Should lengthy features be written with sub-headings?

[smsu_scribe]

I'm talking about newspaper features that are broken up by bold sub-headings throughout the story. Do you guys think this is a better way to write longer pieces than just writing straight through without the headings? And is there a change in approach to writing the story with headings, as opposed to writing one without them?

I guess I'm partly wondering because I'm writing a feature right now, and wanted to see what everyone's take on this is.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Yes.

 

[JackReacher]

Depends on the story. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

 

[BillyT]

Ialways put in suggested subheads, knowing that the desk can eliminate or replace them if they want.

 

[SF_Express]

Sometimes subheads...sometimes simple text breaks -- three boxes, three bullets, whatever your style is.

My preference when I wrote was text breaks over subheads, but that was me personally...

 

[spnited]

It also can depend on your newspaper and what your editor wants to do.
You might try talking to your editor about it instead of wondering what everyone here thinks.

 

[ayahuasca]

You might try talking to your editor about it instead of wondering what everyone here thinks.

Wow.

 

[spnited]

Wow?
You work on a piece that long and you don't talk to your editor? But you get nine different opinions from SJ and pick the one you like best?

So you take SF's opinion (a good one but maybe NOT your paper's style) and use bullets as text breaks. So you submit the piece and your editor asks: Why bullets when our style is subheads? What's your answer? Wow?


My point being, newspapers have different styles. You should know or at least ask what style your paper uses and follow it.

 

[ayahuasca]

Noted, but you seem to be implying that the last thing this board is for is bouncing ideas off other journalists... I'm sure the guy is going to speak with his editor, but it seems he just wants some friendly input.

 

[spnited]

I have no problem with people bouncing ideas off each other. But if you're asking a specific style poimnt, the first thing to do is ask your editor what your paper's style is.

I realize a lot of younger writers think editors are the enemy. But I'm an old editor who believes you can actually improve the way things are done and save repetitive work if writers and editors actually TALK TO EACH OTHER!

 

[Liut]

I have no problem with people bouncing ideas off each other. But if you're asking a specific style poimnt, the first thing to do is ask your editor what your paper's style is.

I realize a lot of younger writers think editors are the enemy. But I'm an old editor who believes you can actually improve the way things are done and save repetitive work if writers and editors actually TALK TO EACH OTHER!

Point taken, but why so hostile?

 

[spud]

I have no problem with people bouncing ideas off each other. But if you're asking a specific style poimnt, the first thing to do is ask your editor what your paper's style is.

I realize a lot of younger writers think editors are the enemy. But I'm an old editor who believes you can actually improve the way things are done and save repetitive work if writers and editors actually TALK TO EACH OTHER!

Point taken, but why so hostile?

Yeah I thought the same. This kind of thread seems to be the exact thing this board is designed for. Who says he hasn't or won't talk to anybody on his desk?

 

[spnited]

Not hostile at all.
I don't see why expecting communication between writers and editors is considerd hostile.

This is a great place to get a lot of great advice about the business and the craft. But my first piece of advice on a thread like this is don't ask me what my preference is or what my paper's style is, ask your editor what he wants.

 

[Liut]

I guess I misinterpreted the bolds and caps. Anyway, this thread probably needs to be moved to Writers' Workshop. Oh, SMSU Scribe, I prefer bullets FWIW.

 

[I Should Coco]

Not hostile at all.
I don't see why expecting communication between writers and editors is considerd hostile.

This is a great place to get a lot of great advice about the business and the craft. But my first piece of advice on a thread like this is don't ask me what my preference is or what my paper's style is, ask your editor what he wants.

What spnited said. The more discussion between editors, the desk and reporters, the better.

As a rule, smsu scribe, I always have told reporters to go ahead and put a headline and/or subheds in their stories. They might not fit the space available, but you'd be surprised how many times the copy desk will use them.

Good luck with your feature story.

 

[smsu_scribe]

I'm the sports editor of a campus paper. I basically have the final call on this. Just striking up a little craft conversation. But I'm also going to probably submit the feature to the local daily that I part-time for. And I will be asking the editor about the subheds.

I've used subheds before in my stories, and I like how they seem to bring a piece together, and I've found my writing process to be more organized when I use them.

 

[SF_Express]

I'm the sports editor of a campus paper. I basically have the final call on this. Just striking up a little craft conversation. But I'm also going to probably submit the feature to the local daily that I part-time for. And I will be asking the editor about the subheds.

I've used subheds before in my stories, and I like how they seem to bring a piece together, and I've found my writing process to be more organized when I use them.

Yeah, see, that's what I thought here. It struck me as a question from a smaller (or school) paper that didn't really even have a style and was looking for some hints on one to have.

 

[outofplace]

Definitely do something to break it up if you can. I think it makes longer stories more manageable for the reader.

I did one project a few years back in which we ended up going with pull quotes instead of subheads. Not something I would try every time, but it really worked well for that piece.

 

[BigDog]

No subheds. Ever. It's a crutch. A cheap way out. Write a story, not vignettes.

If a desk wants to break it up, great.

But as a writer, write the damn transitions yourself.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Chapters. Yes.