Writing Guide

1. Write like you're talking to a friend (not writing an English paper or college-application essay). Your readers are your peers, so your stories should be conversational.


2. Be sure to include real experiences. How'd you personally get involved in the issue you're writing about? What keeps you involved? What limitations are there? What's frustrating? What's exciting?


3. Be detailed and descriptive. Most readers don't have the advantage of seeing what you see, so be detailed. Instead of saying "attend meetings" you might include what kind of meeting, what it's about and who's there. Remember that the most vivid writing pulls readers in and keeps them there. Remember the senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, feel. And use comparisons — as boring as what? Nervous like what?


4. Use real teens' voices. If you can, quote two or three other teens who are involved in or affected by the issue you're writing about. Be sure to use the correct spelling of the teens' names and include their ages and schools. Quotes are things someone says WORD FOR WORD. You can't change what they said or add on to it.


5. Show VOX readers the local connection. Sometimes it's hard to connect to a situation going on hundreds or thousands of miles away. To get your readers interested, show them how your story relates to them here in Atlanta.

• Lede - the first paragraph has to get people's attention. Writers sometimes use a quote, little story or startling fact to illustrate their point. This is your intro.


• Nut graph - the second or third paragraph usually summarizes the main point of the story and tells readers why it matters to them. What's the "so what"? Try to say it in one or two sentences, like a thesis statement.


• Body - the part of your story where you prove your point or tell a story. This can include quotes from other people or statistics and analysis to prove your point.


• Conclusion - you need to wrap it up without saying "in conclusion." Sometimes ending with a quote or summarizing something you've learned can be a powerful way to end a story. But don't just reword your intro or feel like you have to wrap everything up in a pretty bow. Not every story has a happy ending, but readers shouldn't feel lost/confused at the end either.