1. Story structure
Is it a …
Story about overcoming the odds/adversity
Story about a dream come true
Story about someone who is more than meets the eye
A modern success story
A day in the life of...

2. Writing the body of a story
The writer needs to keep the reader interested
The writer needs to move the reader through the story to the end
The format depends on the topic and material you have

3. Inverted Pyramid
Most efficient style for communicating news quickly and clearly
Lead contains 5 Ws and H
Body is organized from most important information to least important
There is no “ending”

4. Focus Structure
Writer focuses on an interesting story before turning to a universal theme (using one or more people as examples)
Open with a person, anecdote or situation that illustrates the theme of the story
Provide a transition to a theme paragraph
(This person is representative of ..._)

5. Focus Structure
Explain the story line in the theme paragraph
Tease the reader (use foreshadowing – a hint to let reader know what is to come)
Provide details to support the theme the in the body, usually by using the person introduced in the lead
Recreate situations and report in detail
Close by referring to someone or something introduced in the lead (wrap up the loose ends)

6. Chronology
Simplest form
Go from start to finish
Or, start with exciting moment then revert to a chronology
Use only if story is compelling enough to hold the readers' interest

7. Flashbacks
Use a narrative thread to weave a story
The theme is woven around a time sequence
Time, an item, or a place could be the reference point for the flashbacks

8. Q&A – Question and Answer
Write a one or two paragraph lead introducing the subject to the readers
Write the question followed by the answer
Continue until interview is complete
Questions must be well formulated