writing for publication
lead (chap 1)
(opening lines/paragraph; hooks reader, catches attention & hints at the subject matter)
body copy (chap 1)
(the bulk of the article. Connects to lead & nut graph & further develops story via facts, information, interviews etc)
ending/close (chap 1)
(this can be almost as important as the opening. Its the final word on the subject, which can include an intriguing quote from sn interviewee, more information/links on the subject, a look to the future something your reader can take away from the article. You should have answered all questions you posed at the beginning by this point.)
nut graph (chap 1)
(transitional paragraph, ties to theme. In journalism, the nut graph is the paragraph that expresses the main idea of the story or article, shortly after the lead.)
notes on leads background (chap 1)
- traditional reporting is based upon using the inverted pyramid (think upside-down triangle) this is a reporting technique that places all of the important info. At the top
Interview Do's and Don'ts when conducting interviews
-Do be careful of the types of questions you ask. See the page on creating good survey & interview questions for more information. -Do start the interview with some small talk to give both yourself & the person you ate interviewing a chance to get comfortable -Do bring extra recording equipment in case something happens to one of your recording devices -Do pay attention to what is being said during the interview & ask thoughtful follow up questions -Do come to the interviee prepared. You should learn as much as you can about the person you are going to interview before the interview takes place so that you can tailor your questions to them -Dont pester or push the person you are interviewing. If the interviewee does not want to talk about an issue, you should respect that desire -Dont stick to your questions rigidly. If an interesting subject comes up that relates to your research, feel free to ask additional questions about it -Dont allow the person your interviewing to continually get off topic. If the conversation drifts, ask follow-up questions to redirect the conversation to the subject at hand
male unlikely comparisons
-Elizabeth rapoport wanted to write an essay about how everybody wants more sleep but its easy to see how a straightforward approach to that subject could have been something of a lullaby itself. Enter the angle: "sleep has become the sex of the 90s." once she had that twist, the rest came naturally; all she had to do was write about stolen naps as if they were trysts. "Im not mentally undressing my dishy seatmate on the commuter train, she wrote. "Im wondering whether hed take offense if i catnap on his shoulder until we get to hartsdale." -When i wanted to write that being the parent of teens requires different thinking then being the parent of little kids, i stumbled upon an angle with the potential to amuse readers while still providing some hard truths -While children are dogs, loyal, & affectionate, teenagers are cats. When you tell them to come inside, they look amazed, as if wondering who died & make you emperor -Such unlikely comparisons keep your audience tuned in because they want to see just how similar these otherwise dissimilar ideas are. Reward them with humor & unexpected truths
what are the benefits of writing articles for magazines?
-Establishes you in the writing industry: writing for a magazine introduces you to the writing & publishing industry. It can give you insight onto how the industry works & can help you establish your name in the writing business -Teaches you how to work with editors: like most writing jobs, working at a magazine gives you the opportunity to receive feedback from a variety of editors. Working with an editor can help you improve your writing & collaboration skills -Expands your professional network: joining a magazine staff helps you connect with other writers & industry professionals. Making these connections can lead to more career opportunities in the future
feature the finest
-Feature stories are a joy to write because again you can reach a much wider audience. A fantastic article on a modern day hero or heroine can touch the lives of people from ever race, religion, & political affilliation. Take care to paint a vivid scene, relay all the facts & dabble in an expressive opinion or two -Another outlet that can impact people from all walks of life is creative writing.
our forms for service articles
1) How to article: "explains how somethings made, built, cooked, purchased, or otherwise accomplished by an expert on the subject. 2) Listings: found in newspapers, magazines & newsletters; for sports, list of records & interesting trivia; business/finance, lists of top businesses, top exec. Salaries, real estate transactions, etc.; for feature sections, upcoming events, top restaurants & theaters 3) Art of living articles: teach us how to get more out life. Inspirational; uplift/motivate reader in some way. Self-help articles that give ideas for improving readers' lives or the lives of family/friends. Subjects include retirement, love, family relationships & making touch decisions 4) Chronological case histories: teach us something by looking at a particular example in depth. Readers are served by the lesson learned from them (buying house, curing medical problem, resolving conflict between neighbors)
10 questions to help you write better headlines
1) Is the headline accurate: im surprised how often i & others trip over the most basic of questions: does the headline accurately convey the content of the material? The acts of writing a headline & writing a story often happen separately, & its easy for factual discrepancies to creep in between those two processes -1 of the reporters i work with is leslie berestein-rojas, who covers immigration related issues on her site multi-american. When the pulitzer price winning reporter jose antonio vargas revealed in a new york times magazine essay that hes an undocumented immigrant, berestein-rojas wrote about it as a high-profile case in an ongoing movement among the undocumented to reveal their immigration status. In her piece, she mentioned another pulitzer winner, ruben vives, whose status as undocumented was revealed earlier this year -When i suggested the headline "why pulitzer winners are coming out as undocumeted, berestein rojas pointed out that vives has in fact been outed by a colleague at the los angeles times, who had asked vives for permission before publicizing his status. So a headline implying that vives had revealed his own status would have been wrong. We went with why a pulitzer winner is coming out as undocumented instead 2) Does it work out of context: on the web, most people who encounter your headline probably wont have any context for it. Imagine your headline not as it looks above your article, but as it looks on the home page of an unrelated site, in someones twitter or facebook streams, in a search result. Would someone unfamiliar with your site get what the storys about? -Pay special attention to entities & acronyms. If folks dont know you cover immigration, they may not get that ICE refers to immigration & customs enforcement 3) How compelling a promise does it make?: think of your headline as an emissary for your post, written to travel around the internet, selling the material to potential readers. Imagine those readers asking your headline, "what will this story do for me?" -There's a genre of headline i like to call undergrad essay. It usually includes lots of broad conceptual nouns, no verb & a colon. I cringe whenever i come across the likes of friday night lights & sunday morning sermons faith, ritual & belonging in dillion texas. To me, that promises vague reflection & minimal insight. Why not how friday night lights treats football like church. That headline is a clear articulation of a specific argument, giving me a good sense of what ill get from reading the post 4) How easy is it to parse?; consider the cognitive load your headline places on users. The more complex the headline, the more difficult it will be for users to parse, the more likely they are to overlook it. Try to keep your headlines straightforward & unadorned. Use concise & familiar words, if possible -The multi-part headline laden with $10 words is a killer. Right now, with the debt ceiling talks in the news, im seeing a lot of these: legislators, loopholes, & liabilities: why debt negotiations have become the schylla & charybdis of u.s. Politics (if you find yourself writing a colon in your headline, look critically at what comes before it. Does that little preamble really made the headline better) its a bit easier for users to swallow something like "why our politicians cant reach a deal the debt 5) Could it benefit from a number?: as much as writers chafe against the much-derided listicle the fact remains that we love numbers in headlines. Numbered lists promise not just a lump of information, but a specific series of insights. In some cases, they even connote hierarchy, & hey, it worked on you with this article, didnt it? -Writing a post as numbered list can often help make it more compelling when the elements are difficult to cohere in a more straightforward way. Writing an analysis that wraps up the positive & negative portents for the presidents re-election campaign? You could take a cue from marc ambinder & write 6) Are all the words necessary: omit needless words said strunk & white if you apply that guideline to only 1 aspect of your writing, let that be headlines. In several of its potential destinations google, twitter, facebook, etc. a headline thats too long will have to be truncated to fit. Plus, shorter headlines are typically easier to parse -In retrospect, we could easily have condensed the headline by changing from progressive to past tense in berestein rojas post about jose antonio vargas, referenced above. Why a pulitzer winner came out as undocumented is just as good, & slightly tighter 7) Does it obey the proper noun rule?: name the known, omit the obscure. If the subject of your post is well-known to the audience you care about, feel, free to include the subjects name in the headline. But an unfamiliar name might encourage many users to skip over the item -There's no use in writing a post about sarah palin called the many travails of an alaskan ex governor. At the same time, unless you write for a trade publication about military infrastructure, its probabley best to keep the name of that assistant deputy under secretary in the body of your story -Pro tip: sometimes names might be unfamiliar to many users, but still a big draw for a fraction of your audience, & you might be tempted to keep them in the headline for