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Topic: What's your writing process?
| Author | Message |
| wareaglegal | Posted – 3/12/2008 3:27:01 PM | show profile Ok, I have the article's topic. Now what? I'm curious to get some feedback about how you guys map out an article. I procrastinate something fierce, and I'm trying to get a routine I can stick to going into this cycle. What works for you? |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 3/12/2008 4:43:13 PM | show profile This is kind of vague - do you mean what sources to contact? What questions to ask? I generally start by researching as much as I (feasibly) can about the topic. Say the story is about the closing of an inner city hospital, I'll see who else has written about this subject - other hospitals, other cities - and what they found. Look online and in back issues of other pubs if you can. Google it, look on message boards, etc. Then I plot out who I'm going to talk to: Hospital Admin, patient advocates, maybe a local politician or community group, someone in a health care think-tank-y style organization. Each time I interview someone I ask them: Can you think of anyone else I should talk to about this? I figure out what stats I'm going to want - what was the hospital' s budget, where did their funding come from, what were shortfalls, patient numbers, how many other urban hospiitals have closed in teh city or nationwide. You just have to launch into it. Good luck. |
| Righter | Posted – 3/12/2008 4:46:12 PM | show profile I agree that research is the first step. I find as I learn more about a topic I also get more questions that arise out of it, so that points me in the direction of who I need to talk to to get answers. |
| wareaglegal | Posted – 3/12/2008 5:02:06 PM | show profile I have my topic and my sources and I'm doing research now. But, I find myself just staring at the cursor on the blank page. I'm just trying to figure out if there's a specific technique you use to push yourself into getting started. An outline? First sentence? Last sentence? Subheads? |
| Johnny Boy | Posted – 3/12/2008 5:11:36 PM | show profile When it comes to procrastination.... ...a shut-off notice from the gas company usually works wonders. |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 3/12/2008 5:27:43 PM | show profile writing is the last part Do your research. Then organize your research. Then figure out how the story will flow, the order the reader needs to read things in order to understand them. Outlining is a good idea. I usually make a general outline as far as what topics and ideas I need to cover in a certain order and then, if it's more complex, I often make a more detailed outline with specific things I will use in each section. Done this way, when it's time to write, the article almost writes itself. Hope this helps. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 3/12/2008 6:01:38 PM | show profile Once I've gotten a great lede and kicker, it's easier to start...I don't map anything but do a lot of interviewing so I've generally got a few great anecdotes or quotes that add color to the basics. I also find once you've IVed enough people you have some sort of consensus about the focus of your story -- even it's the fact no one can agree -- and that makes it easier. Sometimes it's hard(er) to start if you don't have enough material yet. |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 3/12/2008 6:43:22 PM | show profile I'm confused - is all your reporting done? Have you done all your interviews? Once I've interviewed everyone I print out my notes for each source - and then I put them in a pile, in order of how I want to write. Reading through all my notes helps me decide what I want the lead to be, who comes next, nut graf, kicker, etc. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 3/12/2008 7:04:29 PM | show profile I'm with caitlin- once I have my lede, everything seems to fall into place somewhat easily. Then I write rough subheds, and take my electronic notes and divide portions of the interview and place them under those subheads. After I see what's left with my remaining notes, I can see what's missing from the story and any unanswered questions, and do more interviewing if I have to. