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Thu Aug 27 06:26:06 EDT 2009 

eed to cut it to make room for something like a picture or an ad (in a news=
paper). You don't want to have the editor "pad" it=2C so it is better to wr=
ite a little "long" so it can be cut to fit.
Sometimes what editors do to your story will make you want to cry=2C or at =
least cringe.  I still can hear my Irish great-grandmother whirling in her =
grave when an editor changed my "St. Paddy's Day" feature to a "St. Patty's=
 Day" story. Criminal!  Hint to editors...check with your writers before yo=
u do anything drastic or your publication may lose some of its creditabilit=
y!=20
So why am I telling you all this now?  It is just 9 days to the beginning o=
f our Booksprint.  There are lots of unclaimed feature story topics listed =
on our wiki without owners. You may have another compelling story you would=
 like to tell that is not listed. (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Class_Acts/Tab=
le_of_contents)  Don't wait until the BookSprint to get started!  Claim you=
r story=2C do your background research=2C get your concept=2C and start inc=
ubating!  If the story is ready before September 6=2C so be it!  Sit down a=
nd let it write itself.
Oh=2C and if you happen to have an old copy of Strunk and White's "little b=
ook=2C" The Elements of Style=2C laying around give it a quick read through=
.  Your readers will love you for it!
Have fun incubating!
Caryl

