Give someone a chance

In my computer, there are usually 3 folders, named: BT 1, BT 2, BT 3. I do the editing work, those 3 folders represent the time and effort I spend on the articles of the contributors. The process is like this: receive, download the articles into folder 1, if the article is good, I use it immediately, if there are any concerns, I cut the file and move it into folder 2; maybe a few hours or the next day when I have more free time, I re-read that article, call to discuss and clarify some details, adjust the layout and sentences, see that it is eligible for publication, then put the article on paper; there are still many cases where the "second water" article is still not good, I move it to folder 3, these are the types of articles that have meaning but the sentences are clumsy, confusing, and obscure, the editor must be very patient to be able to pick, trim, cut, and supplement it into shape, into form. Sometimes the article is initially as big as a melon, but after trimming and carving it is only as big as an apple; There are also rare cases where the news sent back is as small as a sesame seed, but has an idea, has a story, after a while of exchanging, agreeing that it needs the participation of reporters, it turns into a thick topic. But after 3 "countries" the article can't be published anymore, then I have to give up, many articles like that have to be deleted every month.

Every time I click on the delete line, I always hesitate for a moment. I feel sorry for the contributors’ efforts. There are contributors who are so diligent that they submit articles for years without getting a single line published, but they still submit. I think about their passion, their enthusiasm, their joy and their sadness. Thinking of this, I am also willing to give all contributors infinite patience, even though the process of “saving” a bad article is difficult, time-consuming and laborious.

There are email addresses that are so familiar that if I delete them without reading the article, no one will blame the editor, because the rate of articles that are not usable is almost absolute. But I have never done that, I always open and read every email sent to me. I treat every email with the necessary seriousness. I always think: What if this email has good information? That “what if…” thought is an opportunity that I give to every contributor.

I used to be a contributor. During my 4 years in college, I can’t remember how many articles, short stories, essays, essays, poems, etc. I sent to many newspapers across the country. At first, dozens of articles were sent like pebbles falling into a quiet lake. I was very sad, but then I pulled myself together and continued writing, writing passionately. At that time, I wanted to write, partly because of my own urge, and partly because I needed income to improve my student life, in a difficult family situation. I wrote by instinct, and later, after working for a long time, I realized that instinct was very valuable, but at the same time, it also had its drawbacks: in the beginning, without anyone to guide or correct me, I easily wandered and deviated, so the articles I wrote were useless.

One day, the editor of a youth newspaper sent me an email - the first reply I received after countless emails sent. He replied that he had received the letter, had read it carefully, and found that the article had some good ideas, and that if I knew how to develop it more skillfully, it could be published. And after a few emails back and forth, he guided me on how to add, how to subtract, where to expand, where to streamline... It was also he who later showed me how to look at problems, how to write according to each genre... I will forever be grateful to him - that dedicated editor, with responsibility and diligence, who gave me valuable words of nurturing to nurture a tree to grow up like today.

I always believe that opportunities are like gifts, their value is continued to last forever thanks to the grateful recipient and continuing to give them to others in need. We often think that opportunities are something very rare, very few, but in fact, opportunities are also simple, also abundant, everyone has them and there is enough to give to everyone. Being willing to give someone an opportunity also means that you are multiplying countless opportunities for yourself in the future.