The Point (from Writing Tips for Non Writers, March 28, 2012)

Two mistakes

1. Not getting to the point fast enough.

2. Missing the point.

       1. Writing for Boston Globe West edition in early 2012, I was fascinated by the way organizers of a beauty pageant handled being locked out of their practice space. The lede:

        "Construction barriers and caution tape, scaffolding, a cherry picker hanging inches over their heads in the freezing parking lot of a church that looked long-term closed, the two women wore short skirts, filmy blouses, both had phones in each hand, 4-inch heels, traded jokes and called their contacts."

       It had nothing to do with beauty pageants.

       I cut all that behind-the-scenes stuff just to get indoors and get the story going.

       I should have cut more.

     Lesson: Get the reader to the point.