It isn't that hard

[JCarson 744]

I had a conversation this week with a player who I will leave unnamed, the conversation was about how difficult it is to write enough words to do a media spot. I listened for a while and then suggested that they try a few things to make it easier.  I figured since I had the conversation with one individual maybe others thought the same way and so I am going to put this media spot together as a guide to make media spot writing easier. 

 

1. 1) Pick a topic that gives you plenty of content to write about. I have spoken on this before, as I have commented on the fact that I like to pick a theme each year for my media spots. Having a topic that provides either new weekly content (maybe a topic of how my player did in the sims this week) or is so exhaustive that you could never finish the discussion (your players review of restaurants in the city they play).  By picking a topic that has plenty to discuss it makes it easier to produce things to write. 

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2. 2) Be passionate about the topic, this may seem obvious, but I have written several boring articles just from the perspective of getting a media spot done.  Yet those articles I am passionate about tend to be the easier ones to write.  I expect that is because the words are coming from my head faster than I can type them. So, if there is something you are passionate about go for it. No reason you can’t write about your players Pokémon collection or their love of chocolate desserts or their dislike of snakes.  I would recommend if you wanted to read an article that is passionate find anything written by Gustav, just understand they may be long. 

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3. 3) Use your juicy words.  Okay let me explain, many years ago Jacob had a teacher that tried to get her class to use descriptors by calling them juicy words.  Remember people that media spots aren’t business reports where you want to be clear and concise, you need to treat them more like a J. R. R. Tolkien story, if it takes you 3 pages to describe the wind and how it blows through the trees along the edge of the river, then so be it.  If that last sentence didn’t give you the idea let me give an example.  Most of you know my players name is Felicia Hardy, so if I were writing an article about what Felicia Hardy is doing in the offseason, I could write something like: 

4.  

1.  Option 1:  Now that Felicia Hardy has some free time, she has decided to go to France to see some sights and walk along the beach. (Not bad at 22 words) 

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2.  Option 2: Felicia Hardy fresh off the gut-wrenching defeat to Riga has decided to get away, France with its food, with its wine, with the sights and sounds seems like an ideal place to escape to.  The Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, so many great sights to see.  But it is the Mediterranean beaches on the south coast, the sparkling blue water, the soft warm sand that draws Felicia Hardy in. A long quiet walk will do them good (75 Words for the same thought) 

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4. 4) Do research, however, don’t plagiarize.  If I keep on the same theme as above, I could write about Felicia Hardy’s tour of the Louvre, now I will fully admit I have never been there personally, but with a couple clicks of a button I can be on the museums website and can get all the information I need to put an in-depth description of the museum together.  Just avoid the desire to copy and paste from the website, plagiarism is against the rule, paraphrasing is not. 

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5. 5) Always use your player’s full name, have any of you noticed I always say Felicia Hardy, again that is Felicia Hardy.  It is a little thing but if your issue is getting words, then more are always better.

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So now that I am well over 650 words in this little lesson on how to put together a media spot that will be long enough to qualify you should see that with a little forethought it really isn’t that hard. 

[der meister 3,247]

Sound advice. 

[BOOM 8,818]

@der meister

 

I looked at this post as well!

[der meister 3,247]

1 minute ago, BOOM said:

@der meister

 

I looked at this post as well!

 

Title too relatable for you, too?

[BOOM 8,818]

Yes. I love my new blue pills though!

[Daniel Janser 2,217]

23 hours ago, JCarson said:

5) Always use your player’s full name, have any of you noticed I always say Felicia Hardy, again that is Felicia Hardy.  It is a little thing but if your issue is getting words, then more are always better.

While that is certainly a good advice to squeeze out more words out of one's article, I would encourage to use descriptions, as I do not like to repeat my player's name over and over again. 1. I think it starts sounding selfcentred imo 2. My German teachers in primary school would spin in their retirement homes if I used repetitive expressions. Here is a tip how I try to avoid using the same words (in this case the players name) over and over again: 'the Swiss not-so-gentle giant', 'the hulking Calgary native', 'the Americans' gritty defender', 'New York's alternate Captain'... or combinations of those... use adjectives you think match your players. These are the words which turn a piece of text from a dull accounting report into a novel, one actually enjoys reading. Also, use synonyms for frequently used words. If you do not know any, google for them. Use 'marker' instead of 'goal' every now and then, 'apples' or 'helpers' for assists. 'Biscuit' and 'disc' for 'puck' etc.

Otherwise very good advice Jacob Sr. I am convinced it is helpful for many of us (including me).

[Subject056 1,246]

Juicy words are where it's at!

Sound advice