ARTICLE WRITING - PART 8

Humor - Most Christian and secular publishers are in the market for humor, but few people can write it well. Humor is currently the 12^th most popular topic or type of article in the Christian market (out of over 120 topics). Of course, in this market the humor must have a purpose or a point. Even people who can be very funny in person may have difficulty writing funny—it takes very different skills, because you must be funny without depending at all on sight, sound, tone of voice, inflection, or any of the techniques that aid in-person humor. 

Usually it is best to stick to ordinary subjects everyone can relate to. Generally

speaking, editors will want to see a complete manuscript rather than a query (unless

they require a query). Humor articles need to be short—not full-length features—and

on a single topic. Besides articles, there is a market for humor in newspapers, books,

fillers, scripts, greeting cards, cartoons, jokes, poetry, and even speeches.

Because it is hard to query with humor, send the complete manuscript if

you can. If the market requires a query, you’ll have to send one, but in that case,

include a humorous excerpt from your article in the query letter to give them a sample

of how well you write humor.

Example: Article comparing the similarities between giving a 5 year-old or a

teenager their first taste of independence.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY

Use specific words, rather than abstract—

“maple tree,” instead of “tree.”

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

“Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players. ...I have 10 or so, and that's a lot. As you get older, you become more skillful at casting them.”

                                                                                                                                        

Gore Vidal

ARTICLE WRITING - PART 8

Human Interest - A human-interest story is one that leaves the reader with a warm feeling of satisfaction. It often uses the experiences of one person or group to reveal something positive about human nature in general. Use your best fiction techniques to develop the story of a likable protagonist to who overcomes insurmountable odds to reach a happy , positive, or satisfactory conclusion. This type of article is most often used by women’s or general-interest Christian or secular magazines, not by technical or how-to publications. Examples: Story of someone who has overcome huge obstacles; story of a family that has adopted disabled children; story of someone who has learned how to trust God through difficult times.

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY

If you are planning for a Q & A session

at the end of your presentation, be sure it

falls within your scheduled time slot.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY

In dialogue, use “he said—she said”

instead of all the clever substitutes.

CHRSITIAN BOOKS HONORED

Winners of the Minnesota Book Awards, sponsored by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, were announced at a gala on April 18. Two of the eight books that received awards are Harriet Beecher Stowe by Nancy Koester (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.) and The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers).