WritingThe writing process

Writing is a process, a logical sequence of steps. The successful writer gather, product of a logical process. These are the same basic steps upon which this Web site is built: prewriting, writing and rewriting. Some steps are gathering writers must find the details that reveal meaning, you can't write writing; you must have to have facts.

Writing Getting organized

A minute spent in planning the story will prevent countless problems later on.

Some steps are to look at your notes and background material, mark the best of it, the key points and strongest quotes. You should be able to express this theme in a sentence or two.

Writing Story structure

Choose a chronological order, where you present the key events in your story as they occurred. The most popular structure for news stories is the inverted pyramid. The most important material is placed at the beginning of the story. Succeeding paragraghs explain and support the lead.

Writing The news lead—part 1

A good news story, unlike the novel or play, is based on one main idea. It gives the reader a sense of completeness, a sense that you know what you are doing.

In the steps you should deside on this focus, you also should work on you lead. By asking about the main theme for your story, you are deciding how to begin, for often the two- a statement of theme and lead- are one ant the same.

Writing The news lead—part 2

The second type of lead that is used mostly on feature stories. It's the delay or feature lead.

It sets a scene or evokes a mood with an incident, anecdote or example. Essential information is temporarily witheld. The writer teases before she pleases.

Writing The rest of the story

The strenght of the story comes from the details that back up the promise of the lead. The things you have observed, the explanations and definitions and the sense of history. There are parts that lend meaning and significance to the event or person you are writing about.

Writing The tools of the trade

News writing is concrete and specific in many ways. The task of the writer, said Joseph Conrad, "is by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel, to make you see." The news writer makes meaning early with sentences that begin with subjects and verbs.