This is how it happened….

Last month LA Times Magazine requested UP Magazine to recommend a Kenyan band and track for their June 2011 music issue. They wanted between 30-50 words describing both the band and the song. My boss felt that this was right up my alley since I handle all things Arts & Entertainment at our lovely magazine 😉

As soon I got the assignment I visited their website to see what ‘vibe’ they go for, their house style and to fulfill my curiosity. A few clicks in and I was taking huge gulps…this was a big deal. These guys don’t play! My best writing had to come through.

I tend to be long-winded so banging out 30-50 words and being absolutely accurate is quite the challenge. So I sat down and listened to the song ‘Forever People’ and wrote down the emotions and catch-phrases it brought to mind.

They wanted the review ASAP and I remember coming into the office on a Saturday morning to get the work done. So about five drafts and lots of dictionary checks later, I sent the article off to my boss then proceeded to bite half my limbs off.

He finally got back to me in the evening and gave me his tweaks in person as the team was running around trying to put up a stand at an event we were co-sponsoring. I went home, sat my tush down and sent my boss a text telling him I’d email the article the next day. He sent back a reply saying that I should send the article to the LA Times peeps that very night.

Walalala!

But buoyed by the confidence of two frantic phone calls made to friends and a small Hail Mary, I wrote the article on my message box then attempted to copy-paste it into my work email. Yeah, I don’t have a personal computer, well I did, bit it went bust 🙁 then it was too late to go to a cyber, so a girl had to be resourceful!

For some strange reason I could not access my work email so I had to send via my personal email address beginning with a long intro explaining who I was etc. Then just as I click to send, the email bulks, refusing to accept the CCs I added. SMH.

Well, suffice to say I did eventually send my 30-50 words and here they are…slightly edited though, but because they kept everything I wrote, I am doubly-proud.

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