Writing Coach Podcast 177: A new answer to “Why now?”

WCP177 A new answer to “Why now?”

Usually when I’ve left a news hook out of a pitch, it was because I couldn’t come up with one easily, and hoped for the best. After all, there are evergreen stories out there. I’ve read and sold a few myself. Maybe you have too.

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Usually when I’ve left a news hook out of a pitch, it was because I couldn’t come up with one easily, and hoped for the best. After all, there are evergreen stories out there. I’ve read and sold a few myself. Maybe you have too.

I’ve tried slapping on a thin hook, which sometimes does the trick. And I’ve had some evergreen ideas linger in my ideas folder for a long time, and eventually a news item would come up that was a good fit, making it salable. 

But I started to wonder about speeding up the process to improve my pitch acceptance rate.

What would happen if I started with the news, rather than adding it on?

As it turns out, using current events to spark feature ideas is a twofer. You get an idea that hasn’t been done to death, plus an integral answer to that timeless question, Why now?

Basically, instead of grasping around for a news hook or settling for one that’s a bit of a stretch, it’s the first thing you consider.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode: 

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WCP 1: What’s your problem?

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