Finally sat at the computer, so, here it is as best I can remember it – my process.
When starting with an assignment on a particular story, my first step was to research and read. I didn’t feel I could select who to interview and how to target questions until I knew everything I could about the topic. Once that was accomplished, step 2 was to select who to interview, what to shoot as B-Roll, (video doc). With a list of questions in hand, the interviews are next.
My goal in writing was always to balance fact and emotion. Fact, the basis of the story and why it needs to be told; and emotion, the heart of the story – taking the viewer/listener/reader on that journey with you.
My best advice is to listen intently. Listen as you interview, and listen again as you review the interview. During the interview you can often flag soundbites in your mind – as I’m interviewing I jot a quick note to remind myself what was said that caught my ear. Listening will also lead you to ask the best follow up questions – if you’re not listening intently you’ll miss their emotion and the chance to poke deeper or follow a tangent. In a video doc, listening and taking notes was paramount to getting the B-roll I needed. Listen again as you review – make notes of what is absolutely essential – the facts you need to include – and what grabbed you when you did the interview – the emotion you want to convey – if it grabbed you the first time, it will grab your listener too.
I found it absolutely vital to organize my notes at the end of each day or at the end of each interview. By the time I’ve slept on it, the plan that came to my brain while shooting/ recording is gone. So much harder to recreate that than to record it while it’s fresh.
You describe needing to wait until you have everything assembled and all interviews transcribed to begin writing. Each person has their own style – I couldn’t wait . I would begin to write in a document at least in outline form as soon as my first interview was completed – my impressions (maybe what you call notes?) would go down. Usually something would have already caught my eye or ear that would become the hook or start of the story- sometimes not. Sometimes I’d already have a soundbite in my head that would be a good closer. Whatever I felt was critical would go in that rough draft. For me, it was easier to know that I had a start – I had something. A million revisions away from a final project, but I had something. Something started.
On editing, I always write too much (as you can see from this example) It’s difficult to cut, but I feel I need to start with too much so I don’t miss including something essential. If I can’t cut enough myself I have a trusted friend read it and let me know if the feeling of the story is changed with what I’ve chosen to cut. Almost always they help me with the clarity of a new perspective. It makes it easier to cut your work down to an acceptable size.
Another thing I’ve found valuable is to pause when you are stuck. When your brain is tired, go do something – a hobby, exercise, etc. Comeback with fresh eyes and ears and you’ll spend a lot less time than If you try to write or edit when you’ve run out of energy.
So there it is in some semblance of a large nutshell. I miss writing. May have to revisit that craft.
I came across your text via the Science Writing News newsletter. What an amazing surprise! I'm always moved by colleagues who share their writing processes because it takes a lot of loneliness and introspection (a great deal of both, to be honest). Since I became a freelance reporter in 2021, I’ve struggled a lot with the writing and editing processes. Last year was my "fuck-I-gotta-do-something-about-it" year to feel less stressed. The turning point for me was a lot of practice and realizing that what matters most is the story being told. I don't aim for perfection anymore, and I know my editors will have a different perspective on some parts, so I aim for accuracy, an ethical approach, and the heart of the story. What do my audiences need to know or understand about this topic?
I feel that my process is somehow similar to yours, but I also connected with Laurie’s.
I guess I follow this script - not exactly in this order and not always strictly:
0 - Start a Word document that will guide all the reporting. It ends up like a doctoral thesis!
1 - Read the entire research paper or the primary news that triggers the story.
2 - Dig into more news and read as much as I can about the topic to prepare for interviews.
3 - Take note of all of my doubts, even the dumbest ones. I am not a scientist; I am a journalist :)
4 - Listen carefully during interviews (totally agree with Laurie on this one).
5 - Transcribe all the interviews and match them with previous facts from the research article (or articles).
6 - Use the same Word document to include the most important parts of the interviews. I start highlighting all the important phrases and facts from both the readings and the transcriptions. I also organize it by subheadings so I can understand which sections I'm dealing with.
7 - Start a draft by outlining each paragraph to understand the connections and the general mood.
8 - Finally write it - it takes days.
9 - Reread it and fact-check numbers, stats, spelling, etc.
10 - The edits come, and I breathe deeply and start all over again (lol! Just kidding).
On field trips, I have a slightly different approach, but I usually work from home, so my process is more indoors. Great to read your work! I will look for the writing you recommended.
Hey! Thanks so much for reading, and for the thoughtful comment!! I've also been freelancing since 2021 and yeah, it's not an easy thing to do! Appreciate you sharing your process :)
Ok, you asked, so here's a response from someone who used to research, write and produce video documentaries. This was before all the great transcription programs mind you, and the fact that we could reorganize stories with a mere keystroke instead of re-typing ( yes, on a typewriter) entire pages of a script or story, was a very fresh and new concept. That context aside, I think the research/writing process is still quite similar. And, at this point I realize that I should sit down at a proper computer and actually write a well-developed response instead of punching vaguely at letters on my phone screen. To be continued ....
Finally sat at the computer, so, here it is as best I can remember it – my process.
