Process

How to Create Compelling Photos

Posted Dec 2nd 2009 at 6:18PM

by SEED Academy Editors (subscribe to SEED Academy Editors's posts)

Coauthored by Monika Nikore, Managing Photo Editor, AOL News & Sports, and Jennifer Midberry, Photo Editor, AOL News & Sports

Photography is key in drawing the viewer to the content. A page with just text is much less enticing than one with photos. Compelling photos will grab the attention of readers and pull them into your story. Composition, timing (as in capturing just the right moment) and use of light are important components to be considered.

In general, we require our photos to be:

Clean, vibrant, well-lit images of professional quality (not snap shots)
Contemporary (unless noted otherwise)
Spontaneous / real and less like generic stock
Representative of a wide range of ages and ethnicities
Non-risqué, non-pornographic, non-sexually explicit, and non-obscene/lewd.
Free of any violent behavior

How to Find Your Own Voice

Posted Nov 23rd 2009 at 10:00AM

by Willy Volk (subscribe to Willy Volk's posts)

Comments 6

Willy Volk is a Programming Manager for AOL's Gadling.com and Autoblog.com, as well as AOL's Money & Finance sites.

By "voice," we don't mean the actual sound the vocal cords produce. Rather, we're talking about the mix of description and style that's unique to a particular writer. Perhaps the easiest way to think about a writer's "voice" is to think about your favorite comedian.

For example, Robin Williams has a certain style, a specific kind of whack-a-doo narrative description he employs, and a delivery all his own. When you hear Robin Williams, you know what you're hearing could only come from his twisted brain.

The same goes for any quality comedian or storyteller -- Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart -- they all have a unique ring to their storytelling that only THEY have. You hear a joke, and you know it's theirs. What you're hearing is their voice.

How to Edit Your Own Work

Posted Nov 14th 2009 at 2:00PM

by Willy Volk (subscribe to Willy Volk's posts)

Comments 0

Willy Volk is a Programming Manager for AOL's Gadling.com and Autoblog.com, as well as AOL's Money & Finance sites.

When planting a garden, it would be easy to simply dump all your seeds into the soil. However, the master gardener knows to use only certain seeds: dumping the seeds would choke the garden and make a mess of the scenery. In the same way a gardener plants only the right flowers in his garden -- and removes all the weeds -- you should insert only the right information into your story -- and remove everything else.

Editing one's own work may be the most difficult part of writing. To make the process as painless as possible, try to include only the most important information as you write. Don't create more work for yourself by adding extra words, only to have to delete them later. Also, once you've written the piece, pretend the words you're reading are someone else's: what would you cut if this were your friend's story? What would you cut if this were the story of someone you didn't know?

Here are some editing tips to keep in mind:

1. Carefully consider the topic. What "central idea" are you trying to communicate? Always keep this idea in mind as you work.

2. Make a list. Whether it's mental or written, note the points you must include to make your article complete. Only discuss those items that directly address your central idea.

How and When to Use Description

Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 10:00AM

by Willy Volk (subscribe to Willy Volk's posts)

Comments 0

Willy Volk is a Programming Manager for AOL's Gadling.com and Autoblog.com, as well as AOL's Money & Finance sites.

Many writers confuse a "good article" with an article overflowing with description. While a good piece may indeed brim with adjectives, using numerous descriptors doesn't guarantee a top-notch piece of writing. In fact, showering your readers with description may be a detriment.

How much description to use depends on the kind of piece you're writing. Vivid description paints a picture in the minds of readers, helping them feel as though they're standing beside you, smelling what you smell, seeing what you see. Details are essential for narrative pieces. If you're writing about India's Holi Festival -- in which participants cover themselves in bright powders, dance in the shadows of blazing bonfires, and sing into the night -- vivid, colorful description is vital.

The bold hue of the powder, the sweet scent of the kindling, the cheery sound of harmonizing children -- all are as much a part of the event as its timetable. In this case, omitting description and simply recounting, say, the history of Holi would make the article lifeless and drab. Detailed description is necessary for narrative pieces like these!

Here are good examples (all from Gadling):
Gadling Reviews the New Carnival Dream
Best Beaches in Southeast Florida
Maho Bay Camps: A True Eco-Resourt in St. John US Virgin Islands

How to Get and Use Quotes

Posted Nov 6th 2009 at 2:00PM

by Alex Salkever (subscribe to Alex Salkever's posts)

Comments 1

Alex Salkever is a senior programming manager and writer for AOL's Money and Finance sites.

Using quotes in online writing can be useful for several reasons. First, it helps you flesh out a story by supplying a "human face" to an issue. Interviewing an individual helps drive your point home -- by demonstrating that there are real people out there suffering, reveling, rebelling, or whatever -- just like you mentioned in your story.

Second, quotes allow people to participate in the discussion. If you're writing about, say, a poor experience on an airline, allowing the airline to comment makes the story more balanced. Of course, if your source is simply lashing out at someone or something, using that quote may not benefit you -- and may make you look like part of the problem. Be smart about using quotes.

So you've decided you need quotes. Well, the good news is there are lots of ways to get them -- and fast. Here's a quick guide for snagging the sources and getting the quote: