Writing Tip: Double check your facts

Double check all your facts. Don’t rely on your professor or an editor to catch mistakes.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Be precise with word choice

Be precise in your word choice. Did the coach scream or shout?

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Leave your opinion out of your story

Don't put your opinions or judgments in your story. Stick to facts.

NOT: In the end it was better for her to quit her job.

INSTEAD: In the end, she quit her job.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Avoid jargon

Avoid jargon. If you don’t know what something means, your readers probably won’t either. Explain it in terms an ordinary person can understand.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Avoid run-on sentences

Avoid long sentences.

These are also known as "run-on" sentences because they keep running on and on. Even if your sentence is well-written and correctly punctuated, it's still difficult for readers to follow. After 25 or so words, readers begin getting lost in a sentence.

So, if you have a sentence that's over 30 words, consider rewording it or breaking it down into two separate sentences. Also, mix up the length of your sentences. Have short ones, medium-sized ones and longer ones.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Don't read minds

Don't read minds. Tell readers only what you know. For example:

NOT: She feels that problems can be solved…

INSTEAD: She said problems can be solved.


-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Show, don't tell readers

Show, don’t tell the reader. Readers need details to visualize your words. They need to smell the perfume, taste the wine, feel the cashmere. Don’t just say it was a beautiful sunset; describe it in vivid detail. Good writers paint portraits with their prose.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Show you care

Write about things you care about and are interested in. Otherwise, your indifference will likely be reflected in your writing.

-Mark Grabowski

Writing Tip: Be ready to slash

W hen I was a cub reporter, an editor told me, “The best way to improve as a writer is to have someone rip your work to shreds.”

Now I'm a journalism professor, and I tell my students the same thing. You can’t be married to your words. You need to be open to feedback and even harsh criticism. In fact, you should invite it. It will make you a better writer.

-Mark Grabowski

The most important journalism tool

CubReporters.org is introducing a new feature: Journalism Tip of the Week.

Here's our inaugural tip:

A journalist's most important tool is not a notepad, tape recorder, computer or even the ability to write a story. A journalist's most important tool is her brain. As a writer, you have to cut through the flab of all the information around. You need need to question, question, question. What happened? Who does this affect? Why is this important? Critical thinking precedes good writing.

Newspaper editors agree.

-Mark Grabowski