Any writers/journalists??? Need some advice.

[anazillaaah]

Well, i'm attempting to profile a local band (for the first time) for my school paper and having a hard time articulating exactly what i know and feel about the band. Writing usually comes to me very easily and i love what i do but i think my fear of my editor disliking what i wrote is blocking me. I don't want to find out that i am terrible at what i love to do and want to turn into a career someday.


So my questions to you guys are:

Should i stop over thinking and just write then let the chips fall where they may?

Has anyone else run into this issue and how did you deal with it?

 

[panic in paradise]

your over-thinking it...



dont exactly 'throw the chips' either though.
walking away for a while, then coming back and going over what you were on with
can provide a whole new prospective. a less connected with it as -home-work,
and your future/love- but as your subject you personally can relate to.

as an artist; of artists.
relate to their inspirations, or extract and review their personal passions anyway.

 

[ChrisTribeSector9]

As a writer myself (I'm only a student as a "side job"), I just say fuck what the world thinks about my writing style. Is it really an art if you are conforming to the expectations of those around you?

The writing should come from inside you, and not "book learnin'," classes or anything. And just because one editor may not appreciate your particular style of writing doesn't mean that you are a bad writer in the least. It just means that the editor has a hard time relating to your style. Don't over-think what you write, or it will be obvious in reading it. The writing should flow naturally, and all will turn out well.

Hope this helps,
Chris

 

[peer.review]

When I find myself stuck while writing a paper, doing field notes or doing other types of written analysis this is what I do:

1) Write down everything that pops into your head. Don't censor yourself. It doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense or if it isn't worded just the way you want it, all that is important right now is that you get yourself started. If you don't do this, you will just spin your wheels writing outlines and wasting time.

2) Once you have written as much as you can, stop and walk away for an hour or so. Being too close to a project makes it difficult to see what needs to be cut from the final product.

3) Read what you wrote (out loud if possible) and then edit, edit, edit, edit, edit, and edit. Clarify good paragraphs, get rid of bad paragraphs, and make sure everything flows.

4) Walk away and take a break. You earned it.

5) Give your paper another "once over" and make sure you like what you have written.

MOST IMPORTANTLY 6) Don't take it personally if you have to rewrite parts of your paper. If you want to write professionally, then you have to come to terms with the idea that YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REWRITE AND RESUBMIT. This is just part of the business. Learn that rewriting is part of becoming a better writer.

and 7) If your editor wants you to change something that you think shouldn't be changed, take a stand. You can always turn down changes if those changes violate your voice as a writer.

 

[panic in paradise]

^all great points peer.review;

" 3) Read what you wrote (out loud if possible) and then edit, edit, edit, edit, edit, and edit. Clarify good paragraphs, get rid of bad paragraphs, and make sure everything flows. "

reading aloud, or using a program to read what i have written back can make a big difference, much the same as walking away and reading over. this is a very valuable and regular practice for myself, yet i rarely see it mentioned.

dumping out paragraphs that dont exactly fit, can sometimes lead to other changes which weren't as apparent before, this can be difficult but is necessary when is...

i feel its also worth mentioning, that your editor might have confidence in you and appreciate your work, but may want to see what you are made of; push your buttons to see if you can take similar honest harsh criticism down the line later.
~
it can be a nasty cut/throat bizZ, from what i've heard and been shown anyway -
you will probably need the same callousness/detachment as they can&do have, especially the first few years out of school id imagine.


how is your article going anyway-
any exciting up-dates..?