1. What’s your story? Jeanne Acton, ILPC Director

2. Columns Personal experience – shows the reader a story with a clear, definite message. Can be humorous, serious, sad, light-hearted, life-changing experience Should connect to the reader at an emotional level Filled with description and detail Focuses on the writer’s personal experience – anecdotal

3. Columns Personal opinion Express opinion about an event or issue Often connected to a news story in school, local or national news Looks similar to an editorial

4. Sports columns Commentary about an event, incident, an athlete, an issue Strive to have sports columns about YOUR school

5. What is the purpose? To help the reader think, act or see things in a new way To entertain To inform To move

6. Column characteristics Often, informal Usually written in first person Focused with a point Reflects the personality of the writer Expresses a viewpoint About a subject that appeals to the reader

7. What makes a good column writer? Research (if issue-driven) Interviewing (if issue-driven) Knowing the subject Finding a voice Seeing the world in a different way Creativity Having something unique to say

8. From The Radical Write … Voice is difficult to define, but it’s easy to recognize The best writing is not soggy or bloated. It’s raw and lean and real. Raw and lean and real doesn’t mean it can’t be profound and sophisticated. Great writers use all of the tools are their disposal.

9. Why columns fail … the writer isn’t ready to expose him/herself has nothing to say preaches to the audience chit-chats with the audience rambles fills the column with facts, rather than stories and opinions chooses a topic that doesn’t interest the audience fails to edit and rewrite

10. Preachy ….

11. Nothing to say …

12. Preachy…

13. No real point …

14. Really??

15. No point…

16. Still doesn’t have a point …

17. Preachy …

18. A real story …

19. Another powerful story …

20. Having some fun …

21. A beautiful story …

22. One more …

23. A good sports column …

24. Another good one…

25. Another good sports column …

26. A solid personal opinion …

27. One more …