…including a small tool to help you score
What is the most important part of your writing? The Idea you are trying to communicate, of course. And we all have ideas, some of them terrific ones. But, sometimes even our best thoughts make very dull reading. How can we tell if the idea we want to write about is compelling enough, interesting enough to make a good story or essay topic? Occasionally our instinct will tell us if we’re on the right track. Our friends or fellow writers, someone we trust, may be able to give us their opinions. Other times, we may be on our own, and still need a little help in…..
Every journalist is taught that a news story requires answers to the questions who, what, where, when, and why. When writers address these questions in a news story, the reader gets all the information they need to know what’s happened. When writers address these questions mentally about a story they plan to write, then they can evaluate whether or not they are ready to write that story, and how interesting a story it makes.
The following is a score sheet to help you test out your ideas. It is subjective; your opinion of your work determines the scores. However, it will help you organize your thinking when you try to judge how good an idea is.
Consider each question in regards to the story you plan to write. Who are you writing about? What happens? Where and when does it take place? Perhaps most important, why are you writing about this?
One other question, not on the score sheet by itself but actually a part of the Why, is how do you want people to be affected by this piece of writing? This may be the most important question of all, because sometimes we feel strongly about an issue, but our very feelings prevent us from being the best person to write about it. Think carefully about what you want a person to take away from your story or article, and then, separately consider how well you can do this in terms of engaging the reader, informing them, and keeping them engaged while you share with them your thoughts and ideas. For fiction, of course, the question is more about how entertaining and compelling you can make your story.
When you have answered each question, either mentally or in notes on a piece of paper, rate how well you answered each question. The score sheet has a Point System listed on it. Mark each section, then tally your score. The higher your score, the ‘bigger’ your idea.
This is not foolproof. It’s just one way to approach evaluating your ideas. And the better the idea, the more likely your reader will enjoy your writing.