Make It Memorable by Bob Dotson

He writes in a way that draws readers attention. He makes sure that the reader has time to focus and time by using the Rule of Three. He writes the middle of his story first that way he can cut out if he needs to. He makes sure he has good soundbites to write the opening like of a story. He is careful of not wanting to make is writing to long or boring. He get to the information and then cuts how what is unnecessary things. He writes scripts first to write down his thoughts and use that to write his stories. In his stories he does not use easy soundbites. He use one good soundbite to make his story better and unique. He likes to write stories that are not like other reports and he waits to get good information out of the people he needs to write a story about.  However, he makes sure he use strong central characters in his story that way people can relate to them. for example, like not going after the mayor to get a story out of him but one person can give us good thread to hold our story together.

People nearly always answer a question three times. If you give them enough space before asking another question then they will put their thoughts into sharp focus. To get unique soundbites we should try asking the non-question/question. He uses script to write down his story so that we don't throw away thoughts. They will help us with our story and its good to go back to it if we need more information. We should find strong central characters because people can relate to the people not soundbites.The story should not be boring or too easy to find. The story should be interesting and something fresh.

I believe that each column is used to sketch out how the story will be told and what his thought are. That way he can get the story together and figure out what he needs to do to make it better. I think he splits the script like that to give himself to write shots or important things he need to show. The way he writes his scripts his different than others. His scripts very detailed and specific. The way he writes them I believe are interesting because he writes little action before a sentence.

In the story I watched from Rock Center had all the five bullet traits Dotson gives. The first bullet was scene setting. In the begining they had a wide shot of the funeral and pictures to show. They also showed the highway and when the person who was driving stop somewhere. They added natural sound such as church bell and narration by the reporter. The foreshadowing the in story I believe is the very begging shot of the mother in the story talking. She was saying that for a long time good would not leave her in this pain she was in and then they showed the clip of the funeral. The conflict in the story his the law sue, attempted suicide and her marriage. She wanted to kill her self so, she hid pills and try to kill herself. She is depressed and doesn't want to do anything and she argues with her husband a lot. They fight and she feels sorry for him that he has to feel that pain. He got sued because the car involved in the accident was his. Her friends are always with her and they make her do morning exercise like she use to. They watch over her and make sure she doesn't do anything. The character growth is that she realized she can't do anything about what has happened and she should move on. She learned to not be so depressed. The resolution is that now she has a child. She doesn't argue with her husband and she doe not want to commit suicide. She is taking care of her child now and is feeling alright.