Writing

=//Get the Story Straight// = //As a member of the yearbook staff, you are the first and foremost storyteller - you are the one responsible for interpreting and clarifying high school experiences, you are the one responsible for making the lives of the student body extraordinary.//


 * Points to Consider Before Writing Copy:**
 * decide what readers want to know
 * get information first-hand by attending events and interviewing participants
 * research background information
 * ask specific questions, avoiding those with "yes" or "no" answers
 * listen carefully
 * write copy that unifies and gives the spread content direction


 * Points to Consider in Writing the Lead:**
 * be simple, direct and concise
 * try for 25 words or less
 * focus on facts the reader doesn't already know
 * feature the most important or most unusual aspect of the story
 * use colorful, specific, visual nouns and sensory verbs
 * avoid adjectives and adverbs that editorialize


 * Points to Consider in Writing the Body of the Copy:**
 * show depth, paying attention to detail
 * don't become monotonous
 * edit for conciseness, getting rid of padding
 * cover all sides and views
 * use familiar words, not fancy ones (write to express, not to impress)
 * avoid the use of cliche sentences
 * learn subject-verb agreement and use it correctly
 * check for sentence clarity
 * use the apostrophe correctly and consistently


 * Points to Consider in Closing Copy:**
 * should logically conclude the story
 * may be direct quote, written from research material or a summary
 * ties in with the lead; comes full circle.

//Taken from Scholastic Yearbook Fundamentals, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, Chapter 4//