P2PU | Journalism Crash Course | Getting it Right (part 2)

Getting it Right (part 2)

The careful writer is precise. As Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the same as that between lightning and the lightning bug." A mechanic uses a 9/16-inch wrench because no other will do. A writer must be just as selective with her words. Ask yourself these questions to make sure you have been precise:

Are my sentences simple and strong? Write simple sentences, where the subject is close to the verb. Rely on strong nouns and verbs, not adjectives and adverbs. As Strunk and White said, "The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place." They have their place, but "it is nouns and verbs, not their assistants, that give good writing its toughness and color."
Have I been concise? Prefer the short word to the long, the familiar to the fancy, the specific to the abstract. As Strunk and White said, "Don't be tempted by the $20 word when there is a 10-center handy, ready and able." Or as English poet Robert Southey wrote, "If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams—the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn."
Is my writing correct? Your work must conform to the basic conventions of grammar, spelling and punctuation. These are the grease that lubricates the wheels of communication. Without them, communication becomes difficult, if not impossible.
Do my sentence lengths vary? If you want to convey a sense of action, tension or movement, use short sentences. A series of long sentences slows down the reader and conveys a more relaxed mood. A good writer uses a variety of sentences—long ones, short ones and those in between.
Have I used transitions? Lead the reader from one section to the next with transitions. They are your bridges. They assure the reader that you have a plan. Repeat key words or phrases. Use words like: now, but, and, however, since. These are the links that tie a story together.
Have I been sensual? Appeal to as many senses as possible: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Let your reader see what you saw and heard what you heard. You did note the sounds, smells and textures while you were reporting, didn't you? "We must put all our senses to work," said James Kilpatrick.
Have I used comparisons? Compare and contrast your subject to something familiar. Do this with a simile or its first cousin, the metaphor. With these devices, the writer draws a word picture.
Have I provided examples and dialogue? Tell the story through the words and actions of your characters. This allows your reader to be an eyewitness. "An ounce of example is worth a ton of generalization," said Henry James. And from Tom Wolfe: "Realistic dialogue involves the reader and defines character more completely than any other single device."
Have I written about people? Write about people, not programs, policies or procedures. The latter are worthy subjects, but only as they apply to people.