Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 20:13:22 -0800 From: Lynda Wilson Subject: [WRITERS] FILL: Hello, again! Dear friends of long ago, I'm back! What?! You don't remember me? Let me re-introduce myself. I'm Lynda and was a part of this list about two years ago. No bells went off? Well... At that time I went by the nickname "WebWench." Yes, I was the original, but there have been others who have taken over my nickname since that time and have even dared to register a domain and send me legal notice that I was infringing upon their business name. I could have gone to court. I could have even won, but I would have only won the right to a silly nickname which the "bogus" wench had already taken into misfortune due to her lack of web construction talent. Now, due to my lack of imagination, I'm stuck with my God-given name of Lynda. (Just let them try to sue me over that one!) In any event, my family (husband, daughter and two dogs) were living in Oklahoma two years ago. We have since moved to Iowa and put down roots. I was Community Network Admin for an ISP in Oklahoma, but my background was in news writing (served as reporter, editor and general gopher). When we moved to Iowa, my husband James continued to work with computers. I went back to writing and took a job at a small weekly as a general assignment reporter. I was promoted a couple of times and am now the Director of Operations. This is where the story goes sour, at least for the newspaper. You see, the paper had been failing for the past several years of its existence. We serve a suburban community which is growing exponentially, mostly from the larger metro area. People moving into town do not see the benefit of making our community cohesive and, most definitely, do not see the benefits of having a local newspaper when a large daily is 10 miles down the road. After a great deal of money had been sunk into the operation and none was returning, our publisher made the decision to shut down the paper. I made the decision to return to freelancing for magazines and the like while I worked at home (painting, fixing, etc.). It was also about this time that I decided to re-subscribe to writers. I was under the impression that I would finally have time to read all of the SUBS and enjoy life a little. Alas, very few things in life work out the way they are planned. The day after I subscribed, I was called to our office headquarters for a meeting with the publisher. He informed me that several companies and individuals had expressed interest in purchasing the newspaper. He asked if I would continue to put out a paper until their inquiry could be resolved. I agreed. Unfortunately, I must now debate the time I spend with the group. I admit it will be hard to give you up again, but it might come to that. In any event, I will let you know. Lynda Wilson UPDATE: I wrote this a day or two ago and then decided not to send it. I wanted to sit around for a bit anonymously and try to catch up on the list. But, I was made a proposition yesterday which I think you will all find interesting. Another area publisher called when he learned of the newspaper's demise and asked me to come be his publisher on a new magazine venture. I was incredibly flattered! Then I remembered about the newspaper and explained the situation to him. He is allowing me to continue to do both until the newspaper's fate can be decided (with the understanding that if it is purchased, I will not stay with the new ownership). Isn't that incredible!? I swear the saying "God doesn't close one door without opening another" rings true for me right now.