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This book is extremely well written and is helping me a lot in my job as a technical writer. It clearly lays out elements to make story telling -- even about the most boring subject -- interesting. It has the most 'bang for the buck' than any other book I've read on this subject; I highly recommend it.
These example stories teach us about structure and clarity. In the beginning section he describes in great detail how to create the thesis for a story, or as he calls it "The Main Theme Statement". From everyday living to world catastrophe, a journalist's stories should remain worth telling and reading. When it comes to being critical, Blundell encourages a dialogue between your left and right brain (the editor and the artist).
He wraps it all up by explaining word craft and editing. The most important concept for a feature writer is capturing and retaining a reader's attention. Finally, he instructs the student on the value of organization and self-criticism. Be wary however, after getting half way through the book, I found the stories to be long and almost painful to read. This structural tool guides the work from start to finish.
To organize, one must first grab the reader's attention, explain what the story is about, give details with proof and finish with a selling point. A few times I found myself questioning the effectiveness of the story and skimmed through them. William Blundell gives the aspiring student nine chapters worth of calculated steps from his own experience on how to become this writer: working with raw material, story dimensions, planning, execution and organization. While the artist writes the piece with a lovely flowing beauty, the critic/editor relentlessly cuts it up using the most crucial bits of information to redefine the story. Another chapter relates sections of stories he and other journalists have written to know what questions and angles are needed even before heading out the door.
Character building and connecting with the people closest to the story, i.e.: the farmer, not the statistics, is emphasized. This book serves as a wonderful lesson to anyone wishing to become a better writer/storyteller, whatever your individual skill level. On a positive note, this didn't seem to distract me and his subject matter was easily understood.
This is a terrific book. First, Blundell tells you what is important and why. Buy it. You'll use it and enjoy it.This is a tell & show book. Then he supports each assertion with an example in the form of a well written piece. The examples alone are worth reading.\This the best book I've ever read about writing.
His writing contains summit moments, and he earned his place on the staff of a famed paper, but I don't believe Blundell is among the top hundred or so feature writers of the past half century. Good instruction here, with lengthy writing examples well worth analysis. I really wish he hadn't included some of his own stuff as exemplary, though. Had his editor found a tactful way to make a bit less of Blundell himself, this could have been a great work, not merely a good work. Still, if you can acquire it for under five bucks, add it to your work shelf.Daniel Elton Harmonwww.danieleltonharmon.com
This book is a true gem.Set aside the absolutely helpful thoughts on generating ideas, structure, and the nexus of reporting and writing (all of which are invaluable).The idea that there is a triad of elements upon which all good feature stories are based is an extraordinarily useful one.Base a story on action, quotation and narration (i.e. the basic information necessary to the story) and go from one element to the next and so on, building the story block by block, says the author.This concept alone is the best working guide for a writer on a nuts and bolts level, bar none.
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