Storytelling [writing] All The Write Stuff Don’t underestimate your readers— they will read if you creatively write what they want & need to know ~ideas shared by John Cutsinger Tina Klecka Rick Brooks Shannon Williams Laura Schaub Jostens Creative Accounts Managers

Storytelling The Right Angle –Determine your approach »Readers’ wants & needs »Single or multiple angles –Introduce in headline & story lead –Develop in single story presentation or collective alternative stories [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Single Angle/Single story »Summer Water Sports

Storytelling [writing] Multiple Angles/Collective Stories »Summer Water Sports, Chores, Graduation, Volunteering

Storytelling [writing] Headline & Lead »Introduce the story angle(s)

Storytelling Hit the Highlights –Highlight high interest material in different colors for easy recognition »Headline content »Lead & conclusion details »Informational facts »Important figures »Insightful feelings (quotes) [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Hit the Highlights Headline Lead Quotes Facts Figures

Storytelling News Feature Writing –Combines facts, figures & feelings into one main, cohesive story »Lead »Quotes/Transitions »Conclusion [writing]

Storytelling News Feature Story [writing] After 180 days of homework hassles and trying tests, students trashed pencil and paper transforming them- selves into party animals. From late and lazy sleep-ins to fun in the sun in exotic locations such as Hawaii, vacationers took the business of pleasure seriously. "The week school ended my dad and I went to Oahu. It was amazing. He let me take my best friend Jenny and we spent everyday on the beach watching the surfers. I got up earlier during the summer to watch the incredible sunrises than I did during the regular school year. Is that sick or what?" senior Cate Humpage said. While three out of 10 traveled abroad during the summer, the other seven stayed close to home taking advantage of local events and area parks and lakes.. Lead > Quote > Transition >

Storytelling News Feature Story [writing] “This proved to be the best summer ever since I had my license and a car for the first time. I asked my mom if I could drive to the concert in Chicago and when she said ‘yes”, I freaked out. I just knew she wouldn’t let me even though it’s only an hour away,” junior Cameron Larsen said. A commanding 82% sleepyhead majority crawled out of bed well after the traditional start of school while only a very few kept the same schedule of the academic year. Quote > Transition >

Storytelling News Feature Story [writing] “Some days I didn’t even get out of bed until after lunch. It was heaven. Dad let me stay up as late as I wanted, but Mom always woke me up before she left for work and left me notes of stuff to do. Not a bad life considering I got in about four hours of sun everyday,” Stephanie Sanchez, who was envied by others, said. After 95 days of some work and mostly play, summer sizzle fizzled and over 90% dreaded the 8-4 routine of back-to-school on D(readed)-day, Septem- ber 3. Quote > Conclusion >

Storytelling Take the Lead [writing] –Dos »Do feature the most important aspect of the story in the first 5-7 words »Do focus on information & insights that reader doesn’t already have »Do incorporate visual nouns & action verbs »Do keep it simple [writing]

Storytelling Take the Lead [writing] –Don’ts »Don’t begin with a, an or the »Don’t use “this year” or the school name, initials or mascot »Don’t incorporate editorialized adjectives or adverbs »Don’t use label leads »Don’t begin with names [writing]

Storytelling Take the Lead [writing] –Content-focused leads »One word —use of a single key word introduction »Contrast —describes two extremes or opposites »Astonisher —an exclamation that catches readers off- guard »Punch —crowds in a dramatic statement or a lot of action »Quotation —an unusually insightful direct quote »Question —opens with a query that leads on the reader »Sequential —presents events in order that they happened »Sights & sounds —showcases one or more of the 5 senses [writing]

Storytelling Take the Lead [writing] –Grammatical approaches to leads »Prepositional phrase —features one aspect of the story that the reporter feels deserves special attention »Participial & gerund phrases —features action, manner in which action is accomplished or unusual circumstances »Infinitive phrase —features purpose or dramatic action or creates a minor note of suspense [writing]

