How Journalists Write So Much, So Fast

As for how to write well, here's the short version: Write a bad version 1 as fast as you can; rewrite it over and over; cut out everything unnecessary; write in a conversational tone; develop a nose for bad writing, so you can see and fix it in yours; imitate writers you like; if you can't get started, tell someone what you plan to write about, the... See more

The 14 tips:

1. Research to prove or disprove hypotheses, vs trying to boil the ocean by seeing what’s out there.


2. If doing stakeholder interviews, at the end of the day discuss the key themes, write them down, order them and use this as your skeleton.


3. Don’t waste time transcribing. Use tools like Fireflies AI or Otter.AI. They get you 80% there.


4. Identify

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Here is a simple process for shipping software projects that works. First, decompose the project into a stream1 of headlines. Then pick an aggressive date to ship the first headline and work like hell to meet that date. Have everyone work only on one headline at a time– the upcoming one. Ignore everything else. Don’t work on anything that doesn’t h... See more

The “golden pitch,” as she describes it, consists of a basic formula: brief greeting, introduction, story idea description, proof of credibility, a brief explanation of why the story should be published now, and the “ask:” Are you interested in commissioning the story and when would you like me to file?

“A pitch must be timely, have a unique angle,... See more