Knowing of Ada Brownell's newspaper experience, on this organization day, I asked her:
"Your job as a
reporter taught you how to write on assignment. How has your experience in that
area enabled you to prepare assigned
stories for books and deal with deadlines? Do you find it helps you write
faster?" - Sandy
Ada: Every day, reporters
sit down at the city editor’s desk and tell him what is happening on their beat
and the expected stories. The editor also tells reporters about news he wants
them to cover. Assignments are given sometimes, too, for the weekend edition.
After he talks to the staff, the
editor makes up a budget to fill up the “news hole,” – the space around
advertisements reserved for news. He expects the assigned stories well before
deadline.
Writing on assignment for a
Christian magazines and books is similar, but sometimes restricted. For
instance, I wrote curriculum on assignment and had to follow a format where
each part of the lesson had a certain amount of space and followed specific
guidelines.
A free lance assignment is good for
a free lance writing business, but can be challenging. For instance, an editor
made an assumption about the spiritual needs of a certain city, and the
expected news sources were offended at the assumption -- the story angle. I had
to think up another angle.
Another time, when I interviewed a
female pastor for a special edition, I discovered she was getting a divorce. She
was chosen by the editor, who didn’t know about the divorce. I talked to him
and he decided to run the story not mentioning the marriage breakup.
My biggest assignment challenge was
given by an editor who traveled to another nation to cover a ministry. He had interview
notes and a stack of information about the ministry and the country. I had to
write the story from that and my own research. Putting everything together was
difficult, but I did it.
Most assignments, the writer gathers
his own information. Ask yourself, what do I need to know? Then make a list of
things to do, information sources, and people to interview. Who are the experts
on this subject? Who is involved or had experience? What facts do I need to
double check? Who has a great quote on this subject or where can I find information
or an illustration?
You need to double check facts. For
instance, in ghost writing for a pastor his key illustration was the number of
mountain peaks in Colorado over 14,000 feet. He had the wrong number.
Another time, a minister made a
statement about the percentage of pastors who drop out of the ministry each
year. He gave a source and the info wasn’t there. I contacted research organizations
and they didn’t have the number, either. Finally, I contacted my own
denomination and used the numbers they provided, since the pastor was a member.
Writing on assignment is serious
business. You agree to gather the needed information and write the piece by a
deadline. It’s great motivation to write fast.
Much of Christian writing today is by assignment. It's one of the best ways to sell your work. Look at listing in the Market Guide and send editors your resume, along with a few ideas.
~~~
A.B. Brownell has been writing for
Christian publications since age 15 and spent much of her life as a daily
The Pueblo Chieftain
in Colo., where she spent the last seven years as a medical writer. After
moving to Springfield, MO in her retirement, she continues to free lance for
Christian publications and write non-fiction and fiction books.
newspaper reporter. She has a BS degree in Mass Communications and worked most
of her career at
Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the
Catapult http://buff.ly/XeqTvH or https://www.createspace.com/3962829
Swallowed by LIFE: http://buff.ly/TLkr0a
Confessions of a
Pentecostal: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088OP460