the sake of search engine optimization. If you use a CMS such as wordpress, you might be able to alter the permalink for your post to add the name to it. This will make the name prominent for search engines, but less prominent for users 8) Would it work better as an explanatory headline?: gawker media CEO nick detention said it this way: when remotely possible, turn news into explanation, if youve got a scoop that, is breaking news of compelling interest a news headline works well. But in most other scenarios, an explanatory headline might trump a straightforward heres what happened hed. Even when reporting breaking news, if its already widely reported, take an explanatory approach in the headline -As i write for example, news sites are filled with headlines reporting that republican & democratic leaders have offered up dueling deals for handling the nations debt. Pursuing google news, the news headlines all run together at some spin on boehner reid unveil rival debt plans. At the moment a headline such as how boehner & reids rival debt plans compare could cut through the clutter 9) Does it focus on events or implications?: as well as explaining the news, addressing the implications of the news can also help a post stand out in a chrowded environment, try focusing not on whats happened, but on what it means. If we dont yet know this, try making the headline interrogative; ask what the implications are. (will congress rival debt plans help or hurt chances of a deal) -That leads me to a slight side note about interrogative headlines: do they work? Ive found they do. As i look at the leading headlines on the argo networks chartbeat account this very moment, the top item is in question- for at risk youth is learning digital media a luxury? Its followed closely by what killed google health? & what does its ultimately demise mean? & what is the california dream act? Etc. but i dont have any evidence that the question hurts or helps the posts appeal -But remember that bit about your headline making a compelling promise? The implicit consequence is that you have to deliver on your promise. So if you sdk s question in the headline, your post should either answer the question or frame & encapsulate it in a compelling way 10) Could it benefit from one of these 10 words?: when im stuck on a headline i often refer back to this list of words: top, why, how, will, new, secret, future, your, best, worst -Each of them has different metris. Many of them reinforce the advice i offer above. Why & how for example help to frame the headline as explanation (when & what also work well for this). Top, best, worst are natural partners with a numbered headline. Some of them tap into universal desires: we all want access to "secret" knowledge, & we all want to know the future. Words like your help me to reframe wonky, technical headlines around what they might mean to the user -With that, im going to go back & retitle this post: the 10 secrets that will lead to top headline success in your future, or not.
get your books ready help me with pg 265 below, they have three major parts
1) Lead: the hook, first few paragraphs stage is set; statement of purpose, what youll will teach them 2) Middle (outline) what how? & step by step process; explain all steps; share tools/supplies needed 3) Closing or ending: weaves it all together; recaps repeats final advice, troubleshooting
trend
A trend feature will highlight something new & exciting in modern culture. Your editor might feature this type of feature in the lifestyle, fashion, or entertainment section. It'll detail things like when this new trend popped up, why people are embracing it, & where they will start to see it
6) ask open-ended questions
Ask open ended questions & not questions with yes/no answers instead of: were you scared, ask how did you feel when that incident occured? You can always rephrase a question if you didnt get a complete answer. Its better to have many quotes to choose from than too little to work with
shut out the noise
At some point, you have to quit reading other writing & talking to other people. Your voice is within you have to listen for it.
beware of roadblocks
Avoid bureaucratic writing that relies on news speak or official jargon. Make sure you have enough details or understanding to write with authority. Dont use too many quotes & facts to simply string a story together. Select the details that let you tell the story for yourself.
how to become a journalist
But there are some basic steps that will ensure youll not only get the quotes you need from every interview but learn to enjoy the process even the dreaded phone interview. Here are 10 tips to get you started
where might you find ideas for these type of articles?
Ideas for seasonal articles can come from a plethora of places such as, common knowledge of specific holidays that happen over the course of the year, from school and learning about new seasonal features, even observing specific ethnic groups or through the media. With the days we are living in with the evolution of technology, it is very easy to find out new information and become aware of new seasonal occurrences as the media is so widespread and used daily by the general public. Even for me personally, just being a Ramapo student, I am always finding out new information regarding events going on in the world around me from other students' prior knowledge or professors. The more people I surround myself with the more likely I am to find out and uncover new information from knowledge someone else had that I didn't have.
dont be afraid of opinions
Instead of presenting hard hitting facts as you might in a typical news story, youre able to take on a bit of a persuasive bent & pose a few rhetorical questions in features. Avail yourself of the added freedom to write a feature that you would want to read if you were on the other side of the print
Interviewing
Interviewing is a great way to learn detailed information from a single individual or small number of individuals. It is very useful when you want to gain expert opinions on the subject or talk to someone knowledgable about a topic
9) record the interview
Its a good idea to record your interview, whether in person or over the phone & theres an abundance of apps & devices available. This way you can relax & listen instead of scribbling away frantically in undecpherable shorthand. youre also guaranteed accuracy, & able to quote verbatim. Just make sure the app is working before the interview, & tell the person being interviewed your recording
get inside the head of the persons your writing about
Journalists inhabit other peoples lives. Ask the questions that help you discover who they are, what they love, what they fear
7) timing
Let people pause, dont feel you have to immediately fill the silence, as they may be on the brink of saying something profound. But do ask a follow up question if an interesting & unexpected point comes up. Just remember to go back to your list of questions after to make sure you cover everything. If the person stays far off topic, then its perfectly fine to briefly jump in & steer them back on course. & if theres something you dont understand ask for clarification
allentowns witches night out
October 27 Grab your sorceress hat & broom for a wonderful night of witchy wonders. This years agenda is still under wraps, but past years have included a victorian-themed murder mystery theater, witches hat contest, scavenger hunt, refreshments & more
phone interviews
Phone interviews can be used when you need to interview someone who is geographically far away, who is too busy to meet with you to talk, or who does not want to use video or internet based technology
how to write a lead introduction
The lead or opening paragraph is the most important part of a news story. With so many sources of information, newspapers, magazines, tv, radio & the internet audiences simply are not willing to read beyond the first paragraph & even sentence of a story unless it grabs their interest. A good deal does just that. It fives readers the most important information in a clear, concise & interesting manner. It also establishes the voice & direction of an article
useful feature writing tips
The leeway an author is given in the style of a feature article is much greater than in other types of news writing. Human interest is key. You want to lure readers into a particular setting & allow them to partake in an experience
anatomy of an article headline/title (chap 1)
The name you give to your article (may be changed by editor/publication
defining feature writing (chap 1)
-Feature: a special part of something, "feature articles are often special portions of the periodicals that publish them" (p.7) -characteristics: 1) Above & beyond hard news 2) Demand reader reaction (emotion) 3) Emphasis on the unconventional/different 4) Someone or something offbeat or entertaining (ex. J monotone) 5) Tell about the human condition -Feature writing= "creative, subjective article writing that is designed to inform and entertain readers." -Per writer daniel willamson, features differ from straight news because: 1) Include more creative energy, more freedom 2) Less objective, often w. Writers P.O.V. & personal reactions/opinion in addition to those of sources 3) Remain informative 4) Must entertain reader -Features have a longer shelf life can be stored & used when space avail -Writer benton rain patterson has 3 basic rules for features (pp.7-8) 1) Put people into the story 2) Tell a story (narrative voice) 3) Let the reader see & hear for him/herself -Features are describes as "often factual short stories written in active voice"(p.8) -Some say they fall between news writing & short story writing
live in
-Features are "day in the life" stories. They detail what its like to be someone for a day, or what its like to be somewhere for a day. You can cover anything from a county jail, to a posh mansion on the upper east side of manhattan, to a corporate office environment, & more. The topics are endless. -What youll do is spend a day interviewing, exploring & shadowing someone elses typical day. This is where your short story skills will come into play. Youll take readers on a journey to some setting they may never personally experience &, in doing do, youll expand their horizons
types of interviewing
Several different types of interviews exist. You should choose one based on what kind of technology you have available to you, the availability of the individual you are interviewing, & how comfortable you feel talking to people
types of feature articles
Since these articles can highlight a person, place, or event there are a few different styles of feature articles
What are some examples of seasonal features?
