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Learn how to make your stories compelling and interesting. This guide outlines the essential stages of writing: gathering information, organizing your thoughts, drafting, and rewriting. Explore four crucial questions to clarify your subject and message. Understand the importance of an effective elevator pitch using the 'Nine Cs' to ensure your ideas are concise, clear, and compelling. With practical tips on structuring and presenting your content, you'll be equipped to capture your audience’s attention and deliver your message effectively.
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Finding the story How to make your story interesting
Stages in writing • Gather information • Organize • Write • Rewrite
Four questions in organizing • What is my subject? • What am I trying to say about it? • How will I say it? • Have I said it well enough?
What is my subject? • Collect information • Make notes • Soak up information like a sponge • Think of interesting angles while you are gathering information • Write a formal report
What am I trying to say? • Discuss the subject with someone • Tell him/her a story • Explain what happened • Give only the information the listener needs to understand
The elevator pitch • Imagine you are in a lift with Bill Gates • What would you tell him about your project? • What is the most important thing to say? • You have 2 minutes! • Used with investors
Nine Cs of an effective elevator pitch • Concise As few words as possible, but no fewer • Clear Your grandparents can understand it • Compelling Explains the problem • Credible Explains how you solved the problem • Conceptual Not unnecessary detail • Concrete Specific and tangible • Customized Addresses audience’s interests • Consistent Same basic message • Conversational Not complete, but aims to interest audience in more info
How will I say it? • Four ways to start • Write a summary sentence • Write some possible leads • Write an ending • Write without notes
How will I say it? • Make a short list of 7-8 categories your information falls into • Eg, Situation, Problem, Production, Intervention, Results, Solution • Label your notes with these categories • Sort the notes according to category • Sort the categories into a logical order
Have you said it well enough? • Reread what you have written • Is it in the right order? • Is it interesting? Does it grab the reader’s attention? • Does it say anything new or useful?
Have you said it well enough? • Ask someone else to read it • Ask them to be critical of the structure, organization, logical flow • Ask them if the piece is interesting, easy to read • Ask them what they learned after reading
Sources • Jane Harrigan. 1992. Finding the story. Writer’s Digest Apr 1992, pp 36-9 • BBC SXSW (click on the video) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7947729.stm • Youtubewww.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq0tan49rmc • O’Leary: Elevator Pitch Essentials