Wisdom and Inspiration
Rules, stories, quotes, persistence
Journalism needs rules, but it also needs stories about why the rules matter. This is where Simon put the pieces that were less instruction and more inspiration. Hemingway, the gravedigger, the Pulitzer, the reading list. Pieces to return to when the day job is grinding you down.
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A Reading List for Journalists
Simon kept a shelf of books near his desk and used to say that most young journalists would do better to read those books once than to take...
Simon Says
Simon's voice, when he was teaching, was short sentences. Short paragraphs. Sharp rules. The kind of advice he would fire down the phone at...
The Walkley Awards
The Walkley Awards are Australian journalism's most prestigious honours. They were founded in 1956 by Sir William Gaston Walkley, a New...
The Pulitzer Prize
WARNING! this article is 10 pages long and contains 8,000 words. It is a painful, emotional story that is depressing to read. Several...
Rules and principles
Great pieces
The Pulitzer Prize
WARNING! this article is 10 pages long and contains 8,000 words. It is a painful, emotional story that is depressing to read...
A Reading List for Journalists
Simon kept a shelf of books near his desk and used to say that most young journalists would do better to read those books once...
More in Wisdom and Inspiration
Contacts - building them
Building contacts is one of the most important things a journalist does. Say you're in insurance broking, so you already have a...
Elmore Leonard's Rules: Hooptedoodle
Easy on the adverbs, exclamation points and especially hooptedoodle By ELMORE LEONARD Elmore Leonard's Rules of Writing 1170...
Excuses
Writers make excuses. All the time. Nobody is interested. I find them boring and I hate reading them. Just as you are not...
Fictional stories
Fictional stories There is no point in writing fictional stories if you want to be a journalist. This is journalism, not creative...
Hemingway
You couldn't find the Hemingway quote. These tutorials have been reprinted several times, but you should find it on page 18 of...
How to Improve Your Writing
How to improve your writing Many students ask me a question like: 'How can I improve my writing?' Well, you can read books, study...
Inspirations for Writers
Some inspirations for you I hope In the hope of inspiring you, consider these two matters: cliches, and your first. Cliches I...
Journal writing
Regarding writing a journal. I NEVER encourage my students to spend time on journal writing. This writing time would be better...
Manuscript - your novel
Regarding your book manuscript. Well, I love novels. I've even started and abandoned writing two. I never showed my progress to...
Rejection horrible
Sorry to hear of your rejection. Well, of course that's to be expected. Rejection is not failure, it's just what all writers go...
Relatives-friends advice
Do NOT show their writings to loved ones. Your friends and relatives love and respect you and want for you what you want for...
Rights
You ask about 'rights'. After four decades in print, radio and television journalism, I am extremely familiar with the assigning...
Solutions, Not Problems
I've run my own publications and my own television programs. That is, I've been the boss. I always lay down a golden rule: my...
The Walkley Awards
The Walkley Awards are Australian journalism's most prestigious honours. They were founded in 1956 by Sir William Gaston Walkley...
Wise advice
Wise Advice Pin This Up Somewhere You'Ll See It !! When you've finished writing, check your article for logic, facts, syntax...
Writer's Block: It's Not What You Think
You have mentioned not getting on with your intended article. Well, like you I have no magic answer. Not finishing a piece of...