Professional Feature Writing Bruce Garrison

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.�Think�of�the�main�points�of�the�article�and�make�these�topics�the�Roman�numerals�of�your�outline.�These�are�also�your�article's�main�sections.2.�Next,�divide�each�of�the�main�sections�into�subsections.�What�are�the�major�characteristics,�or�concerns,�of�each�Roman�numeral�section?�There�might�be�just�one�characteristic�or�several�dozen.�List�each�so�you�will�not�forget�to�include�these�as�you�begin�to�write�portions�of�the�manuscript.�Letter�each�of�these�A,�B,�and�so�on.3.�If�the�article�is�going�to�be�lengthy,�you�might�want�to�go�beyond�the�alphabetic�listings.�If�you�do�extend�the�outline,�these�will�be�details�of�each�subsection�and�they�can�be�numbered�1,�2,�and�so�forth.4.�On�longer�articles,�or�articles�with�sidebars�and�boxed�inserts�such�as�many�magazines�use,�you�should�use�separate�outlines�for�the�sidebars.�Often,�after�writing�the�main�article,�you�spot�a�portion�of�the�main�article�outline�that�lends�itself�to�a�"take�out"�or�"sidebar."These�steps�will�help�you�to�write�and�organize�and�it�works�well�for�longer�manuscripts.�Shorter�(less�than�1,000�words)�articles�common�in�newspapers�might�not�need�this�sort�of�rigorous�organizational�plan,�but�even�shorter�pieces�benefit�if�you�find�yourself�confused�about�what�you�have�before�the�writing�stage.The�newest�and�more�complete�full�feature�word�processors�offer�outlining�tools�in�addition�to�all�of�their�other�features.�This�does�not�mean,�of�course,�that�your�computer�does�the�outlining�for�you.�However,�word�processor�software�contains�features�that�permit�creation�of�collapsible�outlines�based�on�text�that�you�have�entered.�This�way�of�viewing�the�words�you�have�written�may�help�you�to�create,�organize,�and�move�text�more�easily.�Word�processing�software�such�as�Microsoft�Word,�WordPerfect,�and�WordPro�offer�such�features�and�more.�But�these�can�be�costly�for�beginners�on�a�budget.�You�may�wish�to�use�a�less�expensive�package�with�fewer�features.�Another�one�of�the�conveniences�of�personal�computers�and�word�processors�is�the�ease�of�moving�things�around.�If�you�use�a�computer�to�write,�take�ad�Page�101vantage�of�the�flexibility�and�ease�of�organizing�and�reorganizing�your�facts�even�at�the�outline�stage.Although�paper�outlines�and�computers�are�one�approach,�there�are�others.�Some�experienced�writers�prefer�the�standard�file�card�in�3�נ5�or�5�נ7�sizes.�This�approach�works�well�for�shuffling�and�reordering�the�information�once�it�is�listed�on�cards.�The�approach,�again,�is�pretty�straightforward:" �List�each�important�point�on�an�individual�card." �Place�cards�with�related�information�in�the�same�pile�as�you�sort�through�the�deck." �Order�the�piles�according�to�the�sequence�you�want�the�information�to�flow�in�the�article." �Sort�each�individual�pile�to�logically�support�the�general�point�the�pile�of�cards�represents.Still�another�approach�is�to�use�a�notebook.�Divide�it�into�sections�and�place�relevant�information�about�each�section�into�the�binder.�Then�you�can�move�material�as�necessary,�page�by�page,�or�section�by�section,�until�you�get�it�into�a�sequence�that�you�want�to�use�to�write.�Another�technique�some�writers�use�helps�them�to�get�"the�big�picture"�of�the�organizational�plan�of�their�article.�This�approach�requires�these�steps:1.�Write�a�very�rough�draft�of�as�much�of�your�manuscript�as�you�can.2.�Take�scissors�and�cut�it�up,�a�paragraph�at�a�time.3.�Tape�or�tack�the�pieces�to�a�wall�or�bulletin�board.4.�Study�the�pieces�on�the�wall.�Move�the�pieces�as�needed�to�improve�the�flow�and�direction�of�your�article.The�New�Yorker�writer�and�author�Ken�Auletta�has�moved�from�using�a�pen�and�a�legal�pad�to�using�his�computer,�but�he�continues�to�use�the�same�approach�to�finding�organization�within�his�article�or�book�notes.�Auletta�(1997)�said:You�gather�all�this�material�and�what�do�you�do?�The�answer�to�that�.�.�.�is�to�spend�a�lot�of�time�doing�the�most�laborious�indexing.�I�put�it�all�in�an�index�and�stare�at�it.�Then�I�move�it�around�and�try�to�figure�out�what�the�structure�is.�I�master�the�material�of�the�"trees"�of�this�forest�and�then�step�back,�sit�with�it,�and�try�to�fig�Page�102ure�out�what�is�the�forest�I�want�to�write�about.�I�start�with�an�index�and�try�to�wind�up�with�a�table�of�contents.�I�always�find�the�key�thing�is�to�find�that�lead.�We�all�do�that�in�daily�journalism,�but�I�think�it�is�true�of�the�longer�form�as�well.�Get�the�right�voice�down,�the�style.�Does�it�make�sense?�Does�it�sum�up�where�you�want�to�go?�This�indexing�is�the�most�unpleasant�part�of�everything�I�do.�And�yet,�it�is�the�most�essential�single�thing�you�do [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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