Writing to Deadline

by Murray, Donald M.

• ISBN13: 9780325002255
• ISBN10: 0325002258
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-20
• Publisher: Heinemann

Summary

The Working Journalist takes the reader into the mind of the nonfiction writer, demystifying the process by which journalists clarify confusion and present significant information under demanding restrictions of time and space.

Author Biography

A Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, DONALD MURRAY is a columnist for The Boston Globe and Professor Emeritus of English at the University of New Hampshire. He has been a writing coach for several national newspapers, written poetry for many journals, including Poetry, and has authored several books on the craft of writing and teaching writing, including Learning by Teaching (Heinemann, 1982), Expecting the Unexpected (Heinemann, 1989), and Crafting a Life in Essay, Story, Poem (Boynton/Cook, 1996).

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
The Journalist's Craft	1	(15)
The Craft of the Reporter	1	(3)
The Craft of the Writer	4	(5)
The Art of the Journalist	9	(1)
Journalist at Work David Mehegan Interview	9	(7)
The Process of Newswriting	16	(18)
A Journalist's Process	16	(1)
Writing to Deadline	17	(5)
Journalist at Work David Arnold Interview	22	(5)
Journalist at Work Analysis of Two David Arnold Stories	27	(7)
Explore: Report for Surprise	34	(30)
The Writer's Ten Senses	34	(5)
Asking the Reader's Five Questions	39	(1)
Seeing the Obvious	40	(7)
Avoiding the Cliches of Vision	47	(3)
What to Do When You Have to Write the Same Story Again and Again	50	(3)
Journalist at Work Steve Kurkjian Interview	53	(2)
Journalist at Work Analysis of a Tom Ashbrook Story	55	(9)
Focus: Find the Tension	64	(20)
Finding the Line	65	(3)
Finding the Design	68	(3)
The Qualities of a Good Story	71	(1)
The Conditions That Encourage Writing	72	(2)
Journalist at Work Richard Saltus Interview	74	(7)
Journalist at Work Susan Trausch Interview	81	(3)
Rehearse: Writing Before Writing	84	(35)
How to Write Without Writing	84	(5)
Leading with the Lead	89	(16)
Lively Writing	105	(6)
Let's Get Organized	111	(2)
Journalist at Work Bob Ryan Interview	113	(2)
Journalist at Work Analysis of a Michael Kranish Story	115	(4)
Draft: Write for Surprise	119	(27)
Inviting Surprise	120	(4)
Tricks of the Writing Trade	124	(4)
Revealing People on the Page	128	(4)
The Craft of Description	132	(3)
Fitting More News into Less Space	135	(2)
Journalist at Work Kevin Cullen Interview	137	(3)
Journalist at Work Analysis of a Richard Knox Story	140	(6)
Develop: Work on What Works	146	(17)
Write What's Right	146	(1)
How to Develop a Draft	147	(3)
Layering	150	(2)
Notes on Narrative	152	(3)
Journalist at Work Renee Graham Interview	155	(4)
Journalist at Work Sally Jacobs Interview	159	(4)
Clarify: Represent the Reader	163	(28)
Editing Your Own Copy	164	(6)
Tuning Your Voice	170	(4)
Writers Working with Editors	174	(5)
Editors Working with Writers	179	(1)
Journalist at Work Evelynne Kramer Interview	180	(4)
Journalist at Work Case History of a Donald M. Murray Column	184	(7)
How to Remain an Apprentice	191	(20)
Rejecting Rejection	192	(1)
Learning from Others	193	(4)
Learning from Yourself	197	(1)
Making Writing Easy	198	(1)
Journalist at Work Mary Sit Interview	199	(4)
Journalists at Work Famous Writers Living and Dead	203	(8)
Recommended Reading	211	(2)
Index	213