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 3/12/2008 7:44:53 PM | show profile | email poster I never do the lead first. I don't know what it will be until I've gotten the research analyzed, which happens as I go through my notes. First, I type in my byline! No idea why, habit, but it reassures me each time! Then, I take all my research and I get it "in shape." I type it in, weeding out stuff that's not germane; as I type it in (or retype), I make sure each chunk is print-ready. In paragraphs, no typos, quotes attributed. In fact, if I'm doing whole interviews (if the article has more than one interviewed, especially) I do it like this: "First, I take all my research and I get it in shape," Schmoe said. "I type it in, weeding out stuff that's not germane; as I type it in (or retype), I make sure each chunk is print-ready. In paragraphs, no typos, quotes attributed," Schmoe said. "In fact, if I'm doing whole interviews (if the article has more than one interviewed, especially) I do it like this," Schmoe said. Sometimes to differentiate speakers in one document, I will highlight the copy from different sources at this stage. Later, the extra names and highlighting comes off. After this, I cut and paste the research -- facts and quotes etc. and group related research together in clumps. Then, I order the clumps -- first, next, last, etc. By this time, I have a stronger idea of the precise lead, and I develop that. Then I go through all of it, smooth the transitions, look for stuff that needs weeded out, holes. If I have questions that need answered, I write them at the top, above my byline, a reminder to do them. Throughout the process, I frequently read things aloud. This helps catch things that LOOK okay but aren't. Hope that helps! ------ http://writingporch.blogspot.com/ http://jlouiselarson.blogspot.com/ http://familyrootsandwings.blogspot.com/ |
| writesonwater | Posted – 3/12/2008 7:58:57 PM | show profile | email poster I blogged on this. Here's a link -- if you check it out, do me a favor and take the survey on where and when you write? ;) http://writingporch.blogspot.com/2008/03/whats-your-writing-process.html ------ http://writingporch.blogspot.com/ http://jlouiselarson.blogspot.com/ http://familyrootsandwings.blogspot.com/ |
| wareaglegal | Posted – 3/13/2008 10:47:26 AM | show profile Thanks so much! I always find it interesting to hear about various writing techniques. I've been doing interviews last, and kind of fitting them into the article, but I'm going to start this one off with the interviews and see if it's easier. I appreciate your input. |
| snappiness | Posted – 3/19/2008 11:28:52 PM | show profile It sounds to me like your problem is that you haven't found your "in" to the piece. When I'm struggling like that, it means I haven't got the hook, the angle, yet. I haven't found the thing I'm curious about. For me to be fully engaged by a piece, I have to find the hook, then it all falls into place. Basically, I'm trying to answer the question the article asks. Every good article is premised on a fundamental question that's set up in the lede. Until I find out what that is, I'm sort of lost. Or maybe the article topic is really boring to you. I hate when that happens. Then I just fiddle around with it, doing interviews and research, until I find enough of a hook that gets me interested. Sometimes it doesn't happen and then I just have to slog through it, and that's awful. I don't have a solution for that except to focus on the paycheck. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/20/2008 4:16:11 AM | show profile Yes and no. Sometimes I'll know what the piece is about, but I haven't discovered the best lead yet. In that case, I'll often write the nut graph or middle of the article first and the lead later. If I am doing a big project, 3-5 thousand words of more, I'll often just start writing a part that interests me and fit it in later. I do the same thing with novels. Utlimately, we all discover the right approach, and often the approach will differ depending on the project. --For me to be fully engaged by a piece, I have to find the hook, then it all falls into place. Basically, I'm trying to answer the question the article asks. Every good article is premised on a fundamental question that's set up in the lede. Until I find out what that is, I'm sort of lost.-- |
| snappiness | Posted – 3/20/2008 9:55:33 AM | show profile Wow, 5000 words?? Who's assigning that? I think I've done, like, one 5000-word piece (not package) in the past 20 years. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 3/20/2008 11:06:49 AM | show profile wraealegal, I often find the interviews give me a lot to work with -- a great quote or anecdote, even if you don't use it high up -- can spark a larger theme. I'm working on a story today that uses about 5 interviews and when 2 or 3 people at the same event focus on one aspect of it (as they have), it strengthens its importance, at least in this instance. That helps me decide how to shape the story. |
| womaninbooks | Posted – 3/20/2008 1:46:15 PM | show profile With something as big as 5000 words, it might help to write "notes to self" on index cards - either with source quotes or facts or whatever. Then I spread them on the ground and start puzzling them together to see what belongs where. I do this because I'm a visual person and when I sit at the computer these facts are difficult to rearrange. This way, I can slide the ideas around and often, the ideas for structure pop out at me better. |