Some examples of seasonal features that we spoke about specifically in class are back to school as that only happens once a year after summer vacation when students get back into the school grind, specific holidays that are only once a year like St. Patrick's Day (which is the latest upcoming one) or the Fourth of July. These articles are seasonal as they aren't as relevant, during certain times of the year except when the particular time period rolls around and it is acknowledged once again like in the fall during pumpkin spice season, that is when it becomes popular again and spoken about. Seasonal features are always something I personally look forward to as the time period rolls around and it brings back nostalgia for me when looking back on particular holidays or seasons that are core memories to me once a year.
8) tackle controversy towards the end
Tackle something controversial once youve covered the basics & have a few quotes, just in case they refuse to answer, become hostile, or even storm off, you could frame your question in many ways, such as ,"mr jones said your overreacting how would you respond to that?"
how to write articles for magazines in 4 steps (plus tips)
-Writers have the opportunity to create content for a wide variety of publications, such as newspapers or magazines. Each publication has ita own distinctive style & form of writing. Learning how to write articles for magazines can help you succeed in this niche & make you a more competitive candidate for available roles -In this article, we discuss the benefits of writing articles for magazines, explain how to write articles for magazines, provide tips to help you start your career in this field & answer frequently asked questions about this career path
What to avoid
1) Flowery language: many beginning writers make the mistake of overusing adverbs & adjectives in their leads. Concentrate instead on using strong verbs & nouns 2) Unnecessary words or phrases: watch out for unintentional redundancy. For example, 2pm wednesday afternoon, or very unique. You cant afford to waste space in a news story, especially in the lead. Avoid clutter & cut right to the heart of the story 3) Formulaic leads: because alot of news writing is done on deadline, the temptation to write tired leads is strong. Resist it. Readers want information, but they also want to be entertained. Your lead must sound genuine, not merely mechanical 4) It: most editors frown on leads that begin with the word it because it is not precise & disorients the reader
feature writing today (chap 1)
1) Getting started, "start by writing what you know." (p. 8) -Interests, hobbies, experiences, expertise, obsessions does anyone have 1 or more? 2) The right idea at the right time is key. 3) Knowing what really motivates you as a writer is also important
parts of a feature story (chap 1)
1) lead (same definition) 2) engine paragraph (gives reader payoff, sets up story) 3) body: expansion of story
preparing your articles considering structure (chap 1)
1) lead/1st paragraph: focal point, states the point of the entire story 2) second paragraph: takes some info & adds to it (keeps reader reading) 3) body: adds detail to whats been presented: supporting evidence, context, quotes & other description
other story structures (chap 1)
1) narrative: uses storytelling techniques 2) eyewitness accounts: reporters insights if there, reporter collaborates with witness, goes beyond basic interview 3) bullet: various unrelated events listed with bullet points (usually used with summary lead) 4) micromacro: (used by WSJ) begins small ("micro") w. pearson
types of lead paragraphs (chap 1)
1) straight news lead: just the facts approach (p. 161) 2) summary lead: covers more than one major fact, outlines the full story 3) direct address lead: writer speaks directly to reader, "you" (common in feature stories, less common in news)
setting up an interview
When setting up an interview, be sure to be courteous & professional. Explain to the person being interviews who you are, what you want to talk them about, & what project you are working on. Dont be discouraged if not everyone you contact is willing to be interviewed
be conversational
A feature article should always be very professional & buttoned up. However, since this is a human interest story & you want to draw readers into an experience, you dont have to be overly formal or stiff. Consider things like colloguialisms, first-person narratives, & an authoritative yet conversational tone
what is a seasonal feature article?
A seasonal feature is an article that corresponds with a weather season or a particular annual event or holiday that may only happen during a certain time out of the year. The reason for seasonal features usually corresponds with the time the article is written during a particular time of year that doesn't always occur.
a word of caution
-About nut grafs from james b stewart, a former wall street journal front page editor & successful nonfiction writer: dont let nut grafs tell the reader so much about the story that they have no incentive to keep reading. In his book, "follow the story: how to write successful nonfiction," stewart argues for nut grafs that accomplish the goals of the device, including "selling" the story to the reader by conveying its timeliness & importance while "preserving every bit of the suspense & curiosity so carefully cultivated in the lead." stewarts guidelines enhance rather than crush the story you want to tell include: never give away the ending of the story, anticipate the questions that readers might be asking early in a story & address them, give readers a concrete reason or reasons to move on -Heres a quick way to produce a nut graf for your next story: make up your mind what the story is about & why people should read it & then type that conclusion in one or two sentences -Experienced reporters say they find it helpful to constantly write & rewrite the nut graf through the course of reporting the story. Doing so tends to reveal holes earlier in the process & helps you avoid too many intriguing but tangential side trips
news
-Anytime you browse your favorite news outlet, youre bombarded with news stories. So, how is a news report different from a news feature? News features tend to root out in-depth details, such as the background & history of the people impacted by the story. They may also discuss the potential implications of the event -News features will highlight specific details that are otherwise glossed over in a shorter inverted pyramid article that places tremendous focus on the most important details
20 ways to generate article ideas in 20 minutes or less
-Are you looking for new ways to generate fresh article ideas? Here are 20 you can accomplish in fewer than 20 minutes each 1) Pick up any trade magazine lying around the house (perhaps even this one!) see that cover story? How can you modify it so that it appeals to a consumer magazine or newspaper audience? 2) Pick up todays newspaper & read a national story. How can you make it local? Alternatively, take a local news story from your neighborhood or regional newspaper. Can you find ways to make it a national story? 3) Think about the two biggest problems your facing right now. For example, say your struggling to find a job & because your always busy working or looking for jobs, you have no time for a social life & therefore no friends. Combine the two topics to come up with a clever idea. "7 ways your friends can prove key to your job search" could be one angle. "How is your job is killing your social life & what to do about it" is another. 4) Find the hidden charecter in a news story, profile, or narrative piece. The article may be about the star of the movie, the president, or a famous chef, but who is doing the important behind the scened work? Share what a day in the life of a white house staffer or sous chef looks like 5) Long in to twitter, what are the top five trending topics in your region, in your country & across the globe? Choose a few to write about 6) Look online for a list of upcoming things to do in your region (scan conference schedules, check special events etc.) what are the most popular events in your region? What topics are they focusing on this year? Are there any article ideas in there for you? Pitch stories about the subjects of those events to in-flight, trade, & specialty magazines 7) Think of a magazine or newspaper article that youve recently read. Consider what was missing from the story. What more would you have liked to know? What questions came up as you read the story 8) Picture yourself with all the time & money in the world to do whatever you want. Will you be found camping in the mountains, playing the piano, or learning salsa? Those are your potential interests write them down. Now ask yourself what else would you like to know about them. Pitch those questions aa article topics 9) Look on amazon for the latest books on topics that interest you. Pick a book & browser through its list of chapters for article ideas that you can give new slants & angles to. The bestseller lists are a good way to ascertain whats current & interesting to people at any given moment 10) The editorial staffs of womens magazines have known for decades what the online world is only just discovering. People love lists the longer, the better. So come up with 101 ways to do something, be something or know something, & you have a winner. Just remember to be clever. "101 ways to be happier" has been done 101 times. Be specific, too. Instead of "101 ways to save more this month" write, "101 ways i saved $1,389 in one month." 