User:Gryllida/Getting started v2

= How to get started? =

Writing a full story is too hard so how do you get started? Start simple: write one line and click submit.

They are a personal interpretation of the author, Gryllida, and changes can be discussed at the talk page.



To add a story please make a selection below.

How far are you ready to challenge yourself?

Level 0: I can write one line about something newsworthy

 * Type your headline, click 'Create'. On the next page click 'Save changes'. You do not have to edit the article.

Level 1: I can write the headline and include a source URL

 * You learn to share an URL, identify its title and date and publisher and author. *(Firefox addon made by Gryllida may help...)

Level 2: I have the headline and a couple sources

 * This time share 2-3 sources not only one.
 * This takes a couple minutes.
 * You learn how to identify independent sources (key to verifiability ).

Level 3: I have the headline with sources, and also can write a longer description (the first paragraph)

 * This takes a few minutes.
 * This time share not only the headline and a couple URLs, but also a paragraph -- a brief description of what happened.
 * This paragraph answers some of the 5Ws and an H questions:
 * Who, what, why, where, when, how.
 * If some of these questions are not answered, spell them out (add 'why the storm occurred - missing').
 * You begin to learn to answer the 5Ws and an H without bias.

Level 4: I can answer all of the 5Ws and an H in the first paragraph

 * This takes about 5-10 minutes.
 * You learn to write all of the 5Ws and an H, this is the first paragraph of a publishable news article
 * (often one of the Ws or the H is hidden and mainstream media does not say, may need some digging around and attention! :-) ).

Level 5: I can write a longer description, with an extra paragraph or two about more details or background

 * This takes about 10-15 minutes.
 * You learn the inverted pyramid layout
 * (something mainstream media often ignores and does not do - Wikinews specific - please look carefully :-) )
 * and continue to write without bias (this means with attribution where needed)

Level 6: I can write the full article with images, maps, categories, and infoboxes

 * This takes about 15-30 minutes.
 * You learn to write a bit more content, possibly with
 * categories (documentation; use HotCat gadget ),
 * images and
 * an infobox.
 * Maps can also be added.

Advanced

 * open the style guide and content guide in a new tab, bookmark
 * bookmark this page
 * to start the note-taking log, visit this page and click save
 * aim to move to the next level each 2 weeks

Current participants:

 category=Notes about weekly news writing 