Clark has some great suggestions and tips on preparing for writing in general, most of which I do to some extent but have never consciously considered. I think I could do better on “doing my homework” in some cases, as I find myself having to ask follow up questions while writing some of my stories.
I also have a goal for this semester to read more for form than content. More often than not, I skim quickly through stories by journalists I love on the bus, and then never think to read them again. As a writer myself, I know the amount of time and painstaking effort that goes into writing a story and I feel that I’m being a bit disrespectful for not taking my time and appreciating the writing.
In terms of saving string, I’m excited about this class because I don’t think I have ever taken on a story that allows for so much time and research. This will likely be my biggest string-saving endeavor to date. I’m a sucker for having physical copies of my material, so I usually keep a folder with printed copies of articles I’ve found pertaining to my topic. I also make notes in journals or notebooks, often sketching potential outlines or infographics when I get an idea. Though not directly related to writing, I save string for upcoming events, like my law school application. I’ve printed the application information and keep it in a folder with my LSAT scores and the business card of an advisor from my dream school. I’m a bit of a pack rat so I like the idea of saving string, but during this semester I want to make more of a concerted effort to look for information about my topics and give myself more than enough information to write these stories.