tips on writing an obit

[awriter]

Speedway,
I'm guessing you work for a weekly and not a daily, and that this person died a few days or weeks ago. Since it's probably not breaking news, take a feature-y approach but get to the point pretty quickly. Don't bury the lede (yeah, I know that was in terrible taste, sorry). And use your archives. You might find some old features that you can use as a reference, not to mention some quotes from your subject. Also, think about art. Maybe the family has some cool old photos or scrap books that you could use along with any photos your paper has.

 

[Ace]

Reporting tip: If you need to do an obit and don't know where to start and hesitate to call the grieving widow straight up, talk the the funeral home folks first.

The wife/kids/etc. may be too distraught initially, but they can point you to someone who is handling things for the family and know who would be willing to talk and once you're in with one person you can go from there.

 

[BillyT]

1. I need to re-write it because my hard drive crashed this summer, but I keep my obit on hand, and my wife knows where to find it. I try to keep the photos updated, too.

There's a note that says it's raw copy -- like anything else -- but I hope they use it as intact as possible.


2. I should remember the guy's name, but the Boston Globe used to have an obit writer who was an absolute artist. A friend of mine said, "I wish Dad hadn't died, but I am glad he did the obit.

3. My only advice is like the other folks'. Make sure you get everything right.

 

[Ace]

1. I need to re-write it because my hard drive crashed this summer, but I keep my obit on hand, and my wife knows where to find it. I try to keep the photos updated, too.

There's a note that says it's raw copy -- like anything else -- but I hope they use it as intact as possible.


2. I should remember the guy's name, but the Boston Globe used to have an obit writer who was an absolute artist. A friend of mine said, "I wish Dad hadn't died, but I am glad he did the obit.

3. My only advice is like the other folks'. Make sure you get everything right.

What do you die of BillyT? Something fun, I hope.

 

[BillyT]

Oh, Ace. I have died a thousand deaths.



I just know it's gonna come out in the paper as: "BillyT, who [insert cause of death here], spent a great deal of time posting to Internet message boards . . . "

 

[TheMethod]

If you intend to write "aunt", make sure it doesn't say "cvnt."
(curb your enthusiasm).

note: "cvnt" gets changed to "*****cat" by the censoring function on this Web site. As far as I know, that's the only word that gets censored.

 

[awriter]

Here's another suggestion. Read a few obits of famous people and study how the major outlets handled them. Maybe you can apply how they handled, say, Ike Turner's death to what you're working on. Take a look at AP's optional. Read the LA Times or Boston Globe or (pick a major daily) stories.