11) Find an old newspaper & skim through the headlines. What can you follow up on? Examples include a politicians campaign promises & whether they held true, or updates on people who lost their homes during a natural disaster 12) Test tips & theories offered by experts on how to solve problems. Choose 10 of the current most popular diets, for instance, & talk to dieticians to see if they really withstand scientific analysis. Or, in your own marriage, try out every relationship tip from the just released books on the market & see how they hold up in real life. Look through bestseller lists to find ideas for short stories 13) Find weird holidays, events, festivals, & carnivals around your area, or do a quick search on google to see if there are any major town or city anniversaries this year that you could write about the centenary of the local church or the 25th anniversary of the worst flood the community ever saw. Write about them individually or as a collection of strange events from your region 14) Look through a magazines classified ads. The ads specifically cater to the magazines audience, so for each ad, think about the problem its trying to solve for the reader & then write a pitch offering more tips to meet that particular need 15) Pick any subject (agriculture, education, engineering, neuroscience, community service) & do a quick google search to see how technology is changing these areas & what new technologies are on the horizon. Sign up for e-newsletters related to those industries to stay up to date on new research for future articles. Then write about them 16) Think of 2 jobs youve held over the years & tap into them for a story ideas. Were you a teacher in a previous incarnation? Use that experience with young children to identify the problems in that age group for a parenting or education magazine. Worked in tech support? What are the most common problems mac users face? Door to door salesman? Pitch a "get better at persuasion" article to a womens magazine. Human resource manager? Write an article on how you can motivate your kids to do housework 17) Remember those word games in which one person would come up with a word & then every other person would have to somehow come up with a related one? Play the same game with ideas. Think of a word, a sentence, or a phrase, & then come up with ideas related to it 18) Dig up your favorite photo album, an old magazine, or just pictures that are lying around the house. What sort of article could you write around these pictures? Of course, this completely depends on the images your looking at, but if you were to place these photographs on a magazine page, what article would they be accompanying? Would the photograph of you on a roller coaster be next to an article teaching readers how to slow down & enjoy life, or would it be about dealing with the fear of heights? 19) Pick any topic, say technology. Now generate ideas on this topic for different magazines. For instance, with technology, i might try to come up with ideas for womens magazines, young adult magazines, relationship magazines, or perhaps, even business magazines. Better yet, get really specific. Think of topics such as taxes, solar energy, or smartphones. What can you tell readers of a relationship magazine about smartphones? Readers of a business magazine? A personal finance publication? 20) Read through official reports to identify the latest trends. Check out the u.s. Food & drug administration, the federal communications commission, & the u.s. Census bureau for facts, figures, & the most recent news for story ideas.
the nut graf tells the reader what the writer is up to
-Barney kilgore was tired of today. He was sick of yesterday. & in 1941, he had the power to do something about it. "It dosent have to have happened today to be news, he declared. "If a date is essential, use the exact date. From now on, he decreed, the wall street journal would no longer use the words "today" & "yesterday" in the leads of stories. What that single act, kilgore, the new managing editor of the wall street journal, paved the way for a revolutionary treatment of news -Journalistic story forms, like many creative ideas are often linked with the places where they originated or where they reached their zenith. Thats why the inverted pyramid, popularized by the newspaper wire services started before the u.s. Civil ware, is often referred to as an "ap story" or a "wire service approach" -In the same way, the wall street journal is home to a form best known as the "nut grad" story, although it also identified as the "news feature" & the "analytical feature". This genres hallmarks include anecdotal leads that hook the reader, followed by alternating sections that amplify the storys thesis & provide balance with evidence that presents a counterthesis. But its chief hallmark is the use of a context section, the "nut graf" in newsroom lingo. Now newspapers & magazines around the world publish stories following the form that emphasizes explanation over information & understanding over knowledge. Online news stories also rely on this form -The nut graf tells the reader what the writer is up to; it delivers a promise of the storys content & message. Its called the nut graf because, like a nut it contains the "keral", or essential theme of the story. At the philadelphia inquirer, reports & editors called it the "you may have wondered why we invited you to this party?" section
overview service features
-Chap 13: service features (text: professional feature writing) -Their function (pg. 256) -Offer them something useful -"Help readers to make better decisions as consumers, to take better care of themselves, to improve relationships, to make things & cope with 'realities of everyday life" -Help to reader to cope with aging parents, aging self, serious illness, unemployment, change of address or life -Might inspire reader to contribute to society through volunteerism or writing to congress -The best service articles provide information, which results in action or behavior change on the part of readers.'
bring in opposing viewpoints
-Conflict & change lie at the heart of many of the best personal essays, & one way to highlight that conflict is to include an opposing point of view. For instance, you might want to write about a quirk of yours something you always do, never do, love to do, or hate to do. Maybe you wear heels everywhere, or youd drive two hours just for a fresh mango. But if its quirky rather than, say, forbidden, the piece has no tension. You can create conflict, however, by bringing in someone who objects to that quirk. I like, for example, to do what i call piddling taking time to putter around & check my mail, refold t-shirts, collect pennies from my dresser & drop them in the alhambra jar marked "college fund" & in general, piddle around with my stuff -By itself, this isnt all that interesting. But my husband, bill is the weekend warrior who dosent understand the need to piddle, who wants to go for a cartons of books to the used bookstore. Now theres conflict opposing viewpoints on worthwhile ways to spend our shared weekend afternoons. Conflict dosent have to be heated or serious to make a peice entertaining or authentic is simply has to be present
highlight divisions or categories
-Creating unexpected groupings by dividing people into unusual categories can yield an angle that both lends humor & invites readers in as they think about which group they belong to -In our earlier example, calbert used this angle when she divided the male population into "men" & "guys". In another, steven lewis writes in the last word column of ladies home journal: the world can be divided into those who will let a telephone ring off the hook when they are even mildly indisposed & those who would cheerfully trample small children & flower beds rather than let it hit the third ring -When you use categories as your angle, you have the option of being either an observer or a participant, in which you add an additional twist by including yourself in one of the categories. I took this approach in a piece dividing the world into scolders, who frequently correct others who are breaking the rules, & scoldees (like me) who frequently need correction
the power of leads
-When journalists talk about beginnings of stories the word they use is lead. Sometimes it's spelled "lede," a throwback to the pre computer age when the word for first paragraphs had to be distinguished from the word for first paragraphs had to be distinguished from the word for the molten lead used to print newspapers. Leads are the foundation of every news story, no matter what the medium -An effective lead makes a promise to the reader or viewer: i have something important, something, interesting, to tell you. A good lead beckons & invites. It informs, attracts & entices. If theres any poetry in journalism, its most often found in the lead, as in the classic opening of what could have been a mundane weather forecast
find an angle to bring your subject to life
