Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Breaking Down Story Structure

We've been talking recently about story ideas: where they come from and how to develop them.  I want to fast-forward now past the research and interviewing phases and to the writing.  You've got lots of information in your head. How do you get it on paper?  

Media trainer Terry Fitzpatrick has a really useful way of breaking down the structure of a story.


How do you do that with the elements you've collected?


Yes, it's a formula... but you've got to know the formula before you know how you can break it!

The master of storytelling has a slightly more organic, but similar approach... 



What are your tricks? How do you get the story out of your head and onto paper? What tips do you have for organizing a story, dealing with writers block, and any of the other oodles of problems we face daily (and often under deadline)?

1 comment:

  1. My first News Director was a big fan of the "Pregnant I." Picture that in your head for a second.

    Broad anchor lead, macro look at the story.

    Reporter starts by focusing in on one person or situation.
    Then, reporter broadens it out to place the micro in context of the macro.
    Close story by bringing it back to the micro level.

    Anchor tag is a new piece of information at the macro level.

    I still find myself using this approach.

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