Writing a Story

Step One: Collect Data

Step Two: Interview

Step Three: Review your notes
Find the good stuff... circle or highlight the quotes you want to use
Note what details are MOST IMPORTANT

Step Four: Write your Lead.
This drop in point for the story MUST be catchy, drawing in the reader
Tell them why this person (or event) is worthy of a story in yearbook
You should start with drama- tell why this person is different
Make the reader hungry for more or ask a question

Step Five: Use quotes to add insight. Use the Hand out from the start of the year to lead you through this process.

Step Six: End with a conclusion that leaves the reader satisfied.

Finally: Read and Reread the story. Share it with the Editor (Sue) and one other staff member.


ASN: Take the notes you took during your interview and write a story using the steps above.
Due: Friday Oct 24th at the end of class.


A regular day on the farm at Cody Foster's house consists of getting up early and choring followed by coming home from school every evening in order to chore. This is a normal part of life for livestock producers.
Cody raises Suffolk sheep on his family farm five miles west of New Sharon. The hardest part of raising sheep is constantly checking things during lambing season. But his favorite part comes in the summer when he travels to the county fair, hangs out with friends and shows his animals. "It’s good to be rewarded for how hard I have worked all year,” says Cody.
In the future he wants to work with something in the Ag Field. But showing sheep at the county fair will always be a found high school memory.

Dawson Ferguson is a gear head. He loves to work in his father's shop on projects like his recently completed blue '65 Chevy truck.
"We rebuilt a motor then found a truck to drop it in." It took two-and-a-half years to complete the project.
His favorite part of overhauling is the first test drive or firing up an engine for the first time.
He doesn't want to work on cars as a career but thinks he will always rebuild engines as a hobby. "I think it’s fun."

"I always thought I'd just be a custom farmer," says sophomore Jesse Phillips. "But then God threw me a curveball. He gave me a gift I never imagined; the gift of rhythm."
He was a saxophone player in elementary band, but in the 7th grade, he asked Mr. Piffer if he could give drumming a try. "I just wanted to learn a new instrument. I didn't expect it to change my life."
Now, Jesse drums for NM jazz band, New Sharon AoG Church, Ignite, and a youth group called The Dock that meets in Ottumwa at the Bridgeview Center on Wednesday nights.
Jesse doesn't know where drumming will lead him, but with God as his guide he won't miss a beat.

Note in the examples above how each story has a lead line that catches your attention. In Jesse's story, I immediately want to know, 'what curve ball?'

Notice the detailed info later in his story, siting the different churches he drums for.

And finally, a great conclusion wraps the whole story up and holds it all together.