Writing is easy. All you have to do is string together some words and tell a story. Being the editor-in-chief of a group of writers? Well, that's a whole new ball game. Not only do you have to write your own article every week, but you also have to edit the articles of your entire community. But in order to edit the articles, you have to encourage your Creators to submit them, as forcefully as you can while still being nice. But as much work as you put into being an EIC, you always reap more than you sow.
I had no idea that I would learn so much during my time as EIC. I learned the importance of community and the value of culture. Sending daily messages as simple as "Happy hump day!" with a meme or as complex as advice on articles, news, or life lessons all contributed to this culture. I experienced what it was like to be the motivator, even though it was really my Creators who motivated me. The Creators I worked with are some of the most opinionated, intelligent, driven writers I have ever met, and they all inspired me to be the best I could be on a daily basis.
Being an EIC, I was often frustrated with the lack of articles submitted on time, or that no one responded to my messages in the GroupMe. But there was never a single time I questioned why I still did it. The most rewarding parts of being an EIC were the moments and the messages I shared with different Creators. From watching their articles go viral to getting the team to rally around a piece to the messages where they said "thanks for everything," made it all worth it.
I experienced what it felt like to make a difference. What it felt like to inspire others, and what it felt like to be a leader. This experience wasn't about dollar signs and statistics. It was about community, leadership, personal development, and enjoyment.
I'm excited for the next EIC to get what I got and more out of her experience. My time as EIC went by incredibly fast, as many great things do. But I will always remember every single article and every single writer. I will keep reading and liking all of the articles, partly because I know how difficult it is to achieve social engagement goals, but mostly because I love reading various perspectives from Creators.
Every Creator within the Franciscan community deserves to be heard by the world. Each Creator has a unique experience to share, and people need to hear what they have to say. I hope the Creators and the new EIC value this experience as much as I do.
