Writing is a skill, and improving writing is like improving any other skill.
Do you suck at dancing? Nobody would suggest that you buy a book on dancing, or view videos on dancing, or do a Web search on dancing. Now those things might help a little – they certainly couldn’t hurt — but if you want to become a better dancer you need to spend some time with someone who is a good dancer. You need to watch that person dance, and get some one-on-one instruction, and then you need to let that person make some suggestions on your dance moves.
That’s the way you learn to dance, or to swim, or to cook or to drive.
And it’s the way you learn to write, too.
Books and workshops and webinars are good, but there’s no substitute for sitting down with a writing coach to talk writing. Not writing in the abstract, but the city council story you just wrote.
The Center wants to help, so we’re launching a new contest: Win a Writing Coach for a Day.
The coach is Paul LaRocque, a veteran of more than four decades in writing, reporting, editing and teaching. He has worked at both community papers and metros, and he has written books on the editing process. He has spoken at our workshops, and perhaps most importantly, he’s a really nice guy. The kind of guy you’d like to share a cup of coffee with and talk shop.
The contest is simple. You just give us a little information about your paper (your paper’s name and address, circulation, and editor or publisher) and tell us why you think you need a writing coach in no more than 500 words.
Your explanation should answer these questions: Why does your newspaper need a writing coach? What are the problems/issues you would like for your coach to address? In what ways would you like to use your coach during his day in your newsroom?
Send that info to us at [email protected]. The winner will be announced on Monday, Aug. 2.
If you win, your writing coach will contact you to set up a time to visit your newsroom. And you’re not out a cent — except for that cup of coffee. We’ll expect you to cover that.