I’ve found non-fiction stories much more interesting and compelling than fiction.
Most of my time as a journalist was spent on the editing side, but I still managed to find time for writing.
After all, writing was what drew me to the field in the first place.
More than anything, I simply wanted to tell stories – happy or sad, short or long, personal or from another’s point of view, true or made-up. Obviously, the true stories won out early on.
I do have a pretty wild and vivid imagination and have written a few fiction pieces. But generally, I’ve found non-fiction stories much more interesting and compelling.
My first 12 years as a journalist was in Macon, GA. I wrote a personal column from a feminist viewpoint, book reviews, general feature stories, religion stories, some news stories and religion columns.
Unfortunately, those were the days before the newspaper was set up to archive articles digitally. Consequently, I have no electronic access to those.
Fallen Warriors Series
I do have a pretty wild and vivid imagination and have written a few fiction pieces. But generally, I’ve found non-fiction stories much more interesting and compelling.
I later worked as Features Editor for The Tuscaloosa News for another nine years. Not long after I started there, the paper began archiving articles digitally.
I’m not posting all of those stories. My Fallen Warriors series is on the Fallen Warriors page, but I wrote others, too.
There were a number of military-related articles, general features, news stories, news obituaries and a few columns during that time. Some of the links to my newsroom archives are posted here.
Personal columns
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Remembrance and Regret is a column I wrote about man who was killed shortly after 9/11 in Tuscaloosa.
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A Mother’s transition is a column written about dealing with my son, my only child, getting married.
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Some leopards never change their spots is about a preacher who took advantage of his parishioners and kept doing so even after being exposed.
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Life’s mission not so clear is about the never-ending search for the meaning of life and my purpose on the planet.
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A sure cure for cynicism is about a surprise Mother’s Day visit from son stationed in Germany.
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Army son out of reach for the holidays about the first time haven’t spent holidays with my son.
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Son protected by more than standard gear about my son being part of the leading forces into Iraq in 2003.
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E-mail was almost as good as a call about my first word about my son since he entered Iraq.
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Life is the same but different about son getting back to the states.
Jane Self, PhD, was assistant features editor for the Macon Telegraph and features editor for The Tuscaloosa News. She received her master's degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and her PhD in education administration from the University of Alabama. 
Jane Self was features editor at The Tuscaloosa News when the Fallen Warriors series began. Although she left the paper, she continued to write these profiles on a freelance basis for The News until the series was stopped in May 2009. Jane has since updated and published them as an E-book. 
In 1991 "60 Minutes" aired a story that attempted to destroy the life and work of EST founder Werner Erhard. Award-winning journalist Jane Self suspected there was more to these allegations than being reported. She discovered an amazing plot of espionage, conspiracy, and sabotage.