Bios

Our most recent assignment, writing a 170-word bio on one of our SJI classmates, was one of the most trying processes that I've gone through since coming here. It's one thing to have to write a whole game recap in just twenty minutes, but having to cut down 21-years of someone's life into 170 words was quite challenging.
I got to actually experience the process of writing a story, printing it out, and editing it before submitting a final copy. Having to delete things and add others, finding shorter ways to say what I needed to say, and taking input advice from the subject of my story was a new process for me.
Obviously, every story I've written has been edited and chopped down to some degree, but this was different. I was responsible for capturing this person's life in 170 words and my first draft was 206 words.
This experience definitely has made me a better, and more economical writer already. It has given me a chance to step out of my shell as more of a long-winded writer and into the shoes of a journalist who actually meets his exact requirements.
My final draft came out to 169 words, and I could not be more happy with the results. Hopefully Mr. Lee and the rest of the staff feels the same way.