Killing Darlings in Profile Writing
Every higher ed writer has been in the unenviable position of having to write a profile of a student, faculty member, or alumni. One of the most challenging parts of the writing process is shaping the narrative—focusing on what's most important for the writer to share with their audience—and, inevitably, figuring out what to do with what's left over. In this interactive session, you will learn about the process of “killing darlings,” — removing some of your favorite anecdotes, quotes, and sources from a story in order to protect the narrative. The conversation will focus on how to identify a narrative, build the architecture of the story, and how to preserve it so you don't lose the reader down a rabbit trail. You will also learn about the hero’s journey approach to profile writing and will receive suggestions for what writers and editors can do with their "killed" darlings, so their most cherished ones are not lost forever.
Speaker: Brian Gabriel Canever, Brand Writer, University of Tennessee