-Here are some ways to find angles that will lend focus, originality, & appeal to your personal essays -Have you every poured your heart into a personal essay only to find the piece has grown like an untended plant? You really have no idea where to begin, where it should end, & what goes in the middle. The problem isn't with your subject, the problem is that you don't yet have an angle -You find the counterpart of the angle in every form & genre. In books, its called the premise (a woman works her way through julia childs cookbook in a year). In advertising, its called the handle (trix are for kids). In movies, its the concept (human invade the magical habitat of peaceful blue beings on another planet). In an essay, an angle is the controlling idea -Say you want to write an essay about how you love to cook. You have a subject, but you dont yet have an angle. Subjects invite you to write & write but give you no particular direction in which to take your writing. Angles, on the other hand, tell you exactly what to write & thats what makes them so essential. An angle for a piece on cooking could be that for you, reading recipes is like reading one-act plays & preparing the dishes is like acting out the scenes. If you ask a group of people to write about the contents of their closet, each person would like to approach the same subject from a different angle. One might say, "my closet is full of clothes bought for another woman." anothers take might be, "my closet does not live in the present. It lives in the past" -An angle always includes an element of suprise. For her piece in the modern love column of the new york times, cathleen calbert put the angle in the first line: "ive never liked men. I like guys." calbert surprises her readers with a twist, a conceit, that grabs their attention long enough for her to say what she wants to say. In other words, when you begin to craft a personal essay, you cant just blurt out what comes to mind. You need an unexpected way of approaching your subject -Once you have a good angle, the actual writing is a snap, because you know what to put in & what to leave out. In fact, once you have an angle, what often follows is the easiest thing in the world to write: a list, if your angle is that your closet lives in the past, you might start with the fur, then move on to the lambertson truex handbag, showing how each represents an earlier version of you
bmw winners on leads
-I look at leads as my 1 frail opportunity to grab the reader. If i dont grab them at the start, i cant count on grabbing them in the middle, because they'll never get to the middle. Maybe 30 years ago, i would give it a slow boil. Now, its got to be microwaved -I dont look at my leads as a chance to show off my flowery writing. My leads are there to get you in to keep you hooked to the story so that you cant go away -Theres that litting thing called a lead. I know that i dont spend as much time on leads as i used to. We make a mistake when were younger. We feel compelled to hit a home run in the very first sentence. So we spend a lot of time starting at the typewriter. Ill settle for a quiet single, or even a long foul, anything that gets me started. When i talk to young writers, thats the most sensible advice i can give them. Perfect anecdotal leads are so rare." -I often want to start in the moment, & start with the tension up front my concern all the time is to bring readers in, to bring them in really fast." -Usually i write a lead & say to myself, well thats a better ending than a lead, so ill put that one away & try to come up with a different lead -The lead is more important because you will never get to the end if you dont have a good lead -My advice to young people is to know your ending before you start writing I search for a lead, i guess ive always been a believer that if ive get two hours in which to do something, the best investment i can make is to spend the first hour & 45 minutes of it getting a good lead, because after that everything will come easily -I might write the first sentence 10 different times. Take a look at it, & its not quite right. Its the right thought, but its not the right wording. Or its the right wording, but its not the right thought." -I have to have a lead or i cant write anything. I have to have my first sentence, because thats my whole piece. Thats the tone, that says what is this piece about, its the theme, the thing by which everything hangs. If i dont have the first sentence, i just cant keep going forward -The way i start writing is always the same. I sit down at my typewriter & start typing. I sit down at my typewriter & start typing. I start to babble, sometimes starting in the middle of the story & usually fairly quickly i see how its going to start. It just starts shaping itself on the typewriter." -Dont bury your lead... the hook, the thing that makes the reader interested in reading the story. Hit them with the news, the peg? Why are you writing this story? Whats it all about?
contrast your tone & subject
-If an angle is always a kind of surprise (whether its an approach, a comparison, or an idea), then it follows that a surprising tone can be an angle in itself. We expect a new mother to talk sentimentally about giving her baby the care he needs. Instead, my student bernadette glenn took a tone that highlighted her contrarian point of view: i had to face the misery of filling the day with a boisterous, self-centered little bully who had no control over his own bowles, never mind his emotions. I had imagined a small period of rest every day, but he was outgrowing naps, & he drolled on the newspaper & punched me if it looked like i was not paying attention to him. -This approach makes us perk up, not only because were surprised that a mother would talk about her baby this way, but because were engaged by her irreverance. One way to practice this angle to write about something you hate as if you love it, or vice versa
10 interviewing tips for journalists
-Interviewing subjects is an important & often unavoidable step when writing articles. Here, alison hill offers 10 interviewing tips for journalists -Journalistic interviews can run the gamut from a casual conversation to light interrogation. The main purpose of all interviews whether soft or hard journalism is information mining & quote fishing. Interviews, as they say, are the mainstay of journalism. A good quote fleshes out an article adds credibility, emphasizes the point of a story, represents an opinion, provides important facts & information, or offers a counter argument -Interviewing is a learned skill & takes many years to perfect, & most of us are still mastering the art. Its also a matter of style & how you come across in general. Are you pushy & stand offish or an empathetic listener? People pick up on these vibes
the nut graf has several purposes:
-It justifies the story by telling readers why they should care, it provides a transition from the lead & explains the lead & its connection to the rest of the story, it often tells readers why the story is timely, it often includes supporting material that helps readers see why the story is important -Ken wells, a writer & editor at the wall street journal, described the nut graf as "a paragraph that says what this whole story is about & why you should read it. Its a flag to the reader, high up in the story: you can decide to proceed or not, but if you read no farther, you know what the storys about." -As the name implies, most nut grafs are a singly paragraph long -The nut graf can be longer than one paragraph but in a news story id argue that they shouldent be longer than two or three paragraphs. Longer than that, & the story can bog down -When the writer needs to do instead is anticipate the readers reaction, every step of the way. Thats where the nut graf comes in, stepping back from the individual case or scene or person to show where it fits into a larger picture. As jack hart, editor & writing coach at the oregonian, described so well, the nut graf is "a core statement that answers the basic question lurking in the mind of every reader: "why should i bother with this story?"
seasonal features examples haunted attractions sure to scare NJ this fall
-Itching for a good scare this halloween season? Look no further than these haunted attractions located all over New Jersey -Creepy walking trails & corn mazes play host to eerie shadows sure to set off your giht or flight reflexes, while a drive through adventure gives participants a little distance from the frights -Wherever you decide to go this fall, we wish you luck in dodging those demons
feature styles (options for leads) chap 1
1) anecdotal: begins w. A story & usually follows w. Supporting facts; quotations, anecdotes & facts weave together 2) suspended interest: writer leads readers through story by raising questions & unsolved puzzle; ends w. Story being resolved in unexpected way 3) the question & answer (Q&A): usually begins with explanatory paragraph, then interviewers questions are followed by interviewees answers verbatim - feature writers need to care more about how story ends
tips on writing a good feature article
-Like most articles, a feature story follows a specific format & outline. There will always be a title/headline, deck, introduction, body & conclusion. A good feature article contextualizes the story so its relatable & immediately relevant to the reader. Why should they care? Whats the angle? What direction are you taking? -In a way, a notable feature article will resemble a short story. You want tension & plot, a sense of progression, with some sort of payoff toward the conclusion. Who are the "charecters" in your story? What is the central conflict? For more on that, check out get creative: how to write a short story 1) The headline: should grab the readers attention quickly so they'll keep reading. It needs to highlight the general topic of the story. If your featuring a person, dont just use their name as the headline. Include a unique detail that will be uncovered as they read on 2) The deck: also kown as a subhead or standfirst is your second chance to entire readers. While the title of the article will pop with a unique angle, the deck consists of one or two short sentences that'll leave no question in the readers minds; they must read this article it should capture the gist of the story 3) The introduction: Your ability to "hook" readers into the story continues in the introductory, or first, paragraph. The introduction should tell the reader why this story is important or worth their time, but in a sort of oblique way. This is your last chance to "hook" a reader before they flip the page or click away. Be sure to keep your sentences short use this as an opportunity to say something attention-grabbing or something that'll spark the readers interest. Always remember the way is important. You establish the tone of your article in the introduction 4) The body: of the feature should be broken into sections with several headings for easy organization, this section contains most of the details of the story. It includes names, places, times & quotes related to the person, event, or organization. The opinions of the writer, those at the location of the story & experts are presented in the body of the article. This is also the place to include any pictures that illustrate the story, as well as diagrams, charts, & other visual elements 5) The conclusion: should leave a lasting impression on the reader & provoke some sort of reaction. It should prompt action on the part of the reader, encourage a change of opinion, or encourage the reader to make a decision
