writing An Explainer

 

ObjectivES

Plan and pitch a short, explanatory piece of public-facing writing about a topic within your expertise!

 

TO Do

  • Listen to the “Writing an Explainer” podcast (either here on the website or through the Storyboard app) or read the transcript

  • Check out the slideshow, which walks you through the basics of writing in this genre and how to translate a twitter thread into an explainer

  • Draft and workshop your pitch (with your podmates, if possible!) and send to Kalpana Jain by 15 December

    • Kalpana will offer feedback on your pitches via email by
      31 December

  • Review the additional resources as your schedule and bandwidth allow

 

important dates

(7 December)
If you can: Share pitch w/ pod & workshop

(15 December)
pitches to Kalpana

(31 December)
Feedback from Kalpana

 
 

Podcast

Ask an expert: Kalpana Jain

Not a podcast person? Read the transcript!

 

Slideshow

Because 2020, there are a few odd silences in the middle of this slideshow. If you’d rather just download the actual file, in which there are no weird silences, you can do so here.

Activity: Pitch An Explainer

Use your twitter thread from our social media unit to pitch an explainer to Kalpana Jain, Senior Religion + Ethics Editor for The Conversation!

Review

Your twitter thread from the last unit. You already have your topic, your argument, and most of your sources ready to go! Good job, you. You don’t have to use your thread to springboard your pitch, but it might save you some time and help you gauge interest (yours and your readers’) in the topic.

Write

Check out Kalpana’s guide to writing an explainer and The Conversation’s short guide to pitching before you start.

Be sure your pitch includes:

  • What kind of explainer you’re pitching (news hook, anniversary/festival, religious literacy, “curiosity question”)

  • What topic you’re addressing

  • How you’re helping readers better understand the topic (3-5 points)

  • Why this topic matters

  • Why you’re the person to write about it

And remember — public scholarship is about building relationships.

You can claim your expertise and still talk to editors like they’re intelligent human beings (because they are).

Share

  • If you can, upload your pitch by 7 December and workshop with your pod.

  • Email your pitch to Kalpana Jain, subject line: SW pitch + [Working Title Here] by 15 December

  • Kalpana will provide feedback on your pitch by 31 December

As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions! Can’t wait to read your pitches.

 

Additional Resources

If/as you have time, check out these resources before moving on to the next unit. Let us know what you think on twitter (#SmartInPublic)!