I learned that just being news does not make information 'newsworthy.'
Krysta Baron
Originally, my goals for the Writing for Interactive Media course were to (1) master various storytelling methods, (2) communicate themes through articulate writing, and (3) determine necessary story structures for specific platforms. If I had known what type of instructor Meredith Cochie was before I started this course, I could have checked off these goals before we even got started.
One of my strategies for learning to determine which story structures are necessary for specific platforms was to establish habits to actively engage the audience in each platform. I received feedback throughout the course from my professor and my classmates that enabled me to edit my writing in a way that would reach my readers better. I believe that my writing became more relatable because of the critiques I received.
One example of instructor critique making my writing better is the story idea I submitted about ADHD medications and the effects they have on the young boys who take them. I ended up holding off on writing that story because Professor Cochie showed me how much more captivating the article could be if I narrowed it down to one child’s personal journey with ADHD. If I had not followed her advice, my article would have been an extremely surface story riddled with facts from agencies and organizations rather than a compelling story that pulled at the heartstrings of my readers.
I truly believe that developing stories in a way that puts people right into the story is important. One of the first questions Professor Cochie would ask for each assignment is, “Why does it matter?” This question is much more thought-provoking than it seems at first glance. By taking the time to answer this question, I was able to rule out many story ideas because they just did not matter. I learned that just being news does not make information “newsworthy.” I had to find those stories that would make people care.
My professional and personal writing experiences will be much different from now on. My biggest takeaway from this course is how to narrow down a story idea so that it is not just a compilation of facts. I have learned to turn ideas and facts into an engaging story, and I look forward to using this new talent in my future endeavors.