lessons from article #1-2 what did you learn from writing article #1? lessons
-Shortening paragraphs helps (espec. For mobile use) -Including more facts & stats (hyperlink to source) -Not relying solely on interviews (mix in facts) -Using shorter direct quotes (breaking up more) -Trying not to fit too large a topic into too short an article -Making sure all important info. Is at the top (strong start/hook reader) -Using a more conversational approach via contractions. You can break a rule here & use its for example, instead of it is. That simple change makes it sound more conversational to the reader -Citing sources within the text via hyperlinks & or intro phrases
lessons from article #1, what did you learn from your writing article #1, lessons
-Shortening paragraphs helps (espicially for mobile use) -Include more facts & stats (hyperlink to source) -Do not solely on interviews (mix in facts) -Use shorter direct quotes (breaking up more) -Try not to fit too large a topic too short an article -Make sure all important info is at the top (strong start/hook reader) -Using conversational approach (via contractions: it's vs. it is) -Citing sources within the text via hyperlinks & or intro phrases (according to july 2020 issue of/article in)
5) avoid talking about yourself
-Small talk to ease the tension is acceptable, but please avoid talking too much about yourself. Mention your a mom if it helps build a rapport, but do it briefly, & then get back to the job -Good journalism is often a quiet art you must allow the interviewee to tell their story without interruption, especially if its traumatic. Avoid talking over people & making comments during an interview or referring to things in your own life. A nod to indicate your listening & good eye contact is enough. Dont look down at your notes when theyre talking, you can glance at them during a pause in the conversation. Theres nothing worse than revealing your soul & realizing an interviewer is only half listening & more interested in formulating the next question. People know instinctively if you really care, & if youre covering such a story, you should care
types of leads
-Summary lead: this is perhaps the most traditional lead in news writing/ it is often used for breaking news. A story about a city council vote might use this "just the facts" approach. Straight news leads tend to provide answers to the most important three or four of the five w's & h. historically this type of lead has been used to convey who, what, when, & where. But in todays fast-paced media atmosphere, a straightforward recitation of who, what, when, & where can sound stale by the time a newspaper hits the stands. Some newspapers are adjusting to this reality by posting breaking news online as it happens & filling the print edition with more evaluative & analytical stories focused on why & how. Leads should reflect this -Anecdotal lead: sometimes, beginning a story with a quick anecdote can draw in readers. The anecdote must be interesting & must closely illustrate the articles broader point. If you use this approach, specificity & concrete detail are essential & the broader significance of the anecdote should be explained within the first few sentences following the lead. -Other types of leads: a large number of other approaches exist, & writers should not feel boxed in by formulas. That said, beginning writers can abuse certain kinds of leads. These include leads that begin with a question or direct quotation & those that make a direct appeal using the world you. While such leads might be appropriate in some circumstances, use them sparsely & cautiously
what are seasonal features? they are articles
-That may signal upcoming change, such as the literal changing os the seasons (switching from summer break to fall classes, the end of daylight savings time) -That are "seasonal" in nature, meaning that they cover-time related, cyclical issues or events -That run during a special time of the year (fall fashion, summer vacation, baseball season) -That celebrate the regularity of life & can cover annual traditions from birthdays to graduations to anniversaries to special days that honor mothers, fathers & grandparents -That cover traditions & celebrations, both secular & religious
per myrick land, there are a number of leads that can include description & detail
-The anecdote -The narrative series of examples -The first person -The straightforward statement -The surprising statement -The surprising quote -The question -The "you" or direct address -The quotation -The single example -The opinion statement -The general descriptive leads
3) have a list of questions ready
-Write a list of questions in a notebook or on a device, in the order you want to ask them. Start with softball questions just in ease in & break the tension. After all, both of you may be apprehensive. Be conversational but not too casual, your conducting an interview, not gossiping. -Always remember you are steering the ship. Those in an official role often try to control the conversation, especially with a rookie reporter. Dont let them. Be firm & take charge. If someone avoids the question, repeat it, & if they still dont answer, ask them why they refuse to answer? Put them on the spot. This is your job, & if theyre a public official or politician, they have a duty to respond to your questions, however uncomfortable
characteristics of feature writing, must include three major kinds of descriptions (chap 1)
1) description of action (events, what has happened, what people are doing) 2) description of people (help readers to see them) 3) description of places (describe surroundings for reader)
4) dont come across as a journalist
-The best complement i received as a journalist was from a source who poured his heart out for over 30 minutes & then suddenly paused, saying, "oops i forgot your a journalist, i shouldnt have told you that this was long before the famous hagrid lines in horry potter -So the key to being a good interviewer is to be so approachable, down to earth & attentive, that the person being interviewed forgets youre a journalist -When covering a sensitive or controversial topic, sincerity, humility & compassion go a very long way. People can see through bravado & ego & know when a journalist is just after a sensational soundbite. When interviewing those who have experienced trauma, you should be reassuring, explaining the larger purpose of your project & make the person feel comfortable & safe so they can speak candidly. This is the only way to get honest, heartfelt answers rather than something rehearsed or guarded -If an interviewee says something is off the record, than always honor that request. But still try to get to the crux of the story & gently ask how much they are willing to share publicly -Of course each type of interview requires a different approach. For example you dont need to treat politicians with kid gloves. But always remember to be firm yet polite, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, as the saying goes
be topical
-The best way to get into print quickly is to hitchhike on the news of the day. Every editor wants to run pieces that are current. The governor of south carolina is on the appalachian trail, & you walked it once yourself. Swine flu is coming back? Heres the chance to send editors that essay on your near death expierence from a mysterious illness, or your formative years on a pig farm -When joe mcginnis book on senator edward kennedy caught flak for putting thoughts in the senators head, an enterprising writer for american way magazine wrote a piece in which he invented the thoughts of other famous figures, such as this imagined interior monologue of george washington crossing the delaware: "i cant believe this. Im their leader. I should definitely have a seat." add a topical angle to your piece, & you might be amazed at how quickly it makes its way through the submission pile & into print
reporting a trend: deconstructing a nut graf story
-The nut graf form is ideal for stories that report trends. In the 1900s when i covered family issues in washington for knight ridder newspapers, i relied on it for a story about the alarming increase of preteen dieters -In this story, the two-paragraph anecdotal lead is designed to draw the readers interest: "hey i thought it was a story about a woman dieting, but actually, its about a kid who lost an alarming amount of weight. Whats going on here?" -Its followed by three paragraphs the nut graf that step back & describe the trend illustrated by the lead, after the lead & the nut graf, the story consists of alternating sections all designed to samplify the storys focus
1) know your goal: whats the story?
