Hello, this is Wada from the Production Department.
Aside from my day-to-day work, I work as an editorial staff member for the Monosasu website, updating the site, adjusting the layout, and posting reviews on social media.
I work on updating the site every day, and this time I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on my work, think about the relationship between the Monosasu site and people, and write about what I've felt since becoming involved in its operations.
How I got involved with the Monosasu site
I started working on the Monosasu site about a week after I joined the company. Editor-in-chief Nakaniwa asked me if I was interested in the Monosasu site. I still didn't know what to do, but I had been a Japanese teacher at a junior high school in my previous job and had experience correcting students' essays, so I thought I could at least proofread the manuscripts, and so I got involved.
At first, I was taught how to update the CMS, and I learned how to do so by uploading articles every day.
When using the CMS, you first understand the document structure and then create an article while imagining in your head how to put it together.
Until it becomes "your own problem"
After officially becoming an editor, I realized that updating the Monosasu website was much harder than I had expected. There are updates every day. Writing articles is hard work, but uploading articles every day without any problems in between my daily work was also very hard work.
Currently, the main tasks I perform in managing the Monosasu website are the following three:
- Proofreading of the final manuscript
- Register with CMS
- Post a testimonial on Facebook and Twitter
1. Proofreading the final manuscript
I read the final draft and proofread it for typos and omissions, for the correct use of particles, etc. This can be very detailed, but I change formal nouns to hiragana, eliminate inconsistencies in writing, and rearrange sentences to make them easier to read.
2. Register with CMS
Once proofreading is complete, the article is registered in the CMS. At first, it was difficult to proceed step by step while looking at the registration method written down in a notebook, but as I got used to it and understood the entire process, my speed increased. However, the content and layout of each article varies. I memorize many patterns other than the basic article layout, and spend my days training to be able to handle any pattern that comes up. When an irregular pattern comes up, I sometimes rewrite the CSS to handle it.
3. Post a testimonial on Facebook and Twitter
Just as we were starting to get the process of registering articles smoothly, Editor-in-Chief Nakaniwa asked me to start updating the site on social media, so I began posting daily introductions to articles on Facebook and Twitter .
Up until now, it was just a series of steps to register an article, but now I have to read the content of the article, digest it, and summarize it in a shorter form, so it's a process of trial and error every time. Although the length of the sentences is short, the pain of writing has been added. Since I am summarizing other people's writing, it takes care. But I write every day, hoping that I can grab the reader's interest by making them go "Oh!" when they read the introduction.
Change of Mind
By registering various articles every day and thinking about how to write introductions for social media, my mindset began to change. I began to feel attached to each article, which I had previously just been doing.
The Monosasu site is written by people who work at Monosasu in their spare time. (I am one of them, writing this article right now!) Some people may be good at writing, but for most people it is difficult, and the articles they are able to write in the midst of their busy schedules are the culmination of everyone's sweat and tears. The articles are then registered in the CMS, and posted on social media with an introduction. By repeating this process, I have come to feel a deep affection for each and every article. This may be an exaggeration, but it feels like sending your child out into the world.
Since I became involved with the Monosasu site, I have actively participated in reading groups and other events, and I have become closer to the Monosasu site. I went from being a reader to being a publisher, and although this has its challenges, I find it more enjoyable.
At the manga night talk at the reading club last month
"We're not targeting anyone."
Being able to communicate outside of the box
When I thought about what the Monosas site is as an editor, I thought it was a culmination of Monosas' values. At the same time, I think it is also the way of life of the people who work at Monosas. This is because through the articles, you can come into contact with the values and thoughts of the writers.
Once, I had a question that I really couldn't help but ask the CEO, Hayashi, "Who is the Monosasu site targeted at?" His answer was surprising: "No one is targeted at it."
Hearing that made me feel relieved. Before I heard that, I had always wondered what kind of articles I should write and who the articles on Monosasu's website are written for. However, I remember feeling a little better, thinking that maybe I didn't need to worry so much.
What is written on the Monosasu site is not everything to Monosasu, but it is part of our work, and some relationships develop from there. For example, some clients request work from us after seeing the Monosasu site. Not only clients, but also family and friends of people who work at Monosasu read the articles and share or like them on Facebook, and when people outside the company get involved with the Monosasu site, we are able to expand our contact points into new areas. We feel that the site is connected to society as the face of Monosasu, as the words that the writers have woven with various thoughts reach readers with a variety of values and perspectives.
As an editor, I hope to continue to share various things on the Monosasu website. I think it would be fun if by sharing our thoughts and what we want to say on a daily basis, connections would be made and new actions would be taken among the people who receive it.
Updating every day is hard work, but we will continue to work hard to update this site, which shows Monosas' daily life.
モノサスアーカイブ