In Murray’s Book Writing to Deadline really explains what Murray went through as a beginning writer and through learning what he would have to go through. He really tell this book as a story to explain how to write and be seen. He answers the questions that so many people wonder while they are writing. First off the five W’s s the most important, Who , What , When, Where , Why , How ? But on top of that there is also the underlying questions that are being asked, all the details and the meat of the story. Murray explains how the Craft of Writing is, Write with Information, we must know the details that any reader will want to see and be in tune with. You must write specific details and concrete images, readers want to be able to be in the story in a sense. Of course then there is Accuracy, you must write accurate. Names spelled correctly, ages of victims, where were they when this occurred. In Chapter three it talks about Reporting for Surprise. The first line explains it very well, “The best writers seek surprise, delight in what they do not expect to find” This is so very true , you have to seek what is totally unexpected. In Writing you have to be ready for whatever you may not expect. Although you have to know that the expected will not always occur. The lede or lead, this goes right along with the inverted pyramid this is what will get the readers attention. Less is more has to be my favorite here, how many times have we been told “Less is More” when telling any type of Information we must be able to tell it in a sense of understanding. As a writer you do not want to use words that your readers will not understand, you want them to be able to understand it all and not be confused along the way at all. When writing make sure your order is correct again going back to inverted pyramid the most important news on top going down to the less important. The beginning of your article is what will get your readers attention first and foremost.
In Chapter two it talks about “Writing to Deadline” This is a very interesting way of looking at it since most people really do not know how writers get what they need accomplished. You have a deadline that has to be met, if you are writing and you are on crunch time you will find out when you have a article due. You have to make sure it is done by then to be able to see what the readers want and what they expect. In the newspapers there are stories that are breaking news and if they are no written and done by the time the newspaper is to go out you did not meet your deadline. No matter what you are writing you must know what all the criteria is, whether it be 300 words or a 20 page book. You have to know exactly what you are to do so that you can then meet all in the criteria that is expected of you. You must stay focused on the job at and because if you aren’t you will not know what they expect and you have to get your article done on the timeline that is intended for this story to go out.
Reporting for Surprise, the best writers seek surprise and want to report on what they do not expect. Unfortunately this can be difficult especially when they have done some stories over and over , not meaning it’s the same but some in the same context. Floods, tornadoes, Sports events, they all are reported pretty much the same and will be used in the same context as stories before them. The writer has 10 senses that must be used, Sight you can see what is occurring,just sit and watch what is occurring. Is the child in the cart grabbing things off the shelves and the mother is not noticing, or is there a suspicious person right outside of the crime scene that looks as if they do not belong in the scenario they are in. Use your senses you don’t have to only use your ears, look around and see what is occurring around you. Hearing, as Murray says many people are horrible listeners we always want to respond or don’t even really pay attention to what people are saying. We need to pay close attention to every detail that is being said. Touch use this sense to be able to write exactly what readers want to hear, our society is very visual, while reading they want to feel as if they are there. Explain how the weather was that day or if at a crime scene how there was an odd feeling amongst everyone. Use your sense of smell explain what the smell was even if it was a horrifying smell or a nice perfume, explain this your readers want to know exactly what it was like. Taste although this may seem like an odd one to need to utilize it really isn’t. Use this sense to explain how a child enjoyed a piece of chocolate or how a man in the fighting rink could taste the blood in his mouth, Change, Effect, conflict context and self are the last of these , these can all be tied in together to be used correctly. they are so many ways to use each of these you just have to find your niche in writing and use them.
The surprise factor of this is to write for what the reader is wanting, as a writer you must look in between the lines for what is there but is not right in front of your face, make sure you are ready write on it and explain it all in detail. The small things are some of the most important you will use when writing so make sure you write and use them well. These chapters have been very helpful in explaining what a writer should do and what else to look for.
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