1. There’s good, there’s better, but we want the BEST!
Writing Yearbook Copy
There’s good, there’s better, but we want the BEST!

2. Why Write Good Copy?
Well written copy adds a necessary historical perspective to the publication.
It also gives the book life and personality.
Believe it or not, students, parents, and family members read what’s written and not just view the pictures in the yearbook.

3. Two Types of Copy
Theme Development – designed to give the reader a sense of identity with the book and a broad view of the school and the year.
It sets the scene and invites every reader to become involved in recalling the events of the year.
Should be written in first or second person so that every reader can identify with it personally.
You want the reader to say, “Yeah, that’s just how I felt too!”

4. Two Types of Copy
Reporting – gives an up close and personal look at specific events.
Provides detail necessary to allow participants in the events to relive every moment.
Those who weren’t there should feel like they were.

5. How Do We Do It?
As Barbara Walters once said, the key to good reporting is good interviewing.
You need to come across as so interested in your subject that they feel like they’re talking to an old friend.
Make them feel special!
If the subject feels like your interview is just another thing you have to do that day, your responses will be terrible.

6. The 6 C’s
Caring
A good writer cares about the subject that’s being covered and about the sources who will be interviewed for the story.
Good writers care about their roles on the staff and will take pride in the final product.
Just think: Can you tell when a teacher really cares about you? A friend? A parent?
Just think: Is it just as easy to tell when one of those people could care less about you?

7. The 6 C’s
Clear
Writing clearly means that the reader will understand precisely what the writer is trying to say.
Readers should never be confused by copy, especially when your words are in competition with the amazing pictures right next to it.
Using a majority of simple sentences in a subject, verb, object pattern helps to establish clear writing.

8. The 6 C’s
Complete
The reader should be able to count on the writer to tell the whole story.
Tell all sides of the issue, anticipate questions that your readers might have.
Example: In the sports section, include coverage of games we lost as well as won.

9. The 6 C’s Correct Everything from grammar to facts should be accurate.
There is no excuse for mistakes. Not one.
Page numbers in the index and table of contents, scores in the score box, and alphabetization of names in the portrait section are all areas where errors can also appear.
The reputation of our school is at stake, so we will make sure every name is spelled correctly.
If total correctness is achieved, our readers will trust us and will continue to buy our yearbooks year after year.

10. The 6 C’s Concise Make every word count!
1. Prefer the plain word to the super fancy word
2. Prefer the familiar word to the unfamiliar
3. Vary sentence length
4. Use short paragraphs
5. Prefer picture nouns and action verbs
6. Never use a long word when a short word will do

11. The 6 C’s Colorful The most important C!
If the writing isn’t colorful, or interesting, it won’t be read at all and the other C’s won’t matter.
To add color, use meaningful, direct quotes form those who attended events or had a main role in the activity.
Seek out several sources for a quote, don’t settle for the first quote you hear.
Look for the unusual, the stand out quote, the weird quote, the one that will add emotion to your story
Avoid the quotes that could have been in last year’s book or any year, such as, “It was a hard fought game.”
Don’t forget the sights and sounds of events.

12. Putting It All Together
Putting your story together is now as simple as one, two, three:
1. After the lead, let the first paragraph make a general statement.
2. Follow that with a paragraph using a direct quote or specifics to back up the general statement.
3. Provide a transition to carry the reader to the next point and repeat the process of statement, specific or quote, transition, until the story is told.