Back on track

It's Monday morning at 7:30, and I am back on track for my morning writing routine. Actually I have to leave right away for a car-repair appointment, but I will take my computer with me and work in the waiting room. I am determined to keep to my writing schedule.

Friday night I saw Vaclav Havel's play "The Memorandum," which was very good. It was a satirical look at language in business, so it was relevant to my sabbatical.

Now I am at the auto dealer--Cape Cod Mazda, and there is a TV going in the waiting room. They are reviewing what the movie stars wore at last night's Golden Globes awards show. It is all about glamour, style and sex. Then the rest of the show, "Good Morning America" is filled with trivial fluff.

As for writing. I want to say that good writing is simple. Just say it simply. I need to work on just writing. Today, however I do need to get prepared for my advanced reporting class that starts Thursday. Although I am on sabbatical from my CCCC class, I am still going to teach one class for Suffolk University.

3 p.m. update: I did finish planning my Advanced Reporting class, and also went for a run. It is a balmy 56 degrees today, so I ran in my shorts. It felt great. I only did about 2.5 miles, but I liked it. Maybe I can do 3 miles tomorrow.

One of the things I wrote for my class was the following list:

 

Ten things about public affairs reporting

1.    Give people information they need to participate in their society.
2.    Tell the truth in details, in meaning, and in perspective.
3.    Answer the “So what?” question.
4.    Ask yourself, “Are you sure?”
5.    Keep it interesting.
6.    Provide new information not available anywhere else.
7.    Interview people and listen carefully to what they say.
8.    Do the best job you can in the time you have and then hand it in on time.
9.    “Omit needless words” and, “Kill the adjectives.”
10.  Think like an editor.