Writing & Re-Writing. Who is James Lake? From Chapter 9? Someone tell me who James Lake is...

Writing & Re-Writing

Who is James Lake? From Chapter 9?

Someone tell me who James Lake is▪ How did James Lake become a feature article

writer

Writers Must be Versatile▪ To be successful

They must learn to▪ Write in different voices▪ Cover wide variety of topics▪ Deliver topics as expected by readers▪ Dry & newsy▪ Dramatic & suspensful

The New York Times Ran a front page story about a man

looking for ▪ Peking Man

Magazine Editor contacted James Lake▪ Wanted feature piece based on times story

▪ What did James Lake do in order to complete the assignment?▪ Including Word Count and time frame

Mens Magazines Despite their different voice & specific

audience Are just as strict on accuracy checks▪ As other publications

What do editors want to do to ensure that articles are publishable?

Editors want to ▪ Review Sources▪ Check for errors▪ Make sure there are no libelous statements

Some types of stories are flexible▪ When recreating scenes

Still require information based on existing facts

A good article▪ Needs to have ▪ An attention getting beginning▪ A good middle▪ A solid ending

▪ Additionally▪ Have clear writing▪ Accurate & thorough reporting

To become a great feature writer▪ You should absorb lessons, techniques & pitfalls

Revising Your Copy▪ One of the toughest things to learn

Good word order, Tone & Quality▪ Come after copy has been refined

Many writers have favor for initial writing▪ It’s tough to toss out what you thought was good▪ Multi-syllable words▪ Unnecessary adjectives

▪ We did peer critiques last week▪ What kind of feedback did you get?

In order to become a great writer You must▪ Learn to use words as tools▪ Stand back from your own copy▪ Study it on its structure and thoroughness

▪ Be able to spot your mistakes ▪ And weed them out

Tip for good writing▪ If time allows▪ Wait a couple days, then re-read your article

Useful Writing Devices▪ When re-writing these can help strengthen material

Be Specific▪ When possible skip generalizations▪ Be concrete – appeal to the 5 senses

▪ Example▪ Mary Jones was attacked by an animal

(General)▪ Marry Jones was bitten on the knee by a 110-pound male

Rottweiler (Specific)

Use Active Verbs Let your subjects DO something▪ Don’t let something be done▪ “The children cheered loudly”▪ “The girl pedaled furiously”▪ “The eyes watched intensely”

Choose verbs carefully▪ Is there a better one? ▪ Be creative, look for synonyms

Find the perfect one for your meaning

Brighten your article with quotes Readers like to hear people talk▪ Use quotes throughout▪ Don’t give the reader pleasantries & small talk▪ Quote authorities, experts, major figures▪ Make sure your quotes are meaningful

Use quotes▪ But don’t over do it▪ Too many quotes can ruin an article

Use characterization Readers also want to see the person▪ Describe the person▪ Give the reader a sense of who they are▪ Personality, appearance, etc▪ What they’re doing

Doing this well▪ Requires keen observation▪ Research & good questions

▪ Pay attention to your subjects and be thorough

Use anecdotes in your copy Giving a story to show your subject

▪ In action▪ Going through an experience▪ Dealing with life

▪ Keeps your readers interested To get info for anecdotes – Ask leading

questions▪ What’s the strangest thing that’s occurred on the job▪ What’s an embarrassing moment you’ve had

▪ However, many anecdotes come from just listening

Show, Don’t Tell▪ Use language to give the reader a visual▪ Remember from earlier - Be Specific

▪ (Ex, The professor acted strange…)▪ Does this give you a visual?

Describe Scenes▪ Use vivid details to put your reader in the scene▪ Strong scene and setting descriptions help immensely▪ Can also help hold readers attention

Use vivid figures of speech If using this, be creative, make sure it’s fitting▪ Avoid clichés▪ Avoid dull or boring statements▪ (ie, “That’s all folks”, “A friend indeed…”)

Use analogies▪ Comparisons that give readers understanding▪ Good ones can create amazing clarity in copy▪ Poor ones can confuse the readers▪ “The young man has the talent to be the next….”

Use Humor▪ For quotes and analogies (if applicable)▪ These can spruce up your copy▪ Be careful though

▪ Humor can be difficult ▪ Usually is poorly applied when forced

Use direct address Put your readers in the story

Use the question asking device▪ Ask readers a question▪ Then provide the answer shortly after

Use carry-over transitional devicesUse overlapping words or ideas

▪ Both are ways to bridge sections of your paper together

Use “Said” for attributions Keep it simple when quoting or referencing

speech▪ Don’t look for long synonyms or complex words▪ The basic “Said” is clear and easy

Above all▪ WRITE CLEARLY

Audience can’t read your mind They only have your words▪ Give them what they need for clarity & understanding

Avoiding Common Mistakes▪ Speling and grammer mistake can hapin too

enyone Take advantage of copy editors▪ Get feedback▪ Learn from your mistakes and improve on them

Writers who repeat the same mistakes▪ Will lose their sales, article placements or job

You must also learn when to use ▪ Formal, conversational, and informal language

Common writing problems▪ These often creep into general English

Eliminate Unnecessary Words Eliminate Clichés

▪ Needle in a haystack▪ Busy as a bee▪ Straight as an arrow

▪ If they sound too familiar avoid them

Don’t overuse adjectives & adverbs▪ They can be juicy for your copy▪ They also can slow the pace

Don’t use too many big words▪ You feel smart, but the reader quits reading

Don’t misuse words▪ A very common error▪ Use a dictionary when writing▪ Lie/Lay, Sit/Set, Affect/Effect, etc

Other things to avoid Jargon Sexist language Mind-read▪ Used when say a person feels▪ “The mayor feels businesses are struggling” Poor▪ “The mayor SAYS businesses are failing” Good

Partial Quotes▪ Get a full quote to give reader best understanding

More things to avoid▪ Redundancies▪ Switching tenses▪ Keep it consistent▪ Especially in the same sentence

▪ Inconsistent style▪ Grammatical errors▪ Exclamation points▪ Punctuation & quotation mark errors▪ Going comma crazy

All of you received at the beginning of the semester an AP style guide for writing feature articles for Magazines and newspapers

How many of you have referred to it when writing your articles?

Writing Subjectively▪ Many writers love opinion pieces▪ They allow you to incorporate your▪ Thoughts ▪ Viewpoints

To be successful you need to ▪ Be able to remove yourself ▪ Write based on facts & information

Even a well rounded writers▪ Have trouble “breaking in”

Some writers (especially reviewers)▪ Demonstrate their abilities for free or low pay▪ Build up a portfolio then get regular work

Putting It All Together Be able to ▪ Write for the specific audience▪ Be versatile

▪ Revise your copy▪ Using various writing devices

▪ Spot and avoid common mistakes▪ Spelling, grammar, etc

▪ Write subjectively▪ Opinion is easy