10 Tips for Writing Exotic Articles About Where You Live
from web site
Think concerning this: Each year people all around you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars planing a trip to "exotic" destinations. Why is these destinations "exotic"? The truth that they're different from the normal home environment. Which means wherever you live is an "exotic" locale for people in most of the rest of the world. So, write about it.
"Here? There's nothing worth authoring around here," in ways about your hometown. With the right focus on where you can look, just about any locale can yield multiple gems suitable for articles and stories. Research may be the key. Listed below are offbeat and practical sources for generating new ideas no matter how small or dull you feel your hometown is. My colonial hometown of York, Pennsylvania includes a population of less than 60,000. Still, I've found numerous gems just waiting to be dug up, polished and marketed. Below are a few topics and resources to stimulate your thinking in even the littlest, plainest, most remote towns.
Starting: One indispensable resource may be the telephone book. These pages contain enough starting information that you produce reams of articles, once you learn where to look. Leading pages often contain maps, contact data for government agencies, museums, libraries, other reference sites and key organizations. Listings under clubs, fraternities, and organizations yield special interest groups just clamoring for promotional or human interest pieces. Thumb during your directory, you'll start generating ideas right away.
Buy every postcard you could find related to your area. Key names, dates and facts on local sites will be printed on the trunk. Be sure to have a look at any available antique postcards of the region as well. Assemble them into a future reference scrapbook. Enter your town name and local sites key term from the postcards into several internet search engines. By following through to the results, points you'd never imagined can generate article ideas or new slants on "old" stories.
You'll doubtless be spending eons of time at the library anyway, so get to know the reference department staff if you don't already. They are invaluable allies in your search for all sorts of knowledge. For the price tag on a cup of coffee rich rewards can be reaped as you speak to staff members informally. Require suggestions for article ideas. Don't possess a library card? Get one - and utilize it. Readers might not be writers, but writers are always readers. If you're not scanning the daily papers and historical archives at the neighborhood library you're passing up on a treasure trove of idea-starting news pieces.
The TV/radio news and commentary: Local events are often mirrored at broader levels. Never assume that a seemingly "local" problem is of interest locally. When houseflies became a serious problem in a little Latin American town, I queried European and Asian magazines about possible interest in an article on what the townsfolk did never to only solve the issue, but earn money from it too. A global magazine expressed its interest almost immediately. Tune in AM band talk radio broadcasts. Note the issues and contact information. Scrutinize them from different viewpoints. Talk to the station, friends, and family. Research radio or TV program featured sites, locations or businesses.
Crime: What was probably the most publicized, infamous crime committed in town? A robbery? Kidnapping? Arson? Murder? Today's re-telling of the events or perhaps a follow-up on the aftermath may be of interest to numerous crime magazines, police gazettes, police and insurance industry trade publications. Ghost tales can be both fascinating and profitable. Is really a local site reputedly haunted? Cemeteries are a veritable cache of interesting ideas. Look for the initial, researching facts by Internet or newspaper archives. Talk to caretakers too.
Food: Nearly every place includes a hometown recipe or concoction they're proud of. What's its origin and special significance? Just how long has it been passed down? Are ingredients only available locally? Can people make it elsewhere? Can unavailable ingredients be substituted? Hotel, restaurant and bed & breakfast reviews are also marketable. In my own hometown, eighteenth century Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like shoo-fly pie, apple butter, three bean salad, and chicken corn soup grace our tourist- attracting menus. An informative or historical piece, or even a recipe collection may be just the ticket.
Celebrity appearances: Maybe Elvis didn't sleep there (or maybe he did), but if ANYONE of note passed through, stopped or stayed, there are those who'd like to hear about it. The celebrity can be historic or modern, represent any walk of life from Art to Zen, or be their spouses, family and descendents. Having an advance schedule of events, it is possible to profile upcoming concert performers and try for interviews. Public relations and publicity offices carry stock bios on celebrities, used as a start.
Music is of worldwide interest; an unusual type performed in your town could spiral into specialized pieces on local artists, artisans or exotic instruments just like the accordion, harmonica, dulcimer, harp or zither. Where and how are they crafted? Are lessons available? How come the instrument mounted on the neighborhood area? If it exists elsewhere, compare your area with any others.
Nature: Are there seasonal invasions of bees, butterflies, bats, or other critters? Is your area home to a unique species? A haven for hummingbirds? A wildlife sanctuary? Wildlife and environmental publications might just like the story. Zoos, insect museums, pet shops and university departments are good starting sources. I discovered a family-run business that cultures butterflies then releases them at weddings, parties and other special occasions along with giving presentations at schools, industry events and environmental conventions. Perhaps you have noticed a bizarre or curiously-shaped tree? Check with neighbors and the city planning commission. See if there's Additional info mounted on that trunk or another natural wonders in your community.
Sports or Fairs: Cover city, county or state events having an eye to unique angles and multiple marketing. Search for interesting viewpoints. Speak to category winners. Are they elderly, ethnic, or handicapped? Family secret sharers? View the events in various ways. Take photos. Surely your neighborhood proudly hosts some tournament, race, rally or marathon? How contestants prepare, interviews with sponsors, family and fans are possible article generating material. When a backyard row of huge collard greens drew focus on my late grandmother's fertilizing methods winning her a
mention at the county fair, I wrote it up. (She'd used free elephant dung from the visiting circus as fertilizer.)
Whatever your writing genre, diamonds-in-the-rough ideas for articles abound all around you. Continually note ideas, brainstorm, observe, listen, converse and question everyone it is possible to. Keep a calendar of local and regional events. Stay up to date with happenings. You may never again say, "Here? There is nothing worth writing about around here."
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and obtain paid while travelling free of charge.
