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Clearer,
Stronger Writing
1.
Tell the story in three words or OTPS, one theme per story,
one thought per sentence. Select, don't compress, what goes
in your stories. The stuff that does not make it into the
story will make great tags, follow ups, or additional material
for Internet sites.
2.
Tell complex stories through strong characters. Readers
and viewers will remember what they feel longer than what
they know. Characters help me understand how the complex
facts you uncovered affect people.
3.
Objective copy, subjective sound. Let the characters evoke
emotions, express feelings, and give opinions in their soundbites.
The journalists' copy should contain objective words, facts,
and truths.
4.
Use active verbs, not passive ones. Consider the difference
between "the gun was found" and "the boy found the gun."
Ask "Who did what?" and you will write stronger and more
informed stories.
5.
No subjective adjectives. Your lawyer and your viewers will
thank you. No more "fantastic-unbelievable-gut wrenching"
or "mother's worst nightmare."
6.
Give viewers a sense for the passage of time in your story.
Make me feel you have spent some time by showing me the
character in more than one setting, in more than one situation.
7.
Remember, leads tell me "so what," stories tell me "what"
and tags tell me "what's next."
-- Al
Tompkins
Al
Tompkins is the Broadcast/Online Group Leader at The
Poynter Institute. "Clearer, Stronger Writing," was published
originally in The
Effective Editor by Foster Davis and Karen F. Dunlap.
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