140 likes | 259 Views
So You Think You Can Write. Devoun Cetoute. Journalism is…. Hard Stressful Aggravating Doesn’t pay so good Demands perfection everyday THE MOST AWESOME JOB EVER!. Naipaul’s Rules for Beginners. Do not write long sentences. A s entence should not have more than ten or twelve words.
E N D
So You Think You Can Write Devoun Cetoute
Journalism is… • Hard • Stressful • Aggravating • Doesn’t pay so good • Demands perfection everyday • THE MOST AWESOME JOB EVER!
Naipaul’s Rules for Beginners • Do not write long sentences. A sentence should not have more than ten or twelve words. • Each sentence should make a clear statement.It should add to the statement that went before. A good paragraph is a series of clear, linked statements. • Do not use big words. The use of small words compels you to think about what you are writing. Even difficult ideas can be broken down into small words. • Never use words whose meaning you are not sure of. If you break this rule you should look for other work. • This beginner should avoid using adjectives, except those of color, size and number. Use as few adverbs as possible. • Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.
Everyday, for six months at least, practice writing in this way. • Small words • Short , clear, concrete sentences • It may be awkward, but it’s training you in the use of language • It may even be getting rid of the bad language habits you picked up at school • You may go beyond these rules after you have thoroughly understood and mastered them.
Avoid Cliché • It was the best of , it was the worst of fggggg • It was in July • Hashtag • A labor of love • YOLO • Work smarter, not harder • Swag • Twerk/ werk/ Twerking
Keep it Simple, Stupid • In order to = to • To able to = to • In my opinion = [We know that already] • Completely destroyed = destroyed • Due to =because • Since = because
Don’t be Irritating • At the end of the day • Fairly unique • I personally • At this moment in time • With all due respect • Absolutely • It’s a nightmare • Shouldn’t of • 24/7 • It’s not rocket science
Show Don’t Tell • Telling Even a large male gorilla, unaccustomed to tourists, is frightened by people. • Showing A four-hundred-pound male gorilla, unaccustomed to tourists, bolt into the forest, trailing a stream of diarrhea, at the mere site of a person.
Keep it Active • Stay away from “linking” verbs Go through a story and highlight every “are”, “is,” “were,” and “was”. Now find a way to rewrite each sentence with a stronger verb • Example The frisky dog was happy to meet her master at the gate. The brown, spotted dog pranced down the path to meet her master at the gate
Ya Can’t Write Nuthin’ If Ya Ain’t Got Nuthin’ to Say
That’s Reporting Go Out and Learn