-There are various types of interviews, including in-person, phone & zoom interviews, on-camera (in-studio or on location), man on the street interviews (vox pops), & the doorstep interview. You can also send questions in an email if you need just a couple of quick quotes to enhance a feature or blog -Whatever the nature of the interview, always be prepared. This means choosing a quiet location if its in-person (espcially if your recording), & a time when you wont be interrupted for phone interviews. Everything should be organized & checked beforehand so you can focus on your goal making the interview comfortable so theyll speak openly & answer your questions The length & intensity of the interview depends on the nature of your story, & how the interview is involved are they the main source or one of many experts? If its a profile or q&a, then naturally it will require a longer & more in-depth interview. If its a political or public official, youll probabley have some time constraints. So, make sure you know exactly what you need from your interview & book enough time
writing descriptive leads
-Three major types of magazine leads: descriptive, expository & narrative -Whats unique & advantageous about the descriptive lead? -It "draws the reader into the article by painting pictures at the outset"
elements/techniques service journalism (chap 1)
-Tip box -Sidebar -Bullets -Numbers -Boldface copy -illustrations/charts -subheads/subheadings
paint a picture
-To enhance the relationship with your audience, make use of creative descriptions that will draw on the readers imagination. Really paint the scene & work to contextualize what youre trying to say -If your interviewing a person, describe the setting. If your describing a major event, relay small details like the wispy pink sky & the smell of cotton candy in the air. The imagery that you create will captivate the reader & hold them with you until the end
ideas for seasonal features can come from a variety of places
-Wall & desk calendars (upcoming holidays & observations) -Regional & state holidays -Local libraries, schools (school calendars), museums, ethnic groups -Almanacs -Themed calendars/appointment books (star trek, harry potter, pop culture icons) with significant dates for certain characters or groups -One challenge of writing seasonal features is that so much has been written already. You have to figure out how to make the regular & expected new again for your readers
examples of seasonal feature coverage include (pg.169)
-Weather events: hurricane season, tornadoes, floods -Sports: spring training (baseball), march madness (basketball), winter olympics -Food: pumpkin spice season (fall), autumn squash soap, seasonal beers -Special clothing: fall fashion, back to school gear, swimsuit editions -Holidays: 4th of july celebrations, memorial day weekend trips, religious observances (easter, yom kippur, ramadan, etc) -Vacations: winter break, spring break, summer travel season -Family gatherings: birthdays, ethnic celebrations, family reunions, weddings -Health matters: cold & flu season, seasonal marathons, summer fitness trends
start with the opposite of where your piece will end
-When i wanted to write about how stupid my cat was, i couldent just blurt out: "my cat is really stupid. Let me give you examples." that might be a good subject, but its no angle. So i began with the opposite of a stupid cat: -I watched their national geographic show, the one that was a shameless ode to cats their wisdom, their aloofness, their mystery. I wanted to believe, but then i looked over at my cat, mike rapt in front of the reflection of the tv in the patio door... this angle, which i call the setup, provides a strong starting point. If your writing about a humiliation, you might start by being full of yourself. If your writing about bravely leaping from the tall rock into the pond, begin with cowering at the edge. This creates natural tension & guarantees that the piece will be about a change in the narrator. As with other types of writing, at the heart of many good personal essays is the story how someone changed under pressure
Sections
1) Quotes from experts support the storys thesis & demonstrates that this isnt merely the reporters opinion, but one backed up by authoritative sources 2) The story now provides balance by introducing a section that contrats the problem of dieting children with the very real problem of obesity among americas youth 3) This chunk returns to the main theme of the story. It buttresses the thesis by citing medical evidence & experts. The last sentence provides a transition to the next section 4) The following section amplifies the nut graf. With statistics drawn from a medical study, it tells the reader about widespread dieting among young people 5) The next section shows another face behind the numbers. Nut graf stories should never rely on one example 6) In the following two sections, the story alternates between the close-up & the wide shot. Specific examples are always related to the larger context. 7) The story comes full circle, returning to sarah, the child in the lead. It avoids a common flaw: introducing a character in the lead who is never seen or heard from again 8) Now that the problem has been fully explored, the story concludes with a section designed to answer the question on the readers mind: "what can be done?" - Many reporters, both students & professionals, have a hard time writing a nut graf. The nut graf requires the writer to summarize the story in a way that may seem like editoralizing. Its not. The critical thinking & analysis that the form demands must be supported by rigorous reporting. The nut graf makes a case, but it must be supported by evidence. The story about pre-teen dieting is based on numerous interviews with children, parents, doctors, nutrionists, psychiatrists, & other health professionals & on extensive research of medical literature
six guidelines for descriptive writing
1) Remember that you are the eyes, ears & nose of readers 2) Dont allow your presence to influence the subject 3) Gather an abundance of notes 4) Spread description throughout the story 5) A fine line exists between too much description 6) Never try to assume the role of their brain
tom wolfes four techniques of realism in writing
1) Scene by scene construction of events: descriptive technique that guides the reader through action, what is occurring 2) Full record of dialogue in the scenes: using longer passages of exact dialogue within article 3) Third person point of view: shows less involvement by the writer 4) Detailing of descriptive incidentals: (social autopsy) writer pays attention to minute details of sources life as a means of characterizing (describing) the person
tips for writing a lead
1) The five w's & h: before writing a lead, decide which aspect of the story who, what, when, where, why how is most important. You should emphasize those aspects in your lead. Wait to explain less important aspects until the second or third sentence 2) Conflict: good stories have conflict. So do many good leads 3) Specificity: though you are essentially summarizing information in most leads, try to be specific as possible. If your lead is too broad, it wont be informative or interesting 4) Brevity: readers want to know why the story matters to them & they wont wait long for the answer. Leads are often one sentence, sometimes two. Generally there are 25 to 30 words & should rarely be more than 40. This is learn how to deliver information concisely. The paramedic method is also good for writing concisely 5) Active sentences: strong verbs will make your lead lively & interesting. Passive constructions on the other hand can sound dull & leave out important information, such as the person or thing that caused the action. Incomplete reporting is often a source of passive leads 6) Audience & context: take into account what your reader already knows. Remember that in todays media culture, most readers become aware of breaking news as it happens. If your writing for a print publication the next day, your lead should do more than merely regurgitate yesterdays news 7) Honesty: a lead is an implicit promise to your readers. You must be able to deliver what you promise in your lead
notes for article #1 revision side notes
1) Think about the essence of your article, what are you really trying to convey to the reader.. Have you made that clear in your lead? Are you making promises that you can keep by the end of the article? What is your main message? 2) Unless you are writing a q&a article (which you will not for this class), you never want to include the actual question(s) that you are asking your subject, that takes away space form the article & it is just not necessary. The only exception might be in sharing findings for a survey or a poll 3) Remember to be selective with what you choose to use for direct quotes. Keep from fairly short, approx. one two sentences in length at a time. -You can also break up long quotes with your own narration & by paraphrasing some less important words 4) Consider using subheads, pictures, pull quotes (enlarged direct quotes) & other visual elements to break up your text. -& add captions to your pictures as well as photo credits
5 key questions writers should ask when revising writing
1) When revising, ask: is this tailored to the right audience or should I do some revising? Often when we write, we can get so caught up in what we want to say that its easy to forget to think about specifically who is going to be reading it. But consider this: if you were asked to speak about a certain topic, wouldent you tailor your speech one way if your audience was a group of first-grade boys and an entirely different way for a gathering of female civil enginners? Although you cant see it in front of you, the audience for your article or book is just as real & just as specific -How do you know who those readers are? If youre writing for a magazine or website, that publication or site is targeting a known demographic (if the audience isnt obvious to you, your editor what you should know about his readership). Reread your article & ask yourself if what youve written fits with the publications tone, taking special care if the audience is not one youre accustomed to addressing it can be easier said than done to strike the right note. For example, i once wrote a piece for a website geared toward hip millennials, & i was challenged by the editor to make my "lovely" piece more "playful, jokey & a little sassy." i thought lovely would work for this audience; the editor knew better -Maybe youre writing a nonfiction book & therefore dont have to conform to a particular publications demographic. You may even be thinking, i want my book to be for everyone! I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but burst i will. Book publishers want you to narrow down the field to a target market based on your topic & your platform. These things are typically discussed at the book proposal stage, & if you dont keep them in mind when you draft the manuscript, back to the keyboard you will go 2) When revising ask: have i chosen the strongest possible structure -Structure is critical to every piece of writing. Its the framework that holds your content together. It guides the readers along &, in doing so, subtly lets them know they can trust