School wants me to send "writing clips"?

[Holly]

I asked my university about possibly writing for their newspaper and I heard back from them with nothing more than one sentence asking me to send them some "writing clips." Problem is, I've never written anything at all journalistic before, so I don't think I have what they're looking for. Unless you think it would be acceptable to send them some of my novel? Eh, I'm really not too sure if that's appropriate.

Help!

[Theo81]

You write some.

You need to demonstrate both your ability to write whole sentences which make sense to people other than yourself, and an awareness of what would be required of you in the position. So, does the newspaper carry reviews? Does it carry opinion pieces? Or factual reporting? Think of several things which could be printed there and write them.

[areteus]

Ask them what they mean by writing clips. It sounds to me as if they are talking about either samples of your work (and probably not your novel...) or a series of articles about writing techniques...

[DavidMcMurdo]

I used to write reviews and articles for a professional gaming website, so I've got some experience in this area. Did you ask about a specific area they were asking for writers in, or were you just making a general enquiry to the paper? I ask because you say that you approached them, but then say you doubt you have what they're looking for. Were you perhaps hoping to submit fiction to the paper?

Their response sounds very vague. It could be that they're looking for any kind of writing from you, just to make sure you have a decent grasp of the English language, or they could be looking for something in the area that you've shown interest in. It never does any harm to ask them to specify, and it certainly beats sending them the wrong kind of piece.

If that isn't an option for some reason, then definitely compose a piece in the area you expressed interest in. If you didn't express interest in a particular area, then use the newspaper to get an idea of what to write. I wouldn't worry about writing journalistic pieces either. Personally, I find it infinitely easier than writing fiction. Especially if the tone of the publication gives you enough leeway to inject your own sense of humour and express your opinions. I wouldn't be intimidated by it, and there's no harm at least trying.

Whatever happens, good luck!

[areteus]

My work on the university newspaper was mainly an excuse to get into concerts for free and interview the bands (I am not even sure if any of my articles were ever published - the editor was a bit flaky and the newspaper was later replaced by a more professional organ which I never got round to applying to write for). So maybe go to a concert and write a review or (more literary) attend a book signing, write a review of the book and ask if it is ok to interview the author (no harm in asking, I got a couple of author interviews this way).

[Holly]

These are all good tips. I think I am going to write something up just for this purpose, and I already have an idea or two. I'm hoping you're correct when you say journalism is "easier" than fiction.

[Phaeal]

Magazines used to ask for "tear-sheets," your work torn from the actual publication in which it appears. This not only showed your writing ability but proved you had been published where you claimed to have been published.

Could be they're asking for something like this. I'd ask them what they mean. You do know the old saying about ASSUME, right?

[quicklime]

Originally Posted by Holly

I asked my university about possibly writing for their newspaper and I heard back from them with nothing more than one sentence asking me to send them some "writing clips." Problem is, I've never written anything at all journalistic before, so I don't think I have what they're looking for. Unless you think it would be acceptable to send them some of my novel? Eh, I'm really not too sure if that's appropriate.

Help!

it isn't. journalistic writing is different from novel writing, just as you wouldn't send them part of your latest breast cancer grant application if you were a scientist. Sub what they are looking for....if you don't have some, make some.

[ylrebmik]

Originally Posted by Holly

These are all good tips. I think I am going to write something up just for this purpose, and I already have an idea or two. I'm hoping you're correct when you say journalism is "easier" than fiction.

I was the news editor at my university. Yes, they are asking for samples of your work. No, this doesn't mean your novel.

Writing for journalism is entirely different than writing fiction. It isn't easier or harder. It's just different. They probably want to see how well your AP style is and how you structure your work. Journalism has a very specific structure and organization. If you aren't used to it, it's incredibly challenging to write good leads and write clearly.

Since you are in college, I suggest you take a journalism course before you start trying to write for the newspaper, especially since you have no idea how to write in that style.

If you do submit something without taking a course, buy an AP style handbook, make sure your leads are solid, make sure your quotes are worthy and paraphrase the rest, and make the article clear and concise.

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by Holly

I asked my university about possibly writing for their newspaper and I heard back from them with nothing more than one sentence asking me to send them some "writing clips."

So send samples to them. Just keep in mind that news writing is completely different from ordinary prose. This is why they want the clips.

You lead off with the most important facts in paragraph one, in summary. Each following paragraph is less and less important than the one before. This is because (a) most news readers only skim the first paragraphs, at most, and (b) editors need to be able to trim stories to fit by removing the last paragraphs. They don't have time for rewrites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_style

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by areteus

My work on the university newspaper was mainly an excuse to get into concerts for free and interview the bands

(reminiscience)
Oh, I remember the college paper. It was the early 60s. All the bohemians hung out in the news office, and once a week there was an all-nighter as they got the paper together. Around 6 am, one of the editors would drive the copy forty miles to the printers across the city. In the morning, there were food, beer bottles, dank clothing, and sleeping sweaty bodies everywhere in the press room.

Since I couldn't write news style worth crap, I was a photographer. We had huge Graflex cameras that weighed about 100 pounds, along with a lead-acid battery pack for the flashgun (another 100 pounds). Finally, there was a bag of film carriers, 2 exposures each of 4x5 film. Another 100 pounds.

But the monster news camera was a magic ticket that got me everywhere on campus: games, debating societies, laboratories, inner offices of university officials, and on midnight jaunts as students pulled off various highly-organized pranks. Then there were the rushes back to get the film developed and printed by deadline. Good times.

(/reminiscience)

[Devil Ledbetter]

I wrote for my college newspaper. "Writing clips" are clipped out news articles that you wrote, which were published.

Since you don't have any clips, you could send them some writing samples, but make sure they are news story samples, not fiction. Fiction and newswriting are very different.

