Help Jason Bugg become gainfully employed

The dream began a few years ago: Jason Bugg (or for the purposes of this blog entry “I”, “me”, or “myself”) was working a dead-end job at an Asheville-based coffee shop (which has long since been closed). An old friend from back in high school frequented the place for his semi-hourly regimen of caffeine. I knew that he was working at the Mountain Xpress, and for the heck of it, I assaulted him with article ideas (not for me to write, mind you, but for him or someone at the paper- after all, I wasn’t a writer).  He surprised me by telling me to shoot him an email about one. When I did, he then told me that I could write the article and get paid for it.  With that, I was a freelance writer.

Time moved fast. I sold article after article to his paper and to out of town papers, all because of this guy taking a risk with the overeager barista and the paper he worked for agreeing to publish it.  Soon the staffer assumed the editor’s position at the Xpress and I received even more work. So much work that coupled with the out of town stuff that I was doing I was able to live the dream: I was a full time writer.

But things change. The editor left his position and (as it often goes in the tumultuous world of Alt-weekly freelance writing) I fell out of favor with the incoming editor. Our styles did anything but meld.  Eventually (due to personal differences- namely my mouth and my inability to ever back down from saying the wrong thing when it feels so right) we agreed to work together.

No big deal, right?

Well, it was a big deal. The money dried up. That’s sort of okay, because to a degree the money was nice but it wasn’t what I wanted out of writing. Writing gave me purpose, and when I couldn’t show my special purpose to the people in the town that I lived in, I was lost, hurt and sad.  I said a few choice things about the paper that I truly felt, and once again didn’t back down.

Now I’m here to admit that my mouth can get me into trouble sometimes.  Now I’m here to say that the one thing that always brought me joy as a writer was being able to write for my hometown paper.

So imagine my surprise today when I stumbled upon a twitter tweet (or whatever you call it) from an Xpress staffer announcing that if anyone is interested in writing for the Xpress to contact them. I sat up after reading this. I took notice. I jumped back, I kissed myself. Good god. I got that feeling. James Brown was with me in the room. This is big. This is great. I could stand a chance at redeeming myself. I could build a nice bridge with the paper by starting a dialogue. Or, I could have some serious lulz.

So, after much meandering with this blog, I’m here to say that I want to work for the Xpress. I want to eat a big honkin’ slice of humble pie and make nice with these people who I (at times) pissed off. I want to engage in a dialogue with my hometown and do it from the paper that I still dig reading (even though I am not a day-to-day resident of Asheville).

As far as I’m concerned, I’m the Xpress’ only real option. Sure, there are people out there with big fancy degrees and big ideas, but I’m a person who knows how the paper works and the whys of how the city runs. I know the back alleys, I know the front streets and I even know how to sidestep the stinkier people on both. My body of work as a writer shows that I have a commitment to the truth and to really understanding what I am writing about all of the time.  I know my mouth has gotten me into trouble before, but I also know that my work has always been worth that trouble.

Now, the time has come for what this has to do with you, the blog reader.  You aren’t just a reader, this time. You aren’t just spectators looking in on my life. You are people who can take an active role in making sure that I, Jason Bugg, am able to write for the Xpress. You are the people who can make sure that the Xpress knows that I am worth the fuss and that I am quality.

“But how can we do this?” you say. Well it’s easy. I’m doing my part- I’ve sent in the appropriate emails to the write people. Now I’m going to do something different. I’m going to start a multimedia campaign to try to land this job. I would love for people to send in emails, letters, phone calls or whatever else to the Mountain Xpress offices.  Let them know that my work, my words, and my personality are what that paper needs. Let them know that you are a reader of the Xpress and miss my voice being in the pages and pixels of their paper. Mention my mastery of social media and how I am with them on their quest to redefine what a local paper can do in the 21^st Century.  Start a Facebook group about my quest, and use this twitter hashtag (#JasonBuggtoMountainX) to keep the Xpress updated on why I should be a part of their paper.

I suppose that in the end, my abilities as a writer and reporter will be what actually matters to the Xpress, but I know that the community’s voice can and should matter also. All I’m asking you to do is to let your voice be heard.

Thank you.

Until later, be good