Feature Writing Part 3

8/12/2019 Feature Writing Part 3

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Feature Writing Part 3:

Creative Writing Devices

MEDIA WRITING LECTURE 7


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Housekeeping Assignment #1 is due next Friday, 12PM

Remember: Softcopy (via TIMeS) & Hardcopy (assignment,turnitin report, assignment cover sheet and assignment

feedback form/marking scheme).

Where to hand in hardcopy? Box outside Block C Level 9 (Turnright at main glass door, walk towards toilets, at the end ofthe passageway, there is another glass door. There will be abox on the left corner by that glass door.)

No LECTURE OR TUTORIAL next week.LECTURE SLOT= consultation hours (10-11.30AM LT22, I will be there).

No need consultation? Spend your free week wisely andcomplete the assignment well.


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Good writing requires good editing


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REVISING YOUR COPY

One of the hardest lessons to learn is how to reviseones copy.

Most writers, no matter how experienced they are,

find it difficult to put words to paper with exactlythe right order, tone and quality on the first try.

Therefore, they continue to polishand refinewhat

they have written.


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The refining process doesnt come easily.

Too many writers fall in love with their own language.

Once they commit it to paper, they cant bring

themselves to throw away this beautifully turned

phrase or that five-syllable word, or those scintillating,

unnecessary adjectives, no matter how inappropriate

the wording might be to the end product.


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As writers, you must train yourself to treat words as

tools, not as tiny mirrors to your own brilliance andwit.

You must force yourself to stand back from your own

copy and study it on its own merits.

In effect, each writer is his or her own worst enemy.

As any good professional can tell you, youll only begin

to improve as a writer only when you learn to spotyour mistakes and weed them out.


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Tips to better writing

Timecreates distance.

It allows personal enthusiasm to wane and

sharpens judgement.

If you arent pressed for time, take advantage of it.

Give yourself a mandatory cooling-off period.

Stack your copy and lay it aside for a few days.

When you come back to it, divorce your ego from

it. Try and read it as though it came from someone

elses computer.


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What can you do?

1. Examine your copy from several perspectivesaseditor, reader and critique.

2. Check the structureto see if it works.

3. Test each paragraph for flow and linkage to its

neighbours.

4. Study each sentence for weaknesses and make

sure you dont have any spelling or punctuationproblems.


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Remember that editing for the sake of editingaccomplishes nothingeach correction must improve

the copy.


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USEFUL WRITING DEVICES

Some standard writing devices that can strengthenyour material in the process of revision.


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Use the active voice

Its better to make the subject of your sentence dosomething rather than let something be done to it.

The man stabbed the childis stronger than

The child was stabbed by the man.

The first sentence is active and the second, passive.

But theres more to putting action in your verbsthan merely avoiding the passive voice.


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Be specific

Whenever possible, skip generalisation and beconcrete.

Tom Williams fell downis not as effective as

Tom Williams tripped on slab of concrete before losing

his balance and falling into the gutter


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Continued

Never settle for the first verb that pops into yourhead, if theres a better one available.

Look for verbs that are closer to your meaning.

Dont use shoutif what you really mean is bawlor

bellowor roaror shriek.

Check your thesaurus for synonyms.

Thumb your dictionary and thesaurus for words

with precise meaning.


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Use imagery

Remember that verbs can be abstract too.

The wind blew through the treestells the readersomething but not enough.

Was it a soft breeze? Try imagery.The wind

whispered through the trees.

Perhaps it was a heavy windThe wind trashed thetrees.

Either verb gives the reader a better clue than thefirst to the strength of the wind.

But if you use imagery, be selective.

Imagery should be used to illuminate, not to showoff.


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Brighten your articles with quotes

Your readers like to hear people talk.

If you are writing a profile about a specific person,by all means let the reader listen in on what theprofile subject has to say.

Quotes enliven your copy even if you arent writinga profile.

Use quotes freely but, again, be selective. Your story should not be all about quotes; quotes

enhance not monopolise the story.


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Use characterisation

Not only do your readers want to hear a person talk,they want to see the person.

Bring the people in your article to life. Allow

your readers to picture them vividly.

Give them a glimpse like the following excerpt:

Ken Johnson is a short, rumpled little man who wears a

green beret and his collar turned up. He has a fat nose and

big ears and he looks a bit like one of the gargoyles on the

Cathedral Notre Dame.


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Continued A writer can also give readers insight into a persons

character by:

showing the person in action

demonstrating the persons attitudes and personality

presenting significant biographical details

showing the reactions and comments of other people

If you intend to delve into a subjects character, youshould get to know the subject well.

Be observant when you go in for an interview.

Watch for mannerisms.

Make notes of things that impress you visually, aswell as taking down the subjects words


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Show, dont tell Dont be judgmental. If you tell a reader that a

person is friendly, or nervous, or angry, ordespondent, the reader may get some idea what youmean, but judgmental words represent differentthings to different people.

Show the reader. Show:

The shy smile

The shaking hands

The gritted teeth

The long, low sigh

Instead of writing The professor acted strange,sayThe professor drooled on his tie, staggered against the

blackboard and slid to the floor moaning


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Describe scenes

Vivid, brief descriptions of scene and setting can helpimmensely in holding readers attention and propelling themthrough a story.

Description can create atmosphere or mood without telling astory.

The jukebox is almost hidden under the stuffed head of abuffalo. Someone has dropped in a quarter and punched that

old western favourite, Laras Theme, by Roger Williams.Diners are sipping screwdrivers and martinis and whittlingon two pound T-Bones. Every so often there is a choink assomebody pops a beer top.


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Writing Exercises

Be Specific: Write the following in more specificsentences

Alison injured her knee after falling.

Ken is sad after failing.

Melanie raised her voice to her sister, Candice, during a fight.

George was frightened by the sound.

Luke was happy after winning the competition.


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Find more descriptive words for the following: at least 2

different words for each

Anger

Sad

Confusion

Upset

Content

Confused

Tired Run

Eat

Happy


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Write a 1 paragraph description of the following person

to make her look attractive.

40-year-old Sandy Atkins

Short

Average weight, small waist, wide hips

Doesnt smile a lot Wears boring clothes

Wears glasses

Chin length brown hair with a blunt fringe

Blue eyes

Has a hairy mole on right cheek

Large nose with wide nostrils

Documents

Feature Writing Part 3