Storytelling Take the Lead [writing] –Grammatical approaches to leads »Causal clause —beings with because, since or because of and shows a causal relationship between facts »Conditional clause —begins with if, unless or provided and expresses speculative interest or condition »Concessive clause —beings with though or although and expresses difficulties overcome or unusual circumstances »Noun clause —beings with that, how, why, whether, what or when and features substance, announcement, decision, belief »Temporal clause —beings with when, while, before, since or as soon as and features the time element [writing]

Storytelling Quality Quotes –Quotes are intimate enough only when the person quoted could tell that specific story »Partial or quickie quotes »Story quotes »Anecdotes [writing]

Storytelling Quality Quotes –Good »“This summer was the best. I didn’t have to go on the family vacation.” –Great »“This summer will go down as one of the best in history for me. Instead of having to go on the family vacation, I got to tour France with friends from my French class.” [writing]

Storytelling Smooth Transitions –Transitions work effectively when they link together two paragraphs with informational & insightful facts & figures »Between lead & first quote »Between quotes »Between quote & conclusion [writing]

Storytelling Smooth Transitions –Good »Other students didn’t get to sleep in. –Great » A commanding 82% sleepyhead majority crawled out of bed well after the traditional start of school while only a very few kept the same schedule of the academic year. [writing]

Storytelling The End of the Story –Conclusions make the most impact when they bring the story full circle »Reference the angle of the lead »Add new information & insights »Logically wrap up the story [writing]

Storytelling The End of the Story –Good »So that’s how students spent their summer. –Great » After 95 days of some work and mostly play, summer sizzle fizzled and over 90% dreaded the 8-4 routine of back-to-school on D(readed)-day, September 3. [writing]

Storytelling Alternative Story Formats –Quick reads combine to tell the story »Facts »Figures »Feelings –Appeal to reluctant, selective readers –Open up reader-friendly design options [writing]

Storytelling Fact Quick Reads –Factoids –Listings –Questions & answers –Interactive tests & quizzes –Maps & diagrams –Definitions, index & glossaries –Statistic boxes [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Fact Quick Read »Brink MS, Brink, OK

Storytelling [writing] Fact Quick Read »Fenton HS, Fenton, MI

Storytelling [writing] Fact/Figure Quick Read »Glenbrook HS, Glenview, IL

Storytelling [writing] Fact Quick Read »Northwood HS, Nappanee, IN

Storytelling [writing] Fact Quick Read »Hillcrest HS, Idaho Falls, ID

Storytelling Figure Quick Reads –Pie charts, bar & line graphs –Numerical tables & charts –Schedules –Calendars –Timelines –Scoreboards [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »Humboldt HS, Humboldt, KS

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »Woodlands HS, Woodlands, TX

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »Abilene HS, Abilene, TX

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »St. Thomas HS, Houston, TX

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »Stevenson HS, Sterling Heights, MI

Storytelling [writing] Figure Quick Read »Westlake HS, Austin, TX

Storytelling Feeling Quick Reads –Partial quickie quotes –Story, featured quotes –Anecdotes –Advice & how-tos –Personality sketches [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Feeling Quick Read »Woodmont HS, Piedmont, SC

Storytelling [writing] Feeling Quick Read »Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX

Storytelling [writing] Feeling Quick Read »Connersville HS, Connersville, IN

Storytelling [writing] Feeling Quick Read »Utica HS, Utica, MI

Storytelling Writing Quality –Fresh, lively angles –Informational & insightful »Little-known, fascinating facts & figures »One-of-a-kind, quotable quotes –Attention to the five senses –Unquestionable accuracy –Refined style & design [writing]

Storytelling Editing & Rewriting –Revision opportunities »Content »Accuracy »Style »Design [writing]

Storytelling Common Concerns –Boring nouns »Students »Members »Players –Weak verbs/passive voice »Appears, seems »Is, are, was, were, be, being, been [writing]

Storytelling Common Concerns –Long paragraphs –Word overuse »School name, initials, mascot »“This year” or the year itself –Editorializing »Busy, diligent, successful, hard-working –Use of second person [writing]

Storytelling Common Courtesy –Editing Suggestions »Focus on… Improving word choice Adding/deleting content Conforming to style »Show consideration… Encourage self-editing Write in margins & not in red Balance positive/negative Return personally & explain expectations [writing]

Storytelling [writing] Q & A You Never Know… »until you ask!