What This Means To Me.
I never thought I would be writing and editing a journal for a hobby I fell in love with, yet here we are. I am loving what I am doing, and I say that with heavy words. On a personal note, I have been very lost with my life and career. I have done odd jobs here and there. I was once a high-rise window cleaner back in my hometown. I worked in the back rooms of thrift shops unloading trucks, and I even worked in a marina. But this is one of the prouder things I have done in my life. Obviously, getting married and having our child are at the top, along with serving my country, but this is right up there, and I am glad that I have so many to share it with.
From an Instagram post I made that was supposed to look like a magazine cover to putting out the first issue and now working on my second, well, I have no words. I am just in awe that I am where I am and doing something I genuinely love. I am even happier that people have reached out wanting to write articles for the second issue. Amazingly, people want to contribute, and I am all for it! I can’t wait to get their articles, design how they will look on the pages, and read what they want to share with everyone. This is an exciting time in Pipe & Leaf Journal, and I am so glad many of you are here to experience this and watch it grow into hopefully something bigger.
I am putting so much time and effort into this next issue that I spend all my days researching, writing, designing, and making sure I produce a top-tier journal for everyone to read. I would like to produce a physical copy if I can. I am thinking about making a limited edition that combines the first and second issues into a combo book for the first print run. I have been in talks with a couple of companies about paper weight, glossy or matte covers, and how it will be bound. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
What I Learned From Issue No. 001
I want to briefly talk about something that was brought to my attention after the last issue. I received some feedback that parts of the writing felt as though AI had written them. I took that seriously and went back to Issue No. 001 and read through it again with an open mind. I could understand where that feeling may have come from. I write what is in my head first and worry about editing afterward. I use Grammarly to help with grammar and clarity, and looking back, there were times when I relied too much on some of its suggestions. In trying to make my writing better, I took away some of the things that actually make it sound like me. That is something I am changing with Issue No. 002. I still want to improve as a writer, and I'll continue using tools to catch mistakes, but I also want the words in these pages to sound like the person who wrote them. Sometimes that means leaving things a little imperfect. Pipe & Leaf Journal is personal to me, and I want the writing to feel that way too.
Where We Go From Here.
I want Pipe & Leaf Journal to become a physical copy and, of course, remain digital, which will stay free. But for those who would want a physical copy, I want to have some made. I want P & LJ (Pipe & Leaf Journal) to become something more than a seasonal journal. I want it to become a staple of the community and something that we all enjoy reading and look forward to reading. I would love to have more articles from other people—a section of photographs relating to tobacco and pipes, or even individuals with their pipes. I would love to include more history articles, including topics that may not have been covered yet. Anything even slightly related to the hobby and lifestyle. Even some interviews with tobacconists or pipe makers. I want this to be something the community enjoys and looks forward to.
