It's true that the best interviews are like good conversations. That is, in most cases the interview should be a comfortable give-and-take session where you and the person you interview talk with each other, not at each other. Of course, if the interviewee is hostile or defensive, this may not be the case. But the three best things you can do to have a good interview are:
1) Prepare thoroughly by researching the topic and/or the person and list questions.
2) Take good notes and record the interview if possible.
3) Listen very attentively.
Being a good listener is the most important thing you can do. One of the biggest mistakes many inexperienced reporters make is worrying so much about what question to ask next, that they don't realize something important or unexpected that the interviewee has just said.
Here are a couple of short videos I would like you to watch. The first is some good advice about interviewing from network anchor Katie Couric. The second is from National Public Radio's Scott Simon.
There's an old saying in journalism: "Less is more."
Forget about the times you wrote as much as you could about something in order to impress the teacher or give your reader the impression that you really know what you're talking about. In journalism brevity is key. Hard news stories must be concise or you'll confuse and lose the reader. While feature stories allow writers to be more descriptive and more creative, that doesn't mean you should necessarily start writing a lot more. Right now we're focusing on short profiles so that means first do thorough reporting and interviewing, then pick the very best information to write your story. Don't give the reader all of the information. While your words may be sacred to you, you have to be able to cut what's not necessary and edit wordy phrases.
Think of it as fat-free writing.
Click on the links below to see three more examples of 300-word stories by Brady Dennnis, then comment on which you like the best and why.
Looking for a laugh
One minute and $123 dollars
As time goes by
I actually liked all three of this stories a great deal because they did not simply present the facts dryly, but inspired some sort of emotion from the reader. Since I have to choose, I would say that my favorite was the story of the marriage office. Maybe it is simply that I always want a happy ending, but I felt like this had a more hopeful feeling than the other two. It also seemed to provide the most background information about the people involved without becoming overloaded. By adding in those little details, it made the story more interesting because I could see why this seemingly mundane marriage was so important to couple.
ReplyDeleteI liked all three stories right until the ends of each one. The endings, to me, were depressing. They were the simple facts of life but it left me with a feeling of I wish I did not read that story. The stories were interesting and diverse that when first reading it I wanted more but then like I have already said the ending did not. I appreciate though how hard it is for someone to condense a story to just 300 words after attempting to myself.
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ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoy Brady Dennis's 300 word stories. The editor’s note on the bottom of each story really sums it up. "300 Words offers glimpses of everyday life that often go unnoticed." It's true, and I think that the harsh reality of this is that plenty goes unnoticed in life. You can look at someone and judge them without even knowing their story. The 300 word stories really show that every person has a story, and it is not always a pleasant one. I liked the one about the 65 year old man and his produce cart. I found it to be interesting, as there is actually an old man who sells produce from a cart every year close to my house. I have always wondered why anyone would ever want to do that, and it got me thinking if perhaps he had a story, a reason for doing what he does. I think that is what these 300 word stories are all about. You not only finish reading them with questions about the particular story, but also with questions that apply to your own life.
ReplyDeleteI liked As time goes by the best because it was really interesting learning more about someone's simplistic lifestyle. Although they all were great, I sympathize more with that story because it's so heartwarming and interesting. I have never thought about the lives of people doing odd jobs such as Mullins, and I feel like this story impacted me the most out of the three because I will now let my mind think and wonder more about other people's lives that I normally wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI like the first one, Looking for a laugh, and As time goes by the best. I like the idea of writing a story using just 300 words because it allows the writer to get right to the point, and it allows the reader to take in all the important details. The downside with these particular stories is that the endings were so abrupt. I understand that the writer only has 300 words to tell their story, but the ending is what really ties the story up, so it is an important aspect to the story. But then again, perhaps the endings are kind of indirect to make you think about what happened next. Overall, I think it is a different yet appealing style of writing that really grabs and holds the reader's attention.
