“I like feeling like I'm discovering something new. That's really a special feeling and also, you don't have it that often. At least, I don't. Maybe I'm not creative enough.” EnoughFeelingsCreativeSpecialSomething NewDiscoveringDiscovering SomethingDiscovering Something New Author:David Rees
“I wanted to get paid to sharpen pencils originally just because I thought it would be fun.” Would BeWantedFunPaidPencils Author:David Rees
“I liked sharpening pencils and I was like, "Oh, I wonder if I could get paid to do it." And I figured it out and I did it.” IfsWonderPaidIf I CouldPencilsSharpeningSharpening Pencils Author:David Rees
“I assumed that the pencil market was collapsing, but then it turns out that from 2010 to 2011 in the United States, pencil consumption went up by over six percent. I mean, those are all foreign-made pencils. Those are probably Chinese pencils, mostly, and Mexican pencils. I mean, it is an archaic communication technology, but it is still ubiquitous.” MeanMadeStillsStatesTurnsUnitedTechnologyUnited StatesCommunicationSixPercentChineseConsumptionPencilsMexicanCommunication Technology Author:David Rees
“Everyone has pencils in their house, no matter how hip and contemporary they are.” MatterHouseContemporaryHipsPencils Author:David Rees
“I started sharpening pencils at the census and how that was a difficult time in my life because my marriage was ending and I had quit cartooning and I didn't know what to do with myself.” KnowsDifficultQuittingPencilsDifficult TimesCensusSharpeningSharpening Pencils Author:David Rees
“I talked to people in the pencil industry and I talked to people as I was sharpening their pencils about the frustrations they have with pencils, so I really did do my research and I do know more about pencils than most people.” PeopleKnowsIndustryResearchFrustrationPencilsSharpening Author:David Rees
“Someone said to me that we have to encourage more young women to want top-level editing jobs. I think that will happen naturally as we have more role models, more examples of boss ladies who aren't sad and cruel and overworked and undersexed like in DevilWearsPrada, but who are straight-up owning it and notable not for their gender but for their editorial savvy.” ThinkingWantSaidHappensJobsYoungLevelsRolesExampleModelsGenderBossRole ModelsYoung WomenEditingNotableEditorialsSavvyStraight UpOwning It Author:Ann Friedman
“I'm interested in pitches that have compelling people and ideas at the core - and a good news peg certainly doesn't hurt. We look for stories that are solutions-oriented, but not irrationally upbeat, from writers with a strong voice. For LadyJournos, where I'm curating not editing.” PeopleLooksIdeasStoriesStrongVoiceHurtNewsSolutionsCoreCompellingEditingGood NewsUpbeatPeg Author:Ann Friedman
“I'm looking for a balance of reported and essayistic work by up-and-coming women journalists. Often that means combing online-only sources or alt weeklies.” MeanSourceBalanceJournalistOnline Author:Ann Friedman