Some
ideas related to using the best words:
| * Keep
verbs in active voice (usually). |
| * Avoid
wordiness, redundancy, cliches, jargon and "journalese." |
| * Use
short, simple common words most of the time. |
| * Use specifics rather than generalizations. Be precise. |
| * Place
modifiers (including adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases,
participial
phrases) as close as possible to the word they modify. |
|
Some ideas
related to making sentences sing:
| * Keep
sentences short and straightforward, especially leads. |
| * Use
direct quotes to convey feelings rather than facts. Ensure the
context of the quote is clear and accurate. |
| * Relate
the importance of ideas to their placement and use in the sentence. |
| * Vary
sentence length and structure in a story to avoid monotony and
create "flow." |
| * Express
similar ideas in a similar (parallel) way. |
|
|
And some
general pointers ...
* Anticipate
questions that readers might have and answer them.
|
* Stick
to the facts and maintain your neutrality.
|
| * Watch
out for stale story approaches, especially to features and to recurring
stories (the annual city budget deliberations, the start of the
school year...). If you've seen a lead a hundred times, so have
your readers. |
| * Explain
unusual of complicated terms, without talking down to your readers. |
| * Understand
basic math! :-) |
|