Whether you are writing, editing, illustrating or shooting photographs for an article, the first question you have to ask is: What's the story? If you don't know, how can the reader? If you are writing a news story in the traditional inverted pyramid style -- who, what, where, why, when and sometimes how -- your organization is chosen for you. Answer those questions in 35 words or less and you've got at least a news brief. But you don't have a news feature or a magazine article.
A bit of print trivia for you: the inverted pyramid came about because of technology, not writing style. In the 1860s journalists covering the American civil war from the battle field filed their story by telegraph, which transported messages by electrical impulses over wires. Reporters wanted to get all the essential information out fast just in case the line went dead.
Magazine writing eases into the story, hooking the reader with anecdotes, description, quotes, questions or turn of phrase, providing pleasure and entertainment as well as information. But you still must know where you are going with your tale. Ask yourself why is this story being written? Collect and organize your information to that end.
But as I look over too many of the stories this fall, I get the feeling that they were written with a paintball gun -- splatters all over the place and no where near the assigned target.
You would have had better aim if you had talked out your story with the writing coach first. That would be me.
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7 comments:
As you said before, you want a story to grab the readers attention.
We where taught to write informative stories before. This new appeal is kind of new to us.
It would be great if everyone would have that writing structure. But its very hard to publish a magazine on time with the demand to expect perfect structured stories from all the students.
Dear friends,
While writing a story or choosing a topic, share it with the class and your instructor of course.
Live the story your writing and check every while with your teacher so that you wont suffer at the end. I did my group wise article and it was updated for 3 times and I'm still editing it now... Wish everyone all the best of LUCK :)
Yes, ZU mirror writers should ask themselves first "What things that i do not know about this topic?" so that they go, ask, and get answers to their questions which hundreds of students want to know too.
Thanks for the tips my friends. I agree with you all. I am working on the text message article right now, and I will interview some students in the canteen today. I think that this article would be appealing to all the students.
Stories ..... Stories are amazing they r perfect for imagination
I agree with Dr.J. It's important to know the aim and the core message of the story. otherwise, readers wont be able to know the story.
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