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<body class=3D'hmmessage'>
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: Tahoma=2C Verdana=2C=
 Arial=2C sans-serif=3B "><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=
=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font=
-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span c=
lass=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Hello Fellow Booksp=
rinters.</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B marg=
in-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant=
: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=
=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></=
span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom:=
 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=
=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-st=
yle-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Yesterday as I was mentally finishi=
ng my Uruguay story for the BookSprint=2C while pulling weeds=2C I got to t=
hinking about the writing process.&nbsp=3B I would like to share my thought=
s with you.</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B m=
argin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-vari=
ant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14=
px=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br>=
</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-botto=
m: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=
=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-st=
yle-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">As some of you know=2C in addition =
to being a retired teacher and high school counselor=2C I also worked part =
time as a columnist and reporter for the local Ventura County Star=2C a par=
t of the Scripps Howard chain.&nbsp=3B I have also had several travel artic=
les published in magazines and travel sections of Sunday newspapers and wro=
te one of the chapters in Move Ons' book=2C "50 Ways To Love Your Country.&=
nbsp=3B</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margi=
n-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant:=
 normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=
=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></=
span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom:=
 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=
=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-st=
yle-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Basically=2C I used two distinct me=
thods of writing (and still do).&nbsp=3B As a reporter=2C I would be on a t=
ight deadline=2C interviewing people onsite=2C scribbling an outline of&nbs=
p=3B the story on scratch paper=2C then cranking out what=2C usually=2C was=
 a fairly interesting story.&nbsp=3B I always made sure I included the "5 W=
's and the H" and followed the AP Stylebook to a "T".&nbsp=3B</span></p><p =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B m=
argin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weigh=
t: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"Ap=
ple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"ma=
rgin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left:=
 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=
=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font=
-size: 12pt=3B ">Usually=2C I saved the lead paragraph for the last. Carefu=
lly crafting it to draw the reader in to what might otherwise be a rather o=
rdinary story on an ordinary subject.&nbsp=3B After a quick read through by=
 my favorite resident editor (my husband Ed)=2C I would transmit it electro=
nlcally to the newsroom. From there on it was out of my hands.</span></p><p=
 style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B =
margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weig=
ht: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"A=
pple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"m=
argin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left=
: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=
=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font=
-size: 12pt=3B ">Writing feature stories or a weekly "human interest" story=
 was an entirely&nbsp=3B different matter.&nbsp=3B I like to compare it to =
having a baby. From concept(ion) to delivery=2C the process goes something =
like this:</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B ma=
rgin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-varia=
nt: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14p=
x=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br><=
/span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom=
: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=
=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-st=
yle-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">You still have to gather informatio=
n and check the facts=2C but after that there is a period I like to call "i=
ncubation." During this time you are running over the story almost all your=
 waking hours when you may be doing other things.&nbsp=3B You play with it =
in your mind. You look for slants and angles.&nbsp=3B You discard some idea=
s and expand on others. You play with words you might choose to use.&nbsp=
=3B At night=2C you fall asleep thinking about it.&nbsp=3B When you wake up=
=2C it is still there in your thoughts.</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0=
px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B fon=
t-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-heig=
ht: normal=3B min-height: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=
=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B marg=
in-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: n=
ormal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=
=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">When t=
he story is ready=2C you sit down at your computer=2C and it writes itself.=
&nbsp=3B This may happen at any time=2C even in the middle of the night. It=
 is best not to rush the process. When it is finished=2C let it rest for 24=
 hours=2C then be your own editor.&nbsp=3B Print it out and have your favor=
ite in-house editor read it too.&nbsp=3B Put the final polish on it=2C and =
it is ready to go.</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0=
px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B fo=
nt-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-hei=
ght: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B=
 "><br></span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margi=
n-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant:=
 normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"A=
pple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">From then on=2C like a good =
parent=2C you have to let it go.&nbsp=3B Editors may need to cut it to make=
 room for something like a picture or an ad (in a newspaper). You don't wan=
t to have the editor "pad" it=2C so it is better to write a little "long" s=
o it can be cut to fit.</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-rig=
ht: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=
=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B m=
in-height: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 1=
2pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B=
 margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-va=
riant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span clas=
s=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Sometimes what editors=
 do to your story will make you want to cry=2C or at least cringe.&nbsp=3B =
I still can hear my Irish great-grandmother whirling in her grave when an e=
ditor changed my "St. Paddy's Day" feature to a "St. Patty's Day" story. Cr=
iminal!&nbsp=3B Hint to editors...check with your writers before you do any=
thing drastic or your publication may lose some of its creditability!&nbsp=
=3B</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bo=
ttom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: nor=
mal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=3B ">=
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span><=
/p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35e=
m=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font=
-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span=
" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">So why am I telling you all this now?&nbsp=
=3B It is just 9 days to the beginning of our Booksprint.&nbsp=3B There are=
 lots of unclaimed feature story topics listed on our wiki without owners. =
You may have another compelling story you would like to tell that is not li=
sted. (</span><a href=3D"http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Class_Acts/Table_of_cont=
ents" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"font-weight: inherit=3B text-decoration: n=
one=3B color: rgb(0=2C 104=2C 207)=3B cursor: pointer=3B "><span class=3D"A=
pple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Cl=
ass_Acts/Table_of_contents</span></a><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=
=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">)&nbsp=3B Don't wait until the BookSprint to get s=
tarted!&nbsp=3B Claim your story=2C do your background research=2C get your=
 concept=2C and start incubating!&nbsp=3B If the story is ready before Sept=
ember 6=2C so be it!&nbsp=3B Sit down and let it write itself.</span></p><p=
 style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B =
margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weig=
ht: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B min-height: 14px=3B "><span class=3D"A=
pple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"m=
argin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left=
: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=
=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font=
-size: 12pt=3B ">Oh=2C and if you happen to have an old copy of Strunk and =
White's "little book=2C" The Elements of Style=2C laying around give it a q=
uick read through.&nbsp=3B Your readers will love you for it!</span></p><p =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B m=
argin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weigh=
t: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" styl=
e=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B mar=
gin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: =
normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: norma=
l=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Have =
fun incubating!</span></p><p style=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=
=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B margin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font=
-variant: normal=3B font-weight: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span c=
lass=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B "><br></span></p><p s=
tyle=3D"margin-top: 0px=3B margin-right: 0px=3B margin-bottom: 1.35em=3B ma=
rgin-left: 0px=3B font-style: normal=3B font-variant: normal=3B font-weight=
: normal=3B line-height: normal=3B "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=
=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B ">Caryl</span></p><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-sp=
an" face=3D"Helvetica=2C Verdana=2C Arial=2C sans-serif" size=3D"3"><span c=
lass=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px=3B"><br></span></font></=
div></span></body>
</html>=

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