Leads: Part II

As a reporter, I found it difficult to write a story without first nailing my lead. It was as if I needed it in order to move ahead with the rest of the information. For me, the lead not only allowed me to get started, but it also revealed where I was going with the story and helped craft my ending (as I usually like to tie the end back to beginning).

In a similar sense, setting well-crafted goals, like writing well-crafted leads, is a necessary step a person must take in order to progress in his or her life, especially when trying to transition from one part of life to another. Currently, I am lost in transition. I have a broad sense of what I'd like to do and where I'd like to be in my life (healthier, thinner, richer, etc.), but no defined goals or specific plan to lead me there. Without setting goals, it will be impossible for me to move ahead.

I suppose this leads me to my first goal. I must figure out what I want in life in specific terms. Once I know that, I'll be able to move forward and take the steps I need to get there. 

- M

Leads: Part I

There is something about the process of arranging words together to craft an amazing sentence that totally excites me.

I just awoke from a dream where I was sitting in a university hall with a small group in attendance at some sort of journalism club meeting. Or at least it was a club meeting, and I was sitting with the journalists. We were in workshop mode, discussing one woman's article and helping her create the perfect lead. I was obsessed with getting it right, and even as I was awaking from the dream, I was toying with several options for the lead.

Writing leads was one of my favorite things to do as a features reporter. I always enjoyed coming up with just the right sentence or phase to grab the reader's attention or to simply capture the essence of the story. I found the process even more exciting because the perfect lead didn't always come to me while sitting at my desk in front of the computer. My mind was (and still is) constantly in motion, and words would magically piece themselves together while I was in the shower, shopping, or even driving - and I'd have to stop immediately and write them down.

For me, those moments were priceless. And I miss them.

- M