ReplyDeleteI liked the stories "Looking for a Laugh" and "As Time Goes By." They were emotional and heartfelt, even though they were short. I think the 300-word approach makes the stories easier to read. Every word is important, and I think there is more impact in the story because it is not wordy. It is extremely clear, concise, and to the point, which gives the point of the story more effect.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was "As Time Goes By." It was very touching, and I thought that it conveyed a lot of emotion even if it was very short. The 300-word story method makes things very direct, giving the writer a limited opportunity to present information, but it lets things run a lot smoother because everything is condensed. This doesn't mean the author doesn't have freedom, but it shows that the writer is a good writer by packing so much emotion into a small space. I think that it's a great method.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was "One minute and $123" because it was inspiring to hear about Adriana Perez "saying yes because she wanted to say yes". She was able to marry someone she loved this time and it was her choice, not an arranged marriage. Also this story was happy because the program allows people to be married, even if they can't afford a big wedding ceremony. The day will be very special to them, no matter where they are at. I also liked "Looking for a laugh" because many people have heard stand up comedians before and this story makes you wonder what their lives are like when they aren't joking. Also I love the quote on why he wants to be comedian, he says, "For those few minutes, they aren't thinking of anything bad". And it's true, he just wants to make people happy and forget about their troubles, if only for a little while. It's very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we see a feature story on a specific person, it is always someone we have heard of a thousand times before, such as an actor or an actress. I admire the way Brady Dennis changes this around by writing about people we see quite often, but don't give a second glance. One example of a person like this is in the story I liked the most, "As time goes by." In this story, we learn about a man who spends six days a week selling fruit in his yard. I am sure most of us can't imagine doing that. Dennis' writing skills allow us to learn about people who aren't famous, but have just as good of a story to tell. It shows us that everyone has a story to tell, we just have to take the time to listen.
ReplyDeleteI found the three feature stories to be very refreshing. The story telling aspects and the little tid bits of information were very appealing to me. The stories give enough information about the subject to create a good, structurally sound story but the author also leaves enough information out of the story to let your mind wander. These stories leave you questioning about the people in them,wondering how their life is going now. These stories are very touching and sentimental, much more so then a hard news story. They leave you caring for the people and wondering about their lives. These stories are very good examples of how to write an amazing profile story with out being to wordy.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading the 300 word stories. I like how short they are and how they look at the angles of ordinary people and turn it into something obscure. My favorite story was Looking for a Laugh. I liked that one because it was different from the other stories. The other ones had a "happy ending" theme. Looking for a Laugh was about a comedian who has had a rough life and all he wants to do is make others laugh. I think its ironic, because the man has been through a lot and he himself needs a laugh. I admire his determination to make it as a comedian
ReplyDelete"Looking for a Laugh" was my favorite story. Mainly due to the fact it was slightly more light hearted than the other two. I felt that Dennis did a brilliant job telling the story behind such a common event in "One Minute and $123 Dollars". "As Time Goes By" could have been slightly more interesting because I feel like the details do not reveal any intriguing insight.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was "Looking for a Laugh" because it focused on an "unfunny day" in the life of a comedian. Anybody can write about the amateur stand-up comedian who makes it, but Brady Dennis found the guy whose jokes fell flat, the one who bombed, the man nobody else would have remembered except for this story. I thought it was inspiring that even through all the difficult times of his own life, this man wants to make others happy. I was also fascinated by "As time goes by", amazed at the contentment of this man who has never had much and yet seems to be rich in a personal aspect.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was "One Minute and $123 Dollars", because I felt that it illustrated what is really important about getting married as well as simply profiling the couple. To me it seems that the focus of a wedding is on how many guests will be invited, where it will be held, what the dress will look like, how many people will be in the wedding party, and what food will be served at the reception. I liked how in this story the focus was able to be on the couple. I felt that this story was not quite as sad as the others, and I appreciated that as well. It is nice to sometimes read something which seems hopeful instead of depressing.
ReplyDeleteI liked the "Looking for a Laugh" story the best. I liked how it gave insight into a day in the life of a comedian that many others would overlook. The other two stories were interesting to read but the endings seemed a little sad to me. I like the 300 word features because they are short and to the point and provide something fun to read that won't take you 3 hours.
ReplyDeleteThree-hundred words, a few minutes of my time, emotions boiling up inside and dozens of questions. Questions that are meant to be answered but are not. These questions will never be answered, and I want more. Three-hundred words may seem like a lot. To me, they do not satisfy my curiosity. Brady Dennis is a wonderful and adept writer, everyone can agree. His stories are vivid and bring forth many emotions, but they do not, and never will, answer the questions that arise at the end. Like every short story or novel I just can't get enough of, I want to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteThe 300-word stories were very enjoyable to read. I especially liked the way "Looking for a Laugh" because it was lighthearted and sweet. The stories are all short and easy to read, which makes them great for someone who doesn't have a lot of time. The stories grab you right off the bat and make you think a bit. I really enjoyed the way they were to the point, but still very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think that these stories were good, but slightly bittersweet. Each piece had a part that was good, and a part that wasn't as happy.
ReplyDeleteI like the 300 word stories because they supply a detailed story without much time needed. My favorite story was As Time Goes By. It was a very simple story that made you feel so much. The short writing style is very effective I believe.
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