I’ve learned a couple things from writing the live concert review over the years.
1) Just start.
2) Keep it short.
It sounds like the perfect sermon.
When I began writing I assumed
that before I penned the first word I
needed to do a ton of research to back up my points. I would read for hours,
and find all kinds of wonderful and intriguing information. Then I would try to
squeeze as much into the article as I could.
But there was a problem with that
‘viewpoint’. Looking back I can see that I was just sharing ‘points’ without my
‘view’. I
was dumping knowledge but it probably ended up in the landfill. People aren’t
usually impressed by facts.
I feel that people do not read for
knowledge as much as they do for affirmation. We read to find ourselves on the
page. We are always looking to validate our own unique pilgrimage. Have other
people taken similar detours? Have they experienced the same kind of defeats
and doubts as we have? If we find ourselves in a story, fiction or non, we feel
validated. We find a niche in the spectrum of humanity and so we have hope to
continue.
Therefore, when I start an article I
pour out my feelings and impressions first. Later, after the first draft, I check my facts and I research
to be sure I am credible. Heart first, facts later.
The second thing I’ve learned is to
keep it short. My first human interest
story was several pages long in the newspaper. I’m surprised they printed it
all! And I’d be even more surprised if anybody actually finished reading the
epistle.
I’ve noticed that I like to read
really short pieces and if it looks too long I will just skim for key points.
Now I aim to treat my readers the same way I want to be treated. Hey, this is
starting to sound like a sermon.
Just get started. And keep it
short.
Pam
Mytroen
