Let's Drink from the Writer's C-U-P

C = Is my story clear, concise and conversational? How do I tell? By reading aloud and listening to it.

• CLEAR
  • If you stumble over a sentence, change the sentence. Or cut it.
  • Will it be clear to your 12-year-old brother?
  • How about your grandfather?
  • Does your story put you to sleep or confuse you? It will do the same for the reader.
• CONCISE
  • Is everything in my story necessary?
  • Have I stayed "on message?"
  • Remember the "speech theory": Would my audience fall asleep if I used all this information in a speech?
  • Are all my verbs as strong as they can be? As an exercise, print out your story before sending it and highlight all the verbs. Rate them on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the strongest. Any verbs 3 or under should be changed or cut.
• CONVERSATIONAL
  • Does it sound like something you would tell a friend over the phone?
  • Does your lead sound like the first thing you would tell your buddy at the bar? Is the story easy to read? Make it so.

U = Is the information in my story useful for readers?

• What's the point of my story?
• What do I want the reader to do?
• What kinds of information does the reader need?
• If no "officials" were reading this story, how would I write it?
• Would drop-in boxes, graphs or charts help me keep the story conversational and give our subscribers a "quick read?"

P = Have I used real people in my story?

• Or am I relying on police and politicians and other "officials?"
• Another good exercise is to highlight all the names in your story. If you don¹t have at least two "Regular Joes" or Janes, find them.
• Am I a good neighbor? Do I get out into the community to talk with readers and sources?