When starting with an assignment on a particular story, my first step was to research and read. I didn’t feel I could select who to interview and how to target questions until I knew everything I could about the topic. Once that was accomplished, step 2 was to select who to interview, what to shoot as B-Roll, (video doc). With a list of questions in hand, the interviews are next.
My goal in writing was always to balance fact and emotion. Fact, the basis of the story and why it needs to be told; and emotion, the heart of the story – taking the viewer/listener/reader on that journey with you.
My best advice is to listen intently. Listen as you interview, and listen again as you review the interview. During the interview you can often flag soundbites in your mind – as I’m interviewing I jot a quick note to remind myself what was said that caught my ear. Listening will also lead you to ask the best follow up questions – if you’re not listening intently you’ll miss their emotion and the chance to poke deeper or follow a tangent. In a video doc, listening and taking notes was paramount to getting the B-roll I needed. Listen again as you review – make notes of what is absolutely essential – the facts you need to include – and what grabbed you when you did the interview – the emotion you want to convey – if it grabbed you the first time, it will grab your listener too.
I found it absolutely vital to organize my notes at the end of each day or at the end of each interview. By the time I’ve slept on it, the plan that came to my brain while shooting/ recording is gone. So much harder to recreate that than to record it while it’s fresh.
You describe needing to wait until you have everything assembled and all interviews transcribed to begin writing. Each person has their own style – I couldn’t wait . I would begin to write in a document at least in outline form as soon as my first interview was completed – my impressions (maybe what you call notes?) would go down. Usually something would have already caught my eye or ear that would become the hook or start of the story- sometimes not. Sometimes I’d already have a soundbite in my head that would be a good closer. Whatever I felt was critical would go in that rough draft. For me, it was easier to know that I had a start – I had something. A million revisions away from a final project, but I had something. Something started.
On editing, I always write too much (as you can see from this example) It’s difficult to cut, but I feel I need to start with too much so I don’t miss including something essential. If I can’t cut enough myself I have a trusted friend read it and let me know if the feeling of the story is changed with what I’ve chosen to cut. Almost always they help me with the clarity of a new perspective. It makes it easier to cut your work down to an acceptable size.
Another thing I’ve found valuable is to pause when you are stuck. When your brain is tired, go do something – a hobby, exercise, etc. Comeback with fresh eyes and ears and you’ll spend a lot less time than If you try to write or edit when you’ve run out of energy.
So there it is in some semblance of a large nutshell. I miss writing. May have to revisit that craft.
Hey Christian,
I came across your text via the Science Writing News newsletter. What an amazing surprise! I'm always moved by colleagues who share their writing processes because it takes a lot of loneliness and introspection (a great deal of both, to be honest). Since I became a freelance reporter in 2021, I’ve struggled a lot with the writing and editing processes. Last year was my "fuck-I-gotta-do-something-about-it" year to feel less stressed. The turning point for me was a lot of practice and realizing that what matters most is the story being told. I don't aim for perfection anymore, and I know my editors will have a different perspective on some parts, so I aim for accuracy, an ethical approach, and the heart of the story. What do my audiences need to know or understand about this topic?
I feel that my process is somehow similar to yours, but I also connected with Laurie’s.
I guess I follow this script - not exactly in this order and not always strictly:
0 - Start a Word document that will guide all the reporting. It ends up like a doctoral thesis!
1 - Read the entire research paper or the primary news that triggers the story.
2 - Dig into more news and read as much as I can about the topic to prepare for interviews.
3 - Take note of all of my doubts, even the dumbest ones. I am not a scientist; I am a journalist :)
4 - Listen carefully during interviews (totally agree with Laurie on this one).
5 - Transcribe all the interviews and match them with previous facts from the research article (or articles).
6 - Use the same Word document to include the most important parts of the interviews. I start highlighting all the important phrases and facts from both the readings and the transcriptions. I also organize it by subheadings so I can understand which sections I'm dealing with.
7 - Start a draft by outlining each paragraph to understand the connections and the general mood.
8 - Finally write it - it takes days.
9 - Reread it and fact-check numbers, stats, spelling, etc.
10 - The edits come, and I breathe deeply and start all over again (lol! Just kidding).
On field trips, I have a slightly different approach, but I usually work from home, so my process is more indoors. Great to read your work! I will look for the writing you recommended.
All the best from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!
Hey! Thanks so much for reading, and for the thoughtful comment!! I've also been freelancing since 2021 and yeah, it's not an easy thing to do! Appreciate you sharing your process :)
I love this post about your writing process. Thanks for sharing and explaining it for people like me who want to see it and have it explained :)
Thank you for reading!
Ok, you asked, so here's a response from someone who used to research, write and produce video documentaries. This was before all the great transcription programs mind you, and the fact that we could reorganize stories with a mere keystroke instead of re-typing ( yes, on a typewriter) entire pages of a script or story, was a very fresh and new concept. That context aside, I think the research/writing process is still quite similar. And, at this point I realize that I should sit down at a proper computer and actually write a well-developed response instead of punching vaguely at letters on my phone screen. To be continued ....
I love seeing this :)
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