From: 01jmbrown@bsu-ucs.uucp
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: writing insecurities
Date: 13 Aug 92 14:20:29 GMT

In article <92225.154641U52892@uicvm.uic.edu>, U52892@uicvm.uic.edu writes:
> Have you ever felt like this?
> 
> 
> I'm a struggling reporter in Chicago. There are times when I feel
> I'm wasting my time in journalism. When people ask me why I like
> journalism, I tell them I'm good at it. But am I really good?
> 
> Yesterday, I submitted an article to my boss. She told me the
> article was good but needed revisions. At that point, I started
> to have self-doubts on whether I am just not a good writer. I know
> I'm a good reporter but not a good writer. My articles are often
> well-researched and substantial but structure is weak and awkward.
> How will I become a good writer?
> 
> I realized journalism is different from fiction and technical writing.
> But any comments, suggestion or personal stories on doubting one's
> calling --- in this case, journalism --- and ability are welcome.

Forgive me if this is something that you already know or have heard; I don't
mean to be talking down to you.

But if you're making a transition from fiction and technical writing to
journalism, maybe you haven't heard this yet...

One of the best ways to improve your journalism is to live by the Associated
Press Stylebook - considered to be a necessary part of EVERY journalist's life,
no matter how big of a name they are.  The AP Stylebook's organized like a
dictionary for quick reference, but don't use it as a reference when you start
out. First thing, just READ IT.  I know some of the people posting in
misc.writing said reading dictionaries might be weird, but when it comes to the
AP Stylebook if you're a beggining reporter, the best thing to do is just to
read it once or twice. Then use it as a reference later when you get a feel for
what the AP style is like.

If your editor is complaining of your syntax and usage, the Stylebook might
just be a darned good cure. By the way, it also has other sections for
different types of writing, and a section on libel law. (A good thing in the
world of more & more lawsuits.)

And a few other things to consider....

You don't have to get page one to write a good article.  I write as a reporter
for a very small morning daily, and so I've been able to get a few front-page
articles here and there. But that doesn't mean they were better than an article
I wrote that was placed among the classified ads at the back. Where it
ends up in the paper is determined how IMPORTANT the STORY is, not how well you
write. So don't judge your success by where your story appears in the paper. If
you can get page 1 (or front page of your news department's section) that's
great, but don't work to get there. Work to improve your writing quality.

And as others have said, that takes experience. Not that you need to get paid.
Just keep writing, and keep asking what your editor thinks, and don't take it
too harshly. No one's ever born a good writer. It takes time. So don't wait -
start now and write like hell.  :-)
  
> Correction: Nope, I'm not undergoing mid-life crisis. I'm too
> young for that.

....good. So you've got a lot of time to experiment with your writing. :-)
You gotta want to keep at it, but if you do, you'll succeed. Good luck!
 
> Sheila


--
Jeff Brown