To learn more on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, "To be able to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know", immediate delivery details and no-obligation information can be found online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/
Need professional, original content or articles for the blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be put into his articles and teaching materials email list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response.
"Here? There's nothing worth authoring around here," in ways about your hometown. With the right focus on where you can look, just about any locale can yield multiple gems suitable for articles and stories. Research may be the key. Listed below are offbeat and practical sources for generating new ideas no matter how small or dull you feel your hometown is. My colonial hometown of York, Pennsylvania includes a population of less than 60,000. Still, I've found numerous gems just waiting to be dug up, polished and marketed. Below are a few topics and resources to stimulate your thinking in even the littlest, plainest, most remote towns.
Starting: One indispensable resource may be the telephone book. These pages contain enough starting information that you produce reams of articles, once you learn where to look. Leading pages often contain maps, contact data for government agencies, museums, libraries, other reference sites and key organizations. Listings under clubs, fraternities, and organizations yield special interest groups just clamoring for promotional or human interest pieces. Thumb during your directory, you'll start generating ideas right away.
Buy every postcard you could find related to your area. Key names, dates and facts on local sites will be printed on the trunk. Be sure to have a look at any available antique postcards of the region as well. Assemble them into a future reference scrapbook. Enter your town name and local sites key term from the postcards into several internet search engines. By following through to the results, points you'd never imagined can generate article ideas or new slants on "old" stories.
You'll doubtless be spending eons of time at the library anyway, so get to know the reference department staff if you don't already. They are invaluable allies in your search for all sorts of knowledge. For the price tag on a cup of coffee rich rewards can be reaped as you speak to staff members informally. Require suggestions for article ideas. Don't possess a library card? Get one - and utilize it. Readers might not be writers, but writers are always readers. If you're not scanning the daily papers and historical archives at the neighborhood library you're passing up on a treasure trove of idea-starting news pieces.
The TV/radio news and commentary: Local events are often mirrored at broader levels. Never assume that a seemingly "local" problem is of interest locally. When houseflies became a serious problem in a little Latin American town, I queried European and Asian magazines about possible interest in an article on what the townsfolk did never to only solve the issue, but earn money from it too. A global magazine expressed its interest almost immediately. Tune in AM band talk radio broadcasts. Note the issues and contact information. Scrutinize them from different viewpoints. Talk to the station, friends, and family. Research radio or TV program featured sites, locations or businesses.
Crime: What was probably the most publicized, infamous crime committed in town? A robbery? Kidnapping? Arson? Murder? Today's re-telling of the events or perhaps a follow-up on the aftermath may be of interest to numerous crime magazines, police gazettes, police and insurance industry trade publications. Ghost tales can be both fascinating and profitable. Is really a local site reputedly haunted? Cemeteries are a veritable cache of interesting ideas. Look for the initial, researching facts by Internet or newspaper archives. Talk to caretakers too.
Food: Nearly every place includes a hometown recipe or concoction they're proud of. What's its origin and special significance? Just how long has it been passed down? Are ingredients only available locally? Can people make it elsewhere? Can unavailable ingredients be substituted? Hotel, restaurant and bed & breakfast reviews are also marketable. In my own hometown, eighteenth century Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like shoo-fly pie, apple butter, three bean salad, and chicken corn soup grace our tourist- attracting menus. An informative or historical piece, or even a recipe collection may be just the ticket.
Celebrity appearances: Maybe Elvis didn't sleep there (or maybe he did), but if ANYONE of note passed through, stopped or stayed, there are those who'd like to hear about it. The celebrity can be historic or modern, represent any walk of life from Art to Zen, or be their spouses, family and descendents. Having an advance schedule of events, it is possible to profile upcoming concert performers and try for interviews. Public relations and publicity offices carry stock bios on celebrities, used as a start.
Music is of worldwide interest; an unusual type performed in your town could spiral into specialized pieces on local artists, artisans or exotic instruments just like the accordion, harmonica, dulcimer, harp or zither. Where and how are they crafted? Are lessons available? How come the instrument mounted on the neighborhood area? If it exists elsewhere, compare your area with any others.
Nature: Are there seasonal invasions of bees, butterflies, bats, or other critters? Is your area home to a unique species? A haven for hummingbirds? A wildlife sanctuary? Wildlife and environmental publications might just like the story. Zoos, insect museums, pet shops and university departments are good starting sources. I discovered a family-run business that cultures butterflies then releases them at weddings, parties and other special occasions along with giving presentations at schools, industry events and environmental conventions. Perhaps you have noticed a bizarre or curiously-shaped tree? Check with neighbors and the city planning commission. See if there's Additional info mounted on that trunk or another natural wonders in your community.
Sports or Fairs: Cover city, county or state events having an eye to unique angles and multiple marketing. Search for interesting viewpoints. Speak to category winners. Are they elderly, ethnic, or handicapped? Family secret sharers? View the events in various ways. Take photos. Surely your neighborhood proudly hosts some tournament, race, rally or marathon? How contestants prepare, interviews with sponsors, family and fans are possible article generating material. When a backyard row of huge collard greens drew focus on my late grandmother's fertilizing methods winning her a
mention at the county fair, I wrote it up. (She'd used free elephant dung from the visiting circus as fertilizer.)
Whatever your writing genre, diamonds-in-the-rough ideas for articles abound all around you. Continually note ideas, brainstorm, observe, listen, converse and question everyone it is possible to. Keep a calendar of local and regional events. Stay up to date with happenings. You may never again say, "Here? There is nothing worth writing about around here."
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and obtain paid while travelling free of charge.
To learn more on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, "To be able to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know", immediate delivery details and no-obligation information can be found online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/
Need professional, original content or articles for the blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be put into his articles and teaching materials email list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response.
