Comments | pambachorz: 5 reasons why journalism majors are ^&*% excellent YA writers

pambachorz

5 reasons why journalism majors are ^&*% excellent YA writers

Jan 13, 2010 17:37

I took a grand total of two English courses in college: advanced composition and comparative romantic literature. Nothing against English majors and profs, but I'm proud of my alternative path. I am a proud journalism major (go COM!). For good and for bad, my days of j-school shaped me into the writer I am today. Here are five unique offerings that ( Read more... )

Comments 8

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pambachorz January 16 2010, 02:46:43 UTC

Oooh, good addition. Definitely applies.

sbennettwealer January 14 2010, 01:18:40 UTC

Totally agree! I went to J-school and worked at 3 different newspapers before pursuing other writing avenues.

One thing I would add: Being a journalist gives you tough skin about your writing. You're used to having an editor rip your story apart, and often not very nicely. Everybody's on deadline at a newspaper, and nobody has time to coddle you or worry about your ego or whether the muse was with you that day. They need your work to be good no matter what, and if it's not good they'll make it good. You can go cry in your beer later if you need to.

Because of this experience, I'm not afraid of revision and I'd rather hear the truth about my work unvarnished. (The flip side is I'm not too good in *some* critique circles, 'cause I tend not to sugar-coat my feedback...)

pambachorz January 16 2010, 02:47:31 UTC

Outstanding point. I have the same problem with critiques! Just lay it on me!

jodyfeldman January 14 2010, 02:39:54 UTC

Loved my J-School training.
Ditto to both above plus ...
*Needing to write about a plethora of topics provides broad-based experiences to draw from
*Interviewing skills come in handy
*And on the advertising side, identifying target audiences? Much like developing characters.

pambachorz January 16 2010, 02:48:15 UTC

I like your additions Jody... I actually have a book about character development that includes character interview questions. Maybe THAT'S why I like that portion so much!

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pambachorz January 16 2010, 02:48:31 UTC

We'll let you in the j-school club Teri. ;)

latteya January 14 2010, 03:34:08 UTC

I was a J major for two years before switching. I still have a fabulous grasp of the correct usage of to too two, their there they're, etc...

pambachorz January 16 2010, 02:49:10 UTC

It makes for painful driving around town, reading signs, no? If it see one more misuse of its/it's I'm going to scream!