Dear MNA Convention participants,
My name is Jim Stasiowski, and I am the writing coach for The Dolan Company, which publishes FINANCE & COMMERCE, the CAPITOL REPORT and MINNESOTA LAWYER in your state.
I will be doing two seminars at the convention.
You will notice that, in the salutation (above), I referred to you as “participants” not “attendees” or “spectators.” That’s because, when you are at a Stasiowski writing-improvement seminar, you are expected to, you know, participate, as in speak up, have an opinion, break out of your shell and become a force for better journalism.
My first seminar, starting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, is called “Conflict: The core of storytelling.” I am asking you to prepare for that seminar by reading the five stories that can be found here:
(Nothing can prepare you for my afternoon seminar, “The search for creativity,” starting at 2:15 p.m.)
Before you arrive for the seminar, please read the five stories critically, looking for ways to improve them. Take notes to help you remember what you want to say. Be prepared to discuss the stories, all of which were published in U.S. newspapers. (I did take the liberty of fuzzing up the proper names so that no one is embarrassed by seeing their stories used as examples.)
ALSO: Please bring paper copies of the stories with you to the seminar.
Thanks, and I’ll see you on Jan. 24. You … you really have your convention in January, eh? I don’t live in Minnesota, so I’ll be the guy shivering in the front.
Jim Staz