you. If your structure is weak, your writing will come across as being all over the place, & worse, the readers will probably not put much stock in what you have to say. In contrast, consider the subheads throughout this article & others in this magazine. If your structure helps readers know where theyre going & feel confident about the types of information & entertainment theyll get along the way, theyre most likely to trust you & what you have to say -Of course, its best to have a structure in mind before you write (though if you didnt, better late than never). When it comes time to revise, look at it more closely. Keep an eye out for inconsistencies. If you are writing a call-to action book, have you placed action steps at the end of all your chapters? If youre writing an article & four out of its five sections begin with anecdotes, can you retool the fifth to fit the mold? The result will be in a more cohesive piece that is harder for an editor to poke holes in 3) When revising, ask am i offering overall takeaways?: unless youre writing a memoir or personal essay, your nonfiction work is probably trying to convey information, be it historical, self-improvement, business-oriented, etc. does your piece do this, or have you gotten so carried away in making your points that you didnt tell the readers why this matters, or how to apply the information in their own lives? If youre writing an article about how to land your dream job, when the readers finish your piece, do they walk away with new insights & practical applications to pursue their own career goals? (its probably not enough for them to see only how you did it) if youre writing about the history of a country, does the reader leave with a new appreciation for or understanding of that culture? -If youre writing a memoir or personal essay, your piece may be more about inspiration or intrigue than information, but there should still be a takeaway perhaps that can be learned from the experience, or a poignant glimpse into human nature -In most cases, your book or articles title or subtitle is at the heart of the takeaway. A good gut check when youre revising your piece is to see if you executed your story in such a way that it lives up to your title/subtitles promise 4) When revising ask does each section or chapter have a clear purpose?: while there needs to be a main takeaway for your work overall, unless youve written a very short piece, you likely have structured your work in sections or chapters. Each of those too, needs a takeaway or main point -For example, in this article, were looking overall at how revise the way an editor would (the big takeaway), but each of these five questions gives a specific way to do that those are the minor takeaways. When youre revising, look at each section of your article or each chapter of your book & note what purpose it serves to the overall piece. If it dosent have one, it likely needs to be either revised or cut. Look for places where youre rambling or havent said something as succinctly as you could have -Finally, ensure also that the sections appear in an order that flows logically & easily from one to the next, without the content getting ahead of itself or becoming redundant When revising, ask: is my voice authoritative without being overbearing? 5) Now its time to get brutally honest with yourself. Where is your ego in all of this? Are you like the guy who is trying too hard to impress his date? You want your nonfiction to shine because of its content, not because you are so remarkable. This is true even if youre writing your life story. If the reader leaves your essay or book with the thought, wow she is such a fascinating person who dosent also think, & what fascinating story she has, you havent done your job. When i edited brad willis memoir warrior pose, i was intrigued by the astonishing things the author did when he was a foreign correspondent for NBC, traipsing around the world, covering war zones & areas torn apart by poverty or the drug trade. The author was interesting & immediately likeable, but it was the story that was so captivating -A successful piece of writing at ots core is about the content, not about you. & believe me as with the other points above, its better if you spot this & fix it before you submit; if you dont, your editor most certainly will
how to write articles for magazines
1) Write for a local publication: consider starting your career by writing for a local magazine. Writing for a small publication can help you gain entry-level experience before you pursue jobs at national publications. When you work at a smaller magazine, you may write about local concerts, plays, restaurant openings, or music festivals. If your unsure of what you want to specialize in, working at a local publication can help you develop an effective portfolio spanning diverse topics & styles 2) Research the publication: every publication has a target audience & a unique writing style. Once you know the magazine you want to write for, perform some online research. Read the magazines latest articles to understand the publications common topics, writing style, overall tone & target demographic Knowing this information can give you ideas on how to improve your own skill set. It can also help you highlight your relevant abilities & experience during an interview or when speaking to your prospective editor 3) Generate story ideas: prospective magazine writers typically story ideas to editors. Once you know the publication you want to work for, consider its unique style & recent articles. Then, find new story ideas that align with the magazines style & with what theyve covered in the past. Consider looking for story ideas in the following categories -Local events: think of any local events happening in your area, such as restaurant openings, town hall meetings or protests. Depending on your research, you can pitch a story that covers one of these events from a unique angle -Competing magazines: browse other local magazines to find story ideas for a similar audience. Use this research to find trends or subjects a competing magazine isnt covering -Recent trends: research current trends & consider pitching these topics of interest to magazine editors. Make sure your pitch gives the trend a unique or fresh perspective -Try to consider the fact that story ideas with a timeliness factor may improve your chances of an editor contacting you. Since magazines aim to plan months in advance, time your pitch & query letter accordingly 4) Draft a query letter: write a short formal letter to an editor that expresses your interest in writing for their magazine. If the publication has more than one editor, sent it to the person who accepts pitches for the storys topic Address them by their name, include the date & outline your pitch. Consider sharing work samples, preferably with links to your online portfolio. You can also include more than one pitch in your letter to increase the chances of getting a response
basic approaches to writing service articles
1) Writer as expert perspective: expert on subject writes about how to do it, communicate expertise 2) Someone else as expert perspective: more common approach requires you as writer to find one or more experts on a topic & relate in detail how she'he does the activity 3) Writer as source of generator of informational graphics devices: writer has responsibility of gathering info. For creation of lists, boxes, short sidebars, informational graphics, calendars, recipes, step-by step instructions
remember youre still a reporter
Dont forget to include all the facts & comment on the location of the story. Facts & statistics will add authority & context to your story. Extensive research is critical. You can also add sprinkle in relevant jargon to add authenticity to the facts as well as the opinions of those interviewed. The use of quotes from people involved makes your story more personal & real, eliciting an emotional response in the reader
10 thank you
End interviews with the question, "is there anything else youd like to add...." to give them the opportunity to reference something you may have overlooked. Check the interviewees basic information, including the correct spelling of their name, official title, the name of their organization of business & ask how theyd like to be referred to in the article & finally dont forget to say thank you
face to face interviews
Face to face interviews are when you sit down & talk with someone. They are beneficial because you can adopt your questioning to the answers of the person you are interviewing. You will need recording equipment for the interview & it is highly recommended that you bring two recording devices with you in case one fails
remember this dolly parton saying
Find out who you are, then do it on purpose
read over writing
Find the differences between an associated press story that uses a "just the facts" inverted pyramid approach & the story from a local news outline with context & perspective
scare farm
Weekends starting september 23 Steer clear of this spooky sight if you scare easily. Offering three attractions for the price of one, hillsborough's haunted farm has a creepy hollow, paranoia walking trail & the slayride one, hillsborough haunted farm has a creepy hollow, paranoia walking trail, & the slayride hayride
c.casola farms haunted attractions
Weekends starting september 24 Calling all creatures of the night to C. Casola Farms spooky activities, including zombie paintball, a haunted hayride of terror, a 3D haunted barn & the living maze
profile
Then, we have the profile. This is where you present an in-depth story about a person, organization, or event. There should be a history section, including their background & upbringing, education, challenges & life experiences. Youll also want to offer tantalizing behind the scenes details that people cant get through a cursory google search
use editors to hone your voice
They can listen & coach. However, you have to discover your voice. No editor can do that for you
2) do your research
Thoroughly research the interviewee, learn everything you can about them & how they fit into the topic youre covering. Know beforehand how this persons knowledge, story, or viewpoint will contribute to the piece. From your research you should already have a sense of what theyll say, just make sure you tailor your questions accordingly to get the desired response
field of terror
Weekends starting september 23 In addition to daytime activities, including a corn maze, pumpkin patch & haunted hayride, the kyle family farm will host ghostly night time events that promise to petrify patrons.
bloodshed farms
Weekends starting september 30 Drive through if you dare. Bizarre beasts will pop up when you least expect them on a terrifyingly fun trip through this frightening farm
how to develop your voice as writer
You probably became ware of a writers "voice" as a child, listening to stories read out loud or reading them for yourself. How do you develop you own voice as a writer? Lane degregory, a pulitzer prize- winning tampa bay times feature writer, suggests these strategies
how to article notes, writing how-to articles, they focus on how to do something, from 4 forms of service articles, how to article
explains how something is done (made, built cooked, protected, purchased) or otherwise accomplished
