Tina M. Howell

I truly believe God has a plan for all of us, and it's all about timing. I have always had an interest in writing since I was younger. I used to write poems and songs, and I was the copy editor and photographer for my high school paper, so being a professional writer is something I always wanted to do. However, I know that the timing wasn't right when I was younger, and I also feel like I wouldn't have been as successful then. I think I needed the marketing and management skills that I got from my previous career to be successful now. I'm also thicker-skinned and more confident in my abilities now than I was when I was younger. When you first start out writing and apply for credentials or interviews, sometimes you get told no. You will get told no more often than you get told yes, initially, until people get to know you and trust you, and you have built a portfolio of work. Today, I have almost 5 years of experience and I've been credentialed and personally attended so many different events and I've also written thousands of articles. So now when I apply to cover an event, it's the opposite, I get told yes more times than I get told no. In this industry, you have to be determined, driven and persistent. You have to actually put in the work and hustle to be successful. It is definitely not a 9-to-5 schedule. So, I really feel like everything that I've done in my previous career has helped my today, but it was also all about timing. This is where I am supposed to be now, and why I feel like I'm successful and have built the relationships that I had. It's because of what I've done in the past. I truly love what I'm doing now but all of the skills that I learned through the years have allowed me to be successful today, not only for myself personally, but also in helping my staff and colleagues.

Just be real and never be afraid to say I don't know rather than make up an answer. Credibility is everything.

Never give up. Success rarely happens overnight so if you really want it you have to really work for it. Also, no matter whatever path you choose, if you decide later in life that you want to do something else, go for it! I am proof that it is never too late to chase your dreams.

Time is a big challenge for me because I live in an area where we always have things going on. In facts there are often 2 or 3 events taking place on the same day or time. It's just me writing these stories and covering these events. I don't have an assistant and can't be everywhere unfortunately. This happened to me actually last month - I was invited to two events on the same day, and I wanted to attend them both, but logistically, I just couldn't. So, I was able to do an initial story to help market one event, and then I chose to attend the other event.

Another challenge is getting your stories to reach a volume of people consistently. It's funny, I will write a story about food, a festival or concert, and it will do so well getting thousands of views. But I will do a story about a charity event or a nonprofit starting a new grant program or scholarship program, and while, it will get good numbers, the festival or music stories will do 3 times as well. I just wish that the nonprofit and the community event stories would get as much recognition. I wish people would be just as interested in them however I also understand that New Orleans is a city synonymous for our food and culture, and people come here for all of our unique events and festivals. Thousands of people come here for different events, and I know that's what they want to learn about.

That's the beauty of me writing for a couple of different publications - I get to cover everything. It's just sometimes some of the stories that I write, I really wish they would do better, because they had such a good message or purpose in them, and they sometimes don't get as much traction as some of the other articles do.

It's very important for me to build relationships and trust with people. I feel like if they're taking the time to talk to me and tell me their story, I have to handle it properly, really get to know them, their cause and take the time to get all the details are correct, but also, I like to get the story behind the story. There are so many things that happen throughout our area, and people are just trying to see the big picture of it. For example, Beignet Fest is a great event, but most people don't realize behind the scenes what the organization actually does for the autism community through the Beignet Fest Foundation. When it comes to me marketing an event and writing their story, I don't want someone to just buy a ticket and attend the event. I want them to know what they're actually supporting. That's one thing that I really value - the story behind the story. I take a lot of time when I'm interviewing, I don't give heavy deadlines. It's not rushed, like I have to do this story today or tomorrow. If I'm working on something and I know the event is in the middle of July, I can start working on it June 1st, and that gives me a good 5 weeks to be able to reach my contacts and get all the information. It also doesn't put a lot of stress on them as well. It allows me to take time and really dig in and get the "meat and potatoes of the story" but also it allows me time to build a relationship and really get to know the person I'm working with.

Another thing I totally believe in is networking, and I have a really great circle of writers, content creators and podcasters and we all support and network one another. I have a solid support system, not only through work, but also personally. I have a great group of friends, and a husband who is extremely supportive.

Another value is that I will not commit to something unless I know I can dedicate myself 100% to it. If I say I will attend an event, I want to actually be there and not just have written a story on something after the fact that I wasn't able to attend. I want to actually personally have attended the event, take photographs, conduct some interviews, etc. Authenticity is very important to me and in the industry.

This is the job that I have dreamed of since I was a teenager and I'm blessed to have gotten all of these opportunities in just a few years. However, just as quickly as those opportunities came to me, they can be taken away. So, I am very grateful and never take anything for granted.