Yesterday I talked to a guy in my office about a possible path to get into professional writing. This same guy is the editor of Columns, the monthly newsletter of the Dallas chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). A month ago I submitted a piece to him for publication; he liked it and will publish it in the coming months. I’ll keep you abreast.
He suggested that I write a few more pieces and submit them to the editor of the newsletter for the Texas Society of Architects (TSA), and then work my way up through there. I am having some difficulty thinking of subjects for these kinds of pieces.
You people know my strengths and weaknesses. I’m strong when writing about my personal experiences, and less so when writing about more abstract, big picture issues. It is my thought that I will have to bring in these big picture issues in a piece for the TSA. I’m positive that I do not want to write an architectural criticism. I can write about my experience with a building, but not an objective criticism. (Is there such a thing?)
I’m opening it up for discussion in the comments. Any and all ideas are welcome and valid, but I reserve the right to mock you.
winrit | 25-Apr-07 at 11:46 am | Permalink
I don’t believe you should lose the spirit of your personal writing when doing technical writing. I mean there has to be plenty of boring academic writings out there already, right? Have you found authors you like in the technical field that have a similar writing style to yours?
As for topics, I’m sure I don’t have anything too original to offer, but what about looking at a trend. Like in my neighborhood there used to be ornate, two-flat brownstones with big front porches. Now they are tearing them down and putting up bland condos with no front porches. Something like that.
saltine | 25-Apr-07 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
Alex, ask yourself, “What do I want to say?” Once you have that answered, finding a topic to express your concept should be easier. Anyone can tell a story. When you write for publication, you should be attempting to do more than that.
If you’re uneasy about big picture ideas or issues, try thinking more in terms of your point of view, then look for the way that fits into big picture ideas. From there you have a springboard to a topic because the topic is simply a means to an end, that end being getting your idea out there.
If, as winrit writes, there is a writer you admire, you would do yourself a service by collecting and analyzing why and how he writes. Once you hit on his/her technique, it’s easy to emulate that style in your own writing. At least, it’s a starting point for developing your style and voice.
MagnusFromBerlin | 26-Apr-07 at 4:14 am | Permalink
I haven’t got a clue what the content of a Society of Architects newsletter is supposed to be… do you guys have like building horoscopes and stuff?? (you’re building on sand, because Mars is in the second house…)
Oh, i know, an architectural analysis of the Art Deco Streamline Moderne Xanadu Roller Disco… in fact make it a whole series. Buildings of my movie watching past in structural analysis with a personal touch… you can mock me now.