Writing: Tell Me A Story 2023

Objective: In this lesson, I can: • Identify the key components of a story angle. • Write an effective lead.

Once you have received a story assignment, it’s time to get moving. The writing process provides you with a framework of steps to complete on the journey to a fabulous story. Before beginning to write, make sure you know the deadline for your first draft. Set mini-deadlines for yourself by working backwards from your deadline to allow plenty of time to complete this process. FIND AN ANGLE After organizing the notes, facts, observations, quotations and details you have gathered, determine a central theme that will provide both focus and direction for your story. Remember that the story should focus on human interest and emotion. It should not be merely a list of facts or events. Choose an angle that allows you to capture the story of the year by combining anecdotes and quotes to recreate specific moments. You can change the angle later in the writing process if the initial angle proves unworkable. CREATE AN INFORMAL OUTLINE In “The Art of the Interview” unit, you were taught to mark up your notes to highlight the best quotes and most relevant details. Now, you will build on that process. Go back through all of your interview and observation notes. Make sure you have copies of stories written by the school newspaper related to your topic (remember you can’t use the quotes from the newspaper unless you attribute them). Find quotes and details you have marked in your notes for use and number them in the order you intend to use them. If you do this carefully, you can essentially write your story by providing additional information and transitions between these elements to construct the story.

12 Lesson 3 THE WRITING PROCESS