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By Michal Ann McArthur,
Bend writer
Don’t you love to peek behind the curtain to find out who’s hidden back there, making things happen? I do. I finally got to give that curtain a yank yesterday, and I discovered a remarkable woman. I have to tell you about Naomi Inman and what she’s been doing for all of us behind the scenes.
In 2008, Naomi was involved in the launching of the Women’s Report. She brought a wealth of experience and knowledge with her. She earned her master’s degree in journalism and radio from Regent University, honored as the outstanding graduate in the school of journalism. She worked in Portland at radio station KPDQ as a producer and copywriter. For two and a half years she worked as a writer and the assistant editor of Brainstorm Northwest, a policy magazine. Once her sons were born, though, she stepped away from the professional world and focused primarily on raising her children. She said, “I fit in writing projects when I could with an eye toward expanding my career and my horizons as I launched my sons.”
In the fall of 2009, Naomi became the editor of Women’s Report. When I asked her what motivated her to accept the position, she said, “My main vision was to keep myself in the industry of writing and editing. . . . I loved their immediacy and the readership—the fact that a gal could write something that a couple thousand could read. Open relationship isn’t out there much for women writers. The Women’s Report offers a great exchange of exposure.”
What has it been like being editor? Naomi said, “I spent about four hours a week at home reading a lot of bad writing and some good writing, searching for bloggers, talking to people I knew who wrote. It was harder to find quality writers than I thought it would be. . . . When I found a writer who connected [with readers], I asked her to post.”
She said the greatest satisfaction she experienced as editor was “when a really great writer discovers us and starts to blossom in her gift.” I wasn’t surprised to hear that—it’s just like the warm, nurturing editor that I’ve come to know.
After fifteen years of being at home, Naomi has found that her sons no longer need her to drive three hours a day doing carpool duty. She’s stepping down as the editor of Women’s Report, ready to move forward in her career. She’s presently searching for a meaningful, creative work opportunity.
We wish her the best, but we’re certainly going to miss her. At least, as editor. The good news is that now that she’s no longer editing, she’s going to have time to write. I’m looking forward to seeing her byline in Women’s Report any day now. That will be my consolation prize for losing such a gifted, encouraging editor.
Thanks for all you’ve done for us behind the scenes, Naomi. You go, girl. Keep in touch.