Making your own breaks

This thread comes from the discussion of Wright Thompson and others and this prevailing belief among some younger writers that if they could just get a break, they could do great stories like these "big-name" writers.

The problem is, they don't realize you don't need a break. You need to simply work hard to turn what some may view as a mundane piece into something that really gives the reader insight and emotion.

One of the best stories I've ever written (and pages I helped lay out) was when the traveling version of the Vietnam Wall made its first-ever stop in Huntsville, Texas. I made rubbings of the names of all the county people who are featured on the wall, interviewed their families (parents, siblings, ex-spouses, etc.) and wrote a piece with which I was incredibly happy.

And the only art on the entire front page was the rubbings of all seven names, stacked on top of each other, providing a very stark and jolting image.

Am I a big-time writer? No. But I'll gladly hold up that piece as one that I am very proud of.

You make your own breaks.