A Writing Workshop

MY FAVORITE DESSERT

Free writing

Free writing

Stream of consciousnessWhatever comes to mind

Etc.

Lower your standards and write whatever comes to mind …Get past your internal voice that says, “You

stink.”Remember … shitty first drafts. Ignore the

mice in the jar.

Ready?

Start!

Stop.

Count your words. And now you’ll read to one another:

Reading Ground Rules.

Reader: Just read. No embellishment. No apology. Listeners: Just listen. Maybe nod your head and smile now and then. Perhaps say, “I really like vanilla ice cream too!”

Time to Focus.

What were they REALLY writing about … ONE WORD ONLY!

Col. 1 Col. 2 Col. 3

Choc. Cream pie

Dessert What it’s about: What it’s about:Listener/reader writer

Choc. Cream pie

Subject Theme: Theme:Listener/reader writer

What observations/conclusions might you draw about the differences or similarities between the words in Column 2 and Column 3?What reaction do the writers have to the themes defined by the reader?What reaction do the readers have to the theme defined by the writer?

“ … the one ingredient that’s often left out of the whole process is not the writing or the reporting, but the thinking. You have to think your way through the story and how you’re going to tell it to the readers first.”

David Maranis, PulitzerPrize-winning reporter for the Washington Post

This is the kind of work reporters need to do … “What’s this story REALLY about?” is a useful tool.