Writer’s Perspective

Every writer has their own approach to their craft.  Imagination, observation, and personal relationships are just a few of the sources that writer’s draw from to create their work.  However, as acquaintances of writers, are we allowing ourselves to become their subjects for creative development?  In her article “Opting for Invention Over the Injury of Invasion,” Carol Shields reflects on the struggle to limit the damage to personal relationships that can be caused when they are used as inspiration in fiction writing.

As she opens her article “Opting for Invention Over the Injury of Invasion,” Carol Shields recollects a time when she met a friend at a shopping mall who had just purchased a green nightgown and was on her way to find green candles to match her new intimate wear.  Intrigued by this look into the corky characteristics of others, Shields added this detail into the novel she was currently writing.  Upon reading her draft, however, Shields removed the node to her friend in fear that she would be uncomfortable by the reference to her unusual color coding practices.  Shields reflected that many writers face such a challenge between utilizing real life human inspiration and offending friends and colleagues by adapting their traits into their fiction work.  In her discussion of this struggle, Shields notes that, “For I am convinced that no one wants to make an appearance in someone else's fiction, whether in the guise of a slightly demented shopper or equipped with heroic raiment” (Shields, 2000).  Shields states that every writer will address this situation differently, but I agree with her assessment that we should consider how others will be affected by the use of their personal interactions and experiences for fiction writing.  No matter how innocent or flattering a reference may be, it could still invoke a sense of embarrassment or a feeling that their privacy was invaded.

The sentiment which Shields describes can also be related to writing for the social media environment.  Writers of online content face a similar dilemma: how will what we write affect those that are involved?  The Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics asks writers to “minimize harm,” but that can sometimes be difficult with the rapid speed of information sharing through social media.  For example, when Joe Paterno’s death was falsely reported by a small local media outlet, the inaccurate report went viral and soon national news outlets were publishing the report as truth.  This premature report not only affected Paterno’s family, but also affected the victims of the sex scandal at Penn State that clouded Paterno’s successful coaching career.  It is important to ensure that the information we are sharing on social media is accurate and well researched or it can have damaging effects on those that are involved.   

In closing, it is important for writers to consider the affect that their work will have on their audience when they are preparing to release it to the world.  In her reflection on fiction writing, Shields noted that people are reluctant to have details of their lives shared, no matter how small or identifiable they may be, so one must balance real world inspirations with personal relationships.  In terms of writing for social media, writers should also be aware of how their reports will affect those that are involved before sharing information on a global platform.  No matter what the genre or publication platform, writers should always make sure to address how their audience will react to their content before they publish it.         

 

Multimedia Tools

As I have discussed in my previous blog post Blog Best Practices, digital media writing requires several key components in order to stand out among the millions of online media authors.  Additionally, writing for online media also calls for the use of multimedia tools.  Consumers are not only looking for engaging content, but they also want that content supplemented with sensory elements.  When used correctly, multimedia tools can greatly enhance messaging, and two of the most common and basic tools are photo and video.

First, photos can enhance messaging by providing an impact through illustration that may not be able to be accomplished through words.  Recently, I read a classmate’s blog which lead me to discover Opacity: Urban Ruins. This blog is centered on imagery, and each post has a short description followed by a gallery of images of a particular “urban ruins” location.  The images shown of each location are very powerful, and it would be difficult to truly illustrate these scenes of abandonment in words.  This blog aims to showcase decay and neglect, and the photo structure supports that theme perfectly.  More and more websites, such as Pinterest and Instagram, are adopting this format of photo illustration in order to connect with their audience on a whole new level.

Furthermore, video is a multimedia tool that can create another layer to digital media presentations. An extraordinary example of the use of this tool is depicted in the NY Times story “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek” by John Branch.  This story not only provides very engaging writing, but it also delivers stunning visual elements that make the reader feel like they are actually experiencing what they are reading.  As you scroll through the story, the reader is met with several video elements that help depict the feeling of being in the avalanche.  The video imagery that I found most powerful was the bird’s eye view tour of the Cascade Tunnel, which was so visually spectacular that it made me feel like I was flying over the area myself.  It also allows the reader to see just how large of an area the Cascade Tunnel is, which helps to illustrate the story being told in the text.  The use of video throughout the article brings about a new level to storytelling which could only be possible in the digital media age.

Although multimedia tools can enhance messaging, they will not always be effective if they are not crafted in a clear and concise way.  One example of this was outlined in the NPR article “Chart Check: Did Obama's Graphics 'Enhance' His Big Speech?" In his 2013 State of the Union speech, President Obama decided to supplement his presentation with visual aids such as videos and charts.  The NPR article specifically focused on the charts displayed during the presentation to determine whether they did in fact help convey the President’s message.  Charts were utilized to illustrate such topics as Social Security, jobs, the stock market, and several other important topics, and data analysts determined that they were unclear, confusing, and sometimes misleading for those with an untrained eye.  Visually, these charts may have looked well put together, but if the audience could not understand or connect with the information then it was not ultimately worth using them.  Multimedia tools are meant to create another connect between the information and the consumer, but it is better not to use the tools at all if they do not invoke that connection.   

Multimedia tools are an essential piece to writing for digital media.  They must, however, be used properly to enhance your information.  You must take the time to research and craft the right multimedia pieces or your supplements will not translate to your audience.  Proper use of multimedia tools will enhance your messaging and bring even greater success to your online media writing.