Tutorial - Storytelling as a Journalist |Summer School 2021: Week 3 - JOURNALISM CLASS

Storytelling has become a buzzword in everything from photography to advertising. As scrapbookers, we are the original storytellers. We’ve been telling stories through our pages for decades. There are many different styles of storytelling through scrapbooks. Some let photos speak a thousand words, and others use multimedia and art journalling to express their story.

Crafting compelling stories isn’t always easy. One aspect of scrapbooking that I have always struggled with is Journalling. Literally, writing out the story I want to tell. I have never consider myself a writer by trade, but usually try to write a little something about a memory such as an event or a special moment.

To some, writing comes naturally....look at bloggers and journalists. For this week’s lesson, we are going to approach our storytelling from the perspective of a journalist and apply tried and true writing and storytelling techniques that journalists have relied on for decades.

In this post, we’ll cover:

How to formulate unique angles that hook reader in
How to structure content with a clear narrative focus
How to elevate basic writing practices to keep your reader interested

But first, let’s talk about what it means to write like a “journalist”...What exactly does that mean? When the word “journalism” comes up, most of us instantly picture a newspaper or magazine style article. We imagine facts and details and blah blah blah. .......boring....... Let’s consider that style as “data journalism”....data, facts and more facts. and a pretty straightforward story. Kind of like just listing the 5W’s - who, what, where, when and why. Now, let’s consider something more along the lines of “structured journalism”

“When you break the story down into something smaller, you get something bigger”
-David Cohn​

Structured Journalism begins with the story, hooking the reader in first and making them want to read more. Adding facts and details is wound in as the story flows as reminders of the memory. Creating good stories is how we preserve our memories, not only for ourselves, but for future generations that will be something worth their time and interest. We want our stories to engage, educate, entertain, and encourage our families to pause, even if for a short time. Structured Journalism begins with the story, hooking the reader in first and making them want to read more. Adding facts and details is wound in as the story flows as reminders of the memory and helps break down a large block of text.

How to write like a journalist:
1. Begin the story by engaging the reader. What is the whole point of the story? Is it a memory of a vacation? Or maybe a funny conversation with a friend. What do you want the reader to feel? What do YOU feel? Are you amused and want to portray something funny? Or maybe you've just lost a pet and want the reader to feel your heartbreak. You'll start any story with a statement. Make that statement BOLD and BIG and when in doubt.....“Just Do It”—in other words, just start creating the story. One of the biggest challenges in getting going with storytelling is taking the initial leap. Sometimes you just need to start writing and then you can always go back and write your opening statement.

Here are some fun ideas to get your started:
I want to remember.....
Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Write a letter
Reveal a fun tidbit or an unusual favorite
Inside/Outside

2. Staying "structured" and "focused" doesn't mean you have to be boring....it just means that you decide what your story is and stick with it. Going off on a tangent that doesn't relate to your page might not be the best idea....or it might be brilliant! Try breaking things down and add a separate text box on the side or make it a double layout to include everything you want to tell.

Things to think about
Make a point
Don't over-explain
Don't under-explain
Pay attention to details

3. Elevate your writing from the basic 5W's by breaking the story down into prose and add a fun fact or a detail about one of the 5W's....If you're recording a memory from a vacation, try adding something informative about the location or the culture. When something is fresh, we always think, "oh, I'll remember it"...but often times, later when we look back on something, there might be a specific memory that we missed or something that really stuck with us but we didn't record it.

Always remember:
This is YOUR story...make it something you love
There is NO right or wrong
Practice makes perfect

Ready to give it a try? Here is an example spread I made and I hope it inspires you