Blundell: Best editing advice I've ever read!

"Writers who write more than one opening for the same piece, or who do a lot of blocks moving as they shift material around, have basic organizational problems. They are wasting time and material resources. They'll end up driving themselves- and their editors crazy." writes Jack Hart in 'A Writer's Coach'

I humbly do not agree with what the distinguished writer says in the above quotation. In fact, I am the one, he is talking about. As E. L Doctorow says, "Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

Yes, I  try more than one opening for a single piece and I do that because I am creative and I care about my reader. I try to visualize  which opening will be more engaging before finalizing and sometimes take advice from my editing buddies.

And yes. I do move the blocks. All writing experts say writing is re-writing. In the first draft, I just try to wrap up the story including the main facts. I try to leave it for sometimes then start editing. And as Blundell advises, I first edit to lengthen it does not shorten it i.e I try to fill the gaps in the story. Work on transitions and sometimes switch blocks.
'On Writing Well' or in some other writing book, the writer says everybody is different. So adopt what suits you. Two good writers may have entirely different writing habits. In the end what matters is what suits you.


Below are some tips from Blundell on editing. This is the best writing and editing advice, I found out of  a dozen of writing books I have been following since a year.

EDIT FOR LENGTHENING THE STORY NOT SHORTENING IT

Read quickly through the story. 

Look first the ways to lengthen it, not to shorten it. 

If you have omitted some portions of reporting that buttress the key sections. 

Some point of explanation that will make things clearer. Make sure 

Everything needed to make the story clear and convincing is in it. (BTW I love this tip. It has given me so much freedom that I feel myself flying)

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEMES AND CONCLUSIONS

pay special attention to conclusions and summaries including main theme statement.

Check do they say exactly what you want to say? and are they as forceful as the material that back them up?

(I am still trying to learn it but not as much successful)

PAY ATTENTION TO TRANSITIONS

Pay attention to transitional material, attributions and explanations.

SHARPEN THE VERBOSE ELEMENTS

If any are verbose or fuzzy?  Is your account extra flowery? have u used words like magniloquent? and grandiloquent? Try to sharpen it.

Is your account redundant?  have you repeated same facts repeatedly?

Is there any secondary character annoying you? Get rid of him immediately  if he is not needed.

DON"T CUT ENTIRE SENTENCES TO SHORTEN YOUR STORY

Alternately, first micro-cut i-e make space by cutting extra words. Avoid major surgery in the beginning.

Blood and bone get away with the fats and some wounds appear that must be stitched. Adress the gaps left after editing.

Word by word editing takes more time

Siamese twin sentences should be combined.

Slowly a better brisker story takes shape.

Check if  a simple statement can do instead of full set of proofs?

Thank you Michael for Blundells scanned pages. I have ordered the book.

Time to organise the researched Stuff!

Research shows most common flaw of a feature is poor organization. A successful feature needs well-organised material shaped into an engaging story with a strong lead and lively writing.

The hard part is not researching but effectively organizing the tons of material into a finished story.
Even harder is sifting and sorting the stuff and select the right one in specified word limit.

Here are some tips extracted from 'Writing Feature Stories' by Australian journalist Ricketson.

USE ONE OF THE TWO APPROACHES TO ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIAL
Make a list of your interviewee and documents and summarize the strongest quotes under each person name and useful facts from documents. One writer says she writes the most relevant paragraphs from immediately after interviews.

Alternately for complex features list the quotes and facts under six categories of key questions i.e Backgrounder questions, Scope questions, why questions, impact questions, reaction questions and looking ahead questions. A leading journalists research shows this is the most effective methodology.


GO THROUGH ALL THE MATERIAL FOR SIFTING
Go through all the material keeping in view the story. Highlight relevant facts and figures and comments from interviewees which can move the story forward and are interesting enough.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE CREAMY STUFF
Constantly keep an eye on Creamy stuff i-e dramatic scenes, anecdotes as well as potential leads and closes.

USE BOTH SIDES OF YOUR BRAIN
Talk to the editor or some reliable friend about the story now. It will clarify things in your mind and you will realize gaps in the story. You may get useful suggestions.
After the first draft logically using the left side of your brain, give some time to your right side of the brain which exudes creativity and initiative.  both sides of your brain. left logical right intuitive, creative and emotional.

DON'T WAIT TOO MUCH FOR INSPIRATION
But don't wait too much for the inspiration to strike. Let the right side do its work but start writing from left side otherwise you may end up rushing the piece risking factual errors and structural flaws or miss the deadline altogether. sometimes right side starts working after the first draft.

FORM A COMPELLING LEAD AND BILLBOARD PARAGRAPH

You need to grab reader's attention by alarming them, enticing them or intriguing them.
Ask yourself what is my story about in a nutshell? Why is it worth reading?
There is no formula for a successful feature, but there are do's and do's that can help.

Extracted from Writing Feature Stories by Matthew Ricketson

Writing an opinion piece: Dare to speak when others remain silent

Writing an opEd has always been a nightmare for me. Unlike hard news where you just place information in context, there is much more to writing an opEd than merely sharing information.  It is crucial to support your opinion with factual information. OpEd pieces demand a genuine issue, clear stance / opinion on the issue, relevant evidence to support the issue, all tied up in the form of an engaging story. 

CHOOSE A TOPIC YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
Unquestionably you must be passionate about the issue. It should also be topical and current. If you are a jerk like me who have diversified interests, you will get lost easily. Avoid the temptation of working on multiple topics that interest you and focus on one or two topics.

LET YOUR OPINION BE KNOWN
It's your opinion so state without any apology or defense. Come to the point as early as possible and be prepared to defend it instead of boring the readers with long opening sentences.

BACKUP YOUR ARGUMENTS BY RELEVANT AND REQUIRED RESEARCH
We should have the a solid understanding of the topic and a thorough analysis of the phenomenon, and this needs research. A good opinion piece must be based on factual information. Add data to support your argument.  I will suggest just do the relevant research keeping in view the scope of your story. Don't prepare for a research paper.

PERSUADE IN AN OBJECTIVE AND SIMPLE WAY
Provide the background and insight to the readers.  The evidence and facts mentioned must be authentic and accurate. Provide both sides of a story. Use relevant analogies from daily life to illustrate the complicated technical point to make them understandable to the readers. Engage readers by asking rhetorical questions. Embellish with your personal observations and experiences to add authenticity.

SUGGEST SOLUTIONS AND SPARK THE READER FOR ACTION
Don't just raise an issue, provide potential solutions. Spark the reaction in the reader so that they agree or disagree, change their point of view. Aim to inspire your reader for action. It must be focused around the issue and must acknowledge and address the opposite argument.

CHECK THE ARGUMENT AND STRUCTURE AGAIN
Finally check, do your arguments make sense. Readers are very smart in picking up errors and gaps in the arguments.

Finally keep in mind, a good opinion piece illustrates well constructed arguments, with supporting evidences, express a position and influence a reader to change their perception of the subject or react emotionally, on a timely issue.