The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Nonfiction by Christina Boufis

Author:Christina Boufis [Boufis, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781615642984
Publisher: DK Publishing
Published: 2012-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Tips for Writing Profiles

In addition to following the interviewing techniques discussed in Chapter 8, the following tips can help you write in-depth profiles:

• Prepare by reading everything you can on your subject, but don’t assume everything you read on the internet is true.

• Interview people around your subject (getting permission from your subject first, of course): family members, co-workers, and friends.

• Ask probing questions about who or what most inspired your subject or what her most memorable experience was. What turned out differently than she expected? What most influenced her? You want to get beyond the facts and to the emotional life of your subject to help make this person come alive on the page.

• Ask your subject to describe what he was feeling or thinking on a certain day when he won that award, or started the nonprofit when the odds were against him. You can’t describe the thoughts of your subject unless you find out what they were.

• When writing, use the 5Ws to help write your lede—who, what, why, where, when—so that the reader will know the essentials about the person right away.

• Avoid too much description, which will drown your subject rather than make her come alive.

• Use anecdotes (mini stories) to show your subject in action.

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