading in the wrong direction." More here: https://lnkd.in/e5swnDQT People wanted change. Change toward what? Change from what? We can be honest about a candidate's flaws while remaining curious about voters' motivations. What now? The real work begins: Of holding public officials accountable, of analyzing the money, of tracking promises kept or ignored. This would be true of any administration, but it's certainly true of an administration that promised to deliver dramatic change on the economy, immigration and more. I remain hopeful that local media can rise to the moment. We have to be relentlessly accurate, empathetic and creative. We have to be responsive to local readers' skepticism about the media. I have found Joy Mayer's notes from Trusting News useful as I try to remain focused on what my local audience wants and needs. The conservative media landscape in the US is incredibly well-funded, well-connected and well-coordinated, as Taylor Lorenz noted in her newsletter today. The left-wing ecosystem is well-funded and well-connected, but disjointed, and, to my mind, funadementally out of step. I still believe that nonpartisan media can offer an alternative way forward, independent of party and political allegiances, but newsrooms have to truly listen to audiences and answer questions to have any hope of breaking through. I saw Richard Young post this John Dewey quote: “I am inclined to believe that the heart and final guarantee of democracy is in free gatherings of neighbors on the street corner to discuss back and forth what is read in uncensored news of the day, and in gatherings of friends in the living rooms of houses and apartments to converse freely with one another.”

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Excellent advice for aspiring game writers and narrative designers.

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Hey, editor friends! 👋🏻 I've just added more scholarship spots to all my self-paced courses! These scholarships are for editors from marginalized groups who can't afford the full price. There's a limited number for each course. They're first-come, first-serve, no questions asked. 🔗 Link in comments 🔗 #AmEditing #Edibuddies #Editor #Editing

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I have really frustrating days where I just don't want to write, but I'm a professional writer with clients and deadlines. I've been told a billion times "just sit down and write." I've been told that writing every single day as a habit will help me break down the walls of writer's block and help me keep going. Well let me tell you some days that's impossible. When my mental health tanks or my body is physically ill writing becomes almost crippling to even think about. Unlike folks who work in manufacturing or office administration (or any other non-creative industry for that matter) my job isn't just a mind-numbing task. It takes careful thought, creativity, and positive emotion to be creative and artistic. In other words, I can't write a freakin' love story when I'm feeling depressed. I don't think "make daily writing a habit" is a one-size-fits-all approach that works with creative jobs. It's bad advice that has the potential to leave the hearer feeling inadequate and unheard. My advice? (And this is coming from someone who has written 5million+ words over the past three years with more than 100 novels to her name and averages 12k words at least five days a week.) Write when you are feeling creative, and rest when you're not. Self-care is quite literally essential and required for creatives. If you don't take time to nurture that creative part of your soul, you'll pour all of your heart out and have nothing left to give. Go for a walk. Have a glass of wine. Sit under the stars or with your feet in the sand (I'm a mermaid so that's my choice.), but whatever you do, pour into yourself as much as you pour onto the page. You won't regret it. Because when you return to the computer to type or the notepad to write, you'll flow even faster. My record is 26k words in one day when I was on a high. On my worst days all I can do is scroll X and hope I don't feel that way the next day. You've got this. Be graceful with yourself and you'll thank me later. <3 XOXO ~Martha

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A new blog post is live on my website! I tackle nominalizations (zombie nouns), describing what they are, how they can be used effectively, and how you can correct them to make your writing more impactful. https://lnkd.in/gNnDkQHx #editing #copyeditor #grammar #writingadvice #clearwriting #businesswriting #indieauthors

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