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by Holly

These are all good tips. I think I am going to write something up just for this purpose, and I already have an idea or two. I'm hoping you're correct when you say journalism is "easier" than fiction.

It's different, completely different. Like framing lumber is different from wood scupture. I wouldn't say easier. For one thing, you have to turn your imagination down from a 10 for fiction to a 1 for news writing and maybe a 3 for feature writing. This is hard for a fiction writer to do.

A clip is a sample of your writing, preferably published. (Some places insist that it's been published, but I don't think college papers will be too strict on this.) It wouldn't hurt to look up news style before you write the clips. Make them less than a page each.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_style

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by Holly

I asked my university about possibly writing for their newspaper

A couple more hints from my college paper days. Ability to write is just part of the job. You need:

1. To be available at a moment's notice.
2. To be willing to go into strange places.
3. To be able to just walk up to people and start talking.
4. To write and listen at the same time.
5. To be absolutely faithful to the facts. If you misquote somebody, you'll hear about it. Always check quotes back with the speaker for correctness.
6. To double check key facts, preferably with alternate sources.
7. To have your own transportation, on some campuses.
8. To carry a camera and notebook.
9. A thorough understanding of at least one sport is a help.
10. To not be upset when an editor cuts your favorite sentence, or even the whole article.

Usually, they start you off with simple assignments, club meetings, new research discoveries in the labs, etc. It's a lot of fun, but it can rule your life if you let it.

My first assignment was a photo shoot of a blood drive. I passed out halfway through.

[veinglory]

It is clear what they want. If you don't have any you need to mock some up and send them as examples of what you could do.

[Phaeal]

Watching the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker series should also help you get in the newsman state of mind. The white suit and hat are optional, except on formal occasions.

[areteus]

Originally Posted by dangerousbill

(reminiscience)
Oh, I remember the college paper. It was the early 60s. All the bohemians hung out in the news office, and once a week there was an all-nighter as they got the paper together. Around 6 am, one of the editors would drive the copy forty miles to the printers across the city. In the morning, there were food, beer bottles, dank clothing, and sleeping sweaty bodies everywhere in the press room.

Since I couldn't write news style worth crap, I was a photographer. We had huge Graflex cameras that weighed about 100 pounds, along with a lead-acid battery pack for the flashgun (another 100 pounds). Finally, there was a bag of film carriers, 2 exposures each of 4x5 film. Another 100 pounds.

But the monster news camera was a magic ticket that got me everywhere on campus: games, debating societies, laboratories, inner offices of university officials, and on midnight jaunts as students pulled off various highly-organized pranks. Then there were the rushes back to get the film developed and printed by deadline. Good times.

(/reminiscience)

We had computers and printers by the time I was doing it (and the later newspaper was a proper thing on proper newsprint...) but the attitude sounds about the same

Though one of the reporters I worked with must have been a genius... we were at a concert, covering it. The support band came on and he said 'I'm going to try to interview them, they are going to be big one day...' So, we went to the 'dressing room' (well, the SU office that had been assigned as support dressing room) and had a good long chat (with some beers) with a Mr Thom Yorke from Oxford and his band, Radiohead. This was just before 'Creep' hit the record shops.

So, yes, it is a way to get inside certain industries if you have the know how but you do have to have the balls to ask and not get fazed by celebrities (Rolf Harris once offered me Pizza, I politely declined and got on with the work I was doing). Facing down security staff at concerts is hard (easier if it is your home university but I have been to a few gigs outside where the press pass got me into the dressing room assuming you have the nerve to talk politely to the big hulk of muscle with the shaved head who stands at the door). It's easier with authors, BTW. Get to a signing and ask when it is your turn in the line. They will often put aside a few minutes for local university journalists at the end of the signing or at the very least get someone to send you a press pack.

[areteus]

Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie

Interesting question. When I went to Journalism school, only journalism students write for the college newspaper. Other types of writers, whether newcomers, or those going for an MFA, wrote for the college magazines.

But journalism comes in many flavors, and isn't all inverted pyramid style. Straight articles do usually have to be inverted pyramid, but human interest, humor, and fillers often do not. The newspaper is probably just looking for good writing. So send them some.

For that matter, inverted pyramid style isn't very difficult to learn. This was something we had to master in journalism 101, and we had to learn it fast. It really just means beginning an article with the most important fact, then the next most important fact, and so on until you reach the end. This allows a copy editor to cut the article to fit an available space by cutting paragraphs from the end. If you start at the end, and cut backwards, you're still left with an article that makes sense, that gets in the most important information, no matter how many paragraphs he cuts.

I would say this. Go and see the editor. Talk to the editor in person, and you may be surprised at his response. If nothing else, you'll get to know him, he can tell you exactly what type of writing clips he wants, and you'll be in the back of his mind when he needs something written.

I've found this works with real world newspapers, as well. Face to face is always better than e-mail or phone.

I didn't know what it was called but I was totally teaching this style of writing when doing newspaper report writing for literacy lessons in primary schools Good to see I was right

[The Lonely One]

A college newspaper wants clips? Weird...

I'm pretty sure most college journalists aren't necessarily published prior to becoming writers since it's an undergrad position (as far as I know).

May I ask what college you attend?

[The Lonely One]

Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie

True. Very few of use were published prior to starting college. Three or four in my freshman class were, but we were the exceptions.


The only time our newspaper, or the magazines, asked for clips came when a student wanted a position on the newspaper or magazine as a staff writer or editor. Many students wanted these positions, and clips help weed out the ones who were ready. I assume that's the reason here.

Makes sense. By the way how are you and how is everyone? It's been quite a while since I've been to AW.

To the OP, maybe ask if they'll let you freelance once or twice and see if your writing is what they're looking for?