The Martlet

“When you get your first death threat, you know you’re on the right track.”

That’s how journalist Les Wiseman tells students to measure their career success.

Wiseman, who just joined the Professional Writing Department at UVic this year, is passing on his experience to developing writers.

Thirty-three years ago, Wiseman began his own career at Vancouver Magazine, and over the years has worked at T.V. Guide, Canada Wide magazines and has done extensive freelancing.

At 55 years old, Wiseman has comprehensive wisdom to pass on to aspiring journalists. Perhaps the most important piece of advice: keep it interesting.

Wiseman himself has received a few death threats, the most notable being one related to a Michael Jackson album review.

Wiseman commented that Jackson didn’t do anything that Sammy Davis Jr. hadn’t done better before and a reader took great offense.

Wiseman did learn something important from this experience: if you are creating controversy, editors will want you to write stories for them.

This is important, says Wiseman, in an industry that is suffering from “declining ad revenue and smaller publications.”

He is quick to point out, however, that the Internet is helping journalists with their careers because it frees them from their locale.

Despite being painfully realistic at times about journalism — “you’re going to spend most of your life alone, in a room” — Wiseman clearly loves writing.

There’s nothing cooler, he says, and it helps that the job has some pretty awesome perks — not only has Wiseman been to a few rocking parties, he’s also had the chance to meet a multitude of celebrities, such as Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.

In the future, Wiseman would “rather be writing fiction,” and have a chance to explore the more creative side of writing.

His novel, Jane and the Satanists, is under construction, as he takes inspiration from the Satanist community in Victoria.

While Wiseman is no longer “drinking champagne with Iggy Pop until two in the morning,” his life has turned in another new direction.

By using his own personal experience and unconventional advice, he hopes to pass his passion onto others.

Whatever style his students may choose to pursue on their paths, they can be sure of an eventful career ahead.

“Writing ain’t going away,” as Wiseman puts it.