Comments on: Why writers need to build bridges

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 05:05:00 +0000

In reply to Wendy Kalman. Added. Thank you!

By: Charli Mills

Charli Mills — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:18:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Gray-Grant. I wasn't sure if it were style for a type of column or simply the editor. Thanks!

By: Wendy Kalman

Wendy Kalman — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:16:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Gray-Grant. Thanks. You may also want to add "unlike" to the contrasts list.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 21:53:00 +0000

In reply to Wendy Kalman. Good one! Thanks for adding it to the list, Wendy.

By: Wendy Kalman

Wendy Kalman — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 21:16:00 +0000

Finding the commonality between two disjointed points that need to be made can also serve as a bridge. In a seven-paragraph piece on a husband-and-wife team of sculpturers (where the first six had to do with their work), I ended the sixth with a comment on their lives (“Teena and Don create commissioned pieces both together and separately, and their lives are full of their artistic creativity and thought.”) and segued into the seventh on their personal life with, “Still, they found time to raise a family.”

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:52:00 +0000

In reply to Charli Mills. I wouldn't think it had anything to do with it being an Op Ed. Writing is a matter of taste and perhaps the editor you were working with happened not to like questions. I love them. (Although, that said, I think they make terrible ledes!)

By: Charli Mills

Charli Mills — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:21:00 +0000

Another great and practical article. You have an easy way of reminding us of the basics and connecting good practices to modern freelancing. One question, about questions–were they “sprinkled” in the New York Times article because it was an Op-Ed piece? I ask because I was advised by an editor not to use questions in my articles. Thanks!

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:59:00 +0000

In reply to HC Lee. Glad you found the article useful! Thinking about the reader is absolutely essential.

By: HC Lee

HC Lee — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:58:00 +0000

Good points!
Helps me focus on the intended audience when writing. Need to get beyond just what we want to write about and think about who the readers are. Reaching out or building the “bridge” is really useful. Helps to plan and deliver the “ah ha(s)” in the written piece and this is what differentiates a so-so work from one that readers keep.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:58:00 +0000

In reply to Roger G. Yes, the "omit needless words" dictum is often taken too much to heart. To me, transitions are the very definition of words that are needed.