If there's one article you should read today (we've all got to do something while waiting for the next Game of Thrones episode, right?), it's this interesting piece by NYMag on the night in the life of an NYC can driver whose name is Lucky. Once I started, I couldn't stop. By the end of the 2,000 word count, I was entertained, enlightened, and guilt-tripped into tipping more next time.
Admittedly, I did put on my "WRIT3050 glasses" while reading this piece, which I think may have contributed to my greater appreciation for it. I felt both a little sneaky and delighted at the same time, as though I was part of a secret that only we CNF students (and teachers, of course) knew. With those "WRIT3050 glasses" (I really am that lame/such a dork), we are able to recognise the minute details that actually have the power to turn a regular, "bland" piece of writing into something brilliant; or, at the very least, more engaging. To wit, this observation by writer Jennifer Gonnerman:
"His two-year-old cab appears to be in excellent condition — no dents or scrapes. But the odometer tells another story: 129,000 miles."
How brilliant is that?
Okay, maybe it's just me who thinks so, but if there's one thing this course has taught me, it's that careful observations make all the difference. An inexperienced journalist would've probably overlooked something as insignificant as an odometer during an interview, but a seasoned journalist would not. Instead, he or she would take note of everything in their surroundings, because even the slightest detail has the potential to make their story, or even provide journalists with a great hook or angle.
Now, to apply, apply, apply (everything I've learned so far).
Julia
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