Writing Frenzy
This week was a frenzy of studying for Com202, and writing and writing and writing.
One piece was for the sports section of Chronicle, and one for Connexscions. Now I really hope they do not get spiked.
I have never felt so inadequate as a writer.
Looking back to when I was younger, it has always been writing that saved me. Though I had a pretty lousy attitude towards school, the stories i turned in for composition class always kept me in the teachers' good graces. In primary school, teachers unofficially granted me from doing corrections for writing assignments. While they chased my friends to spell "ultimate" properly and write it three times, I was usually just left on my own even when I don't turn in my assignments.
But here I am now, in Communication Studies, and I have no shit of an idea how I am supposed to write or what I am supposed to write.
The kind editors that I am writing for, Tiffany and Jian Yue, painstakingly guided me through the whole week while I tried to edit my article to get it saved. Quite an experience writing my first article, as I got to experience first hand how to gather quotes and information, and how important it is to find a good angle and dig deeper. I know only because I started without one.
As for Connexscions, it was quite a rushed piece. Misunderstood the scope that I was supposed to write for, and ended up combining two topics into one.
It was never this hard. (But I have never learnt this much.)
Aside from the practical lessons learnt, talked to favorite senior Chris for a while today as I got him to review my connexscions piece. He said he could tell that I was too concerned with trying to adhere to the things they teach us in school. Inverted pyramids, short sentences, etc.
And I knew right then that he was right. This was killing my writing.
As a communications student, I understand, and am trained to write with the purpose of communicating a message to an audience. I understand that a superfluous, artistic or overly abstract piece is unnecessary. I understand that things need to be in a logical flow to bring and keep the audience on a journey. I understand that a quick and grabbing lead is what determines whether the article would be read or not.
I understand all those, and that is what I should be applying in writing. Not inverted pyramid structures, seven word sentences or one sentence paragraphs. Those are tools, not guides.
I shouldn't be constrained with all these concerns. I should be communicating the message in a way that serves the audience best. I can be creative. I can make dramatic exclamations if that is what is needed for the message!!!
I can separate a sentence from a paragraph.
Or break away a short sentence.
To make a point.
The only rule is that the message goes from me to you in this medium.
That is my insight for the week. :)
One piece was for the sports section of Chronicle, and one for Connexscions. Now I really hope they do not get spiked.
I have never felt so inadequate as a writer.
Looking back to when I was younger, it has always been writing that saved me. Though I had a pretty lousy attitude towards school, the stories i turned in for composition class always kept me in the teachers' good graces. In primary school, teachers unofficially granted me from doing corrections for writing assignments. While they chased my friends to spell "ultimate" properly and write it three times, I was usually just left on my own even when I don't turn in my assignments.
But here I am now, in Communication Studies, and I have no shit of an idea how I am supposed to write or what I am supposed to write.
The kind editors that I am writing for, Tiffany and Jian Yue, painstakingly guided me through the whole week while I tried to edit my article to get it saved. Quite an experience writing my first article, as I got to experience first hand how to gather quotes and information, and how important it is to find a good angle and dig deeper. I know only because I started without one.
As for Connexscions, it was quite a rushed piece. Misunderstood the scope that I was supposed to write for, and ended up combining two topics into one.
It was never this hard. (But I have never learnt this much.)
Aside from the practical lessons learnt, talked to favorite senior Chris for a while today as I got him to review my connexscions piece. He said he could tell that I was too concerned with trying to adhere to the things they teach us in school. Inverted pyramids, short sentences, etc.
And I knew right then that he was right. This was killing my writing.
As a communications student, I understand, and am trained to write with the purpose of communicating a message to an audience. I understand that a superfluous, artistic or overly abstract piece is unnecessary. I understand that things need to be in a logical flow to bring and keep the audience on a journey. I understand that a quick and grabbing lead is what determines whether the article would be read or not.
I understand all those, and that is what I should be applying in writing. Not inverted pyramid structures, seven word sentences or one sentence paragraphs. Those are tools, not guides.
I shouldn't be constrained with all these concerns. I should be communicating the message in a way that serves the audience best. I can be creative. I can make dramatic exclamations if that is what is needed for the message!!!
I can separate a sentence from a paragraph.
Or break away a short sentence.
To make a point.
The only rule is that the message goes from me to you in this medium.
That is my insight for the week. :)
posted by ko0n at
11:10 PM
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