The Art of Column Writing
A column fights for attention against neighboring
headlines, stories and photographs and even clever ads. Crafting a lead is
different for each writer. You may begin with outrage, curiosity, belonging,
provocation, humor, discomfort or shock. Each lead can be dramatically
different yet launches the column central theme in a direction.
To have a story unfolded about 600 words is like drawing
a heavy gauntlet again and again. Special subject columns require their own
unique treatments. A one size fits all format does not apply. A terrific
subject alone won't carry a column. For example many holiday columns are
predictable. The goal is to make readers care about your column by making the
writing entertaining and easy to follow. Column writing is like building a
house, the blueprint will vary with the solid foundation must be true to its
lines.For every column you write you want to make a central focus or message. Focus means finding and engaging way to bring the reader into your writing and making the reader want to stay there to see what happens next. A writer fails to focus the writing when they share interesting facts or observations but fails to tell a story.
When writing a column ask what your purpose is? What do
you want the reader to feel? And what do you want the reader to remember most?
Order your writings of your questions and your readers
mind are answered in a logical sequence. In journalism, the writer seeks to
answer each of the following questions:
Who - identify the main characters
what - identifies the event, experience, or issue
when- identifies the date, time period or chronology
where- identifies the location
how - identifies the cause, procedure, or instructions
why - identifies the motive, the reason, the conclusion
If each of these questions is answered, the
story is told.
Make every word count use precise descriptions. Speak
properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly, for the and of
speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.
A column ranges between 250 and 1000 words. Make it
short, simple, sound and sing, which means, have enough tightly written
fact-based easy to read pieces in a powerful enough way to compete with
anything else that meets the readers eye.
10 Tips
1. Write with conviction
2. Maintain your focus
3. Understand opposing views
4. Refer to facts
5. Use analogies
6. Be critical
7. Do reporting
8. Localized and personalized your story,
tied into some personal experience of your own making it memorable to the
reader.
9. Be passionate
10. Provide a solution
There are many different types of columnists. There are
Metro columnists who listen to local heartbeats and right about what makes a
city tick and who's doing the ticking. There are opinion columnists that
interpret the latest breaking news. They have a strong voice and clarity of
thought. A religion columnist talks about faith and values. They unpack
religious motives behind social, cultural and political movements. Mitch
columns are things that talk about gardening, parenting or certain types of
technology.
· When establishing your column know
your purpose or overall goal for reaching the public.
· Make sure column fills a need instead
of just offering the column you might even provide resources or information for
your target audience.
· Become an expert in your field.
· Explore the many ways you can reach
your audience.
· Find a book, a unique way of
presenting your information something that distinguishes you from the crowd.
· Use column credibility as an avenue to
other venues.
· She is a business name or brand that
reflects your message.
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