| chucho | Posted – 3/21/2008 6:07:42 AM | show profile Build a skeleton first Start by writing everything you know about the topic that you want to include in the story in the style of a news article or feature. I place XX in spots where there is information I do not yet have but want to add and I keep writing. If you stop at an "XX" and look up the information (like the GDP of the state of Illinois, or whatever) you can lose your stream of thought. Just write: The GDP of Illinois is XX. Focus on the lead and the conclusion at this point. It's good to work out a lead when you don't have everything collected because the lead should be a simple, "general knowledge" introduction that serves as the platform to build upon. The conclusion ties back to the lead so it's good to work that out early, too. When you start collecting data and interview material, it's easy to start losing track of the focus and outline, so looking back at your initial lead and initial thoughts prior to inundating yourself with collateral information can help keep your topic in focus. This skeleton helps you figure out what you have, what you don't have and what you need. As I type this skeleton I write questions that I need to ask sources. I highly recommend doing this before conducting interviews. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 3/21/2008 4:16:59 PM | show profile 1) I try to summarize the story in fewer than 10 words. If I can't do, I pare it down so I can. Best example: For sale. Baby shoes. Never used. 2) I figure out the angle of the story unless its hard news, in which case, I hone in what affects readers most. E.g., a fatal car accident causes a power failure. The part about the power failure comes first, then the cause, then when the power will be restored. 3) Write. 4) Rewrite. 5) File the story. |
| Linda F | Posted – 3/21/2008 5:37:22 PM | show profile I recently wrote a blog post about my process for writing articles: http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=455 Good luck! Linda -- http://www.lindaformichelli.com Blog: http://www.therenegadewriter.com Creative Professionals for Animal Welfare: http://www.creativepaw.org |
| rozwrite55 | Posted – 3/24/2008 6:48:37 PM | show profile For a big feature like that, I almost have to do an outline. It may be just a skeleton outline to organize my points but it always helps with structure. Then, if I have a lede, that sets up the tone of my story although that can sometimes change. At times I also have great subheads that also act as good formatting devices for the story. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/25/2008 1:16:08 PM | show profile The long projects tend to be white papers and special reports or a package of materials (reports, online stories) that all derive from the same basic material. I consider the package of material one project because, even though it is divvided up into different stories, it's all derived from the same research and interviews. However, no one is assigning 5,000 word magazine articles, if that's what you mean, at least not to me. The magazine articles for me tend to top out at 2,500 words. --Wow, 5000 words?? Who's assigning that? I think I've done, like, one 5000-word piece (not package) in the past 20 years.-- |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 3/25/2008 1:20:43 PM | show profile That's not an approach that would work for me. For one thing, I try to do everything paperless. All my notes are on Word files. The basic concept is OK. After I've done the research for a long project, I usually know the basic material I'm going to cover. I can start writing up 300 or 500 word sections and they tend to end up fitting together pretty well with a little smoothing out of transitions. It may be that I've done this long enough that I don't need to sit down and create a formal structure. It just tends to come naturallt. --With something as big as 5000 words, it might help to write "notes to self" on index cards - either with source quotes or facts or whatever. Then I spread them on the ground and start puzzling them together to see what belongs where. I do this because I'm a visual person and when I sit at the computer these facts are difficult to rearrange. This way, I can slide the ideas around and often, the ideas for structure pop out at me better.-- |
| the author | Posted – 4/7/2008 7:30:23 AM | show profile | email poster my writing process for FICTION I usually map out everything in an outline to make sure most of the kinks are done then I get out of the way and do what I like to call "Fast-Drafting" the first draft, then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 4/7/2008 3:33:34 PM | show profile I look for drama. I look for drama--in a quote from an interviewee, in a fact or statistic, or in an aspect of the event I'm covering. The most dramatic tidbit in the whole shebang becomes the angle, and I work from there. |
