Sit Down and Write

Sit Down and WriteCh. 1 of “Writing Across the Media,” by James G.

Stovall (6th Ed.)Graham Garner

Writing Across the Media MC 120/299Fall 2008

Writing is Hard WorkIt requires us to give of ourselves.It demands your total attention.When published, it means putting aside our ego and letting others give feedback.It’s a process.It’s building.Requires reading good writing.

What is Good Writing?Efficient. Minimum number of words to make a point.Precise. Words used for their exact meaning.Clear. Leaves no doubt or confusion in reader’s mind.Modest. Doesn’t show off or draw attention to itself.

Who Do You Write For?Not yourself.Not for a teacher.Not for a friend.Not for other writers.Write for the masses.

How Do You Write for the Masses?Collaborate. Use editors and other writers.Have integrity. Don’t accept inaccuracies or imprecision.Be humble. You can always do better.

Know the Tools of the Trade

Spelling.Grammar.Vocabulary.You are caretaker of the language.

Know the Subject

Research.Learn the background.Understand the product.Ask questions of experts.

Write it Down

Just Do It.Develop a routine.Learn to concentrate.Take lots of notes. Then, prioritize.Take risks.

Edit and RewriteReread.

Can it be clearer?Can it be more precise?Can it be more readable?

Edit.Rewrite.

Improving: Write Simply

Clarity comes from simplicity.

Improving: Use Simple Words

Stay away from big or complicated words.Impress your reader with the story, not your prose.

Improving: Use Simple Sentences

Does it always have to be subject-predicate or subject-verb-object?Make it easy to read

Improving: Use Fewer WordsNext to simplicity is brevity.Be on the hunt for words, phrases and sentences that don’t add substance.Stay away from fancy phrases.Focus your reader on the story, not your writing.

Improving: Eliminate Jargon, Clichés and BureaucrateseJargon: Technical language used in specialized fields.Clichés: Overused words, phrases and clauses.Bureaucratese: It’s lathered writing.

Improving: Use Familiar Words

You are not a Word-of-the-Day calendar.Don’t be a speed bump in your readers’ path.Worse yet, don’t be a parking lot full of speed bumps.Avoid foreign phrases.

Improving: Vary Sentence Type and Length

Use all four kinds of sentence structures:SimpleCompoundComplexCompound-Complex

Don’t use inverted sentences (subject at the end).

Improving: Pay Attention to Nouns and Verbs

Nouns and verbs are the strongest wordsMake them your foundation, or core, and use all other word types to build on or around them.A good verb offers both action and description.

Improving: Transitions

They tie together what you mean.Don’t create stops or surprises.Keep the train rolling.

Differences in Writing for Mass MediaSubject Matter. There is a wider variety.Purpose. It’s threefold — inform, entertain, persuade.Audience. Much broader demographic.Circumstances of the Writing. More collaboration, more deadlines, and writing amongst other writers.

Becoming a ProfessionalVersatility.News writing: Inverted pyramid.Broadcast writing: dramatic unity.Advertising copy: Facility with language for persuasive effect.Public relations: all above, plus good letter writing.Web: Nonlinear hypertext, headlines, subheads, summaries.

Text and Images

Integrate graphics and text, especially on the Web.Leonardo da Vinci.Dan Brown novel in other editions; David McCulloch’s 1776.

Web Sites to VisitAmerican Society of Journalists and Authors: www.asja.orgAmerican Society of Newspaper Editors: www.asne.org Power of Words: www.projo.com/words Poynter’s Online “Fifty Writing Tools”: www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943 Writers Write: The Write Resource: www.writerswrite.com