Writing For Gather: Give It Your Best Shot

What is writing for Gather like? What makes for a great article? Will my article be overlooked with all of that polished public radio content on there?

Over the summer, Gather has had hundreds of articles posted by you, our users. We collectively have provided you, our readers, with extensive coverage ranging from public radio programs like Marketplace and Speaking of Faith to personal stories like travel in Russia and what it feels like to be 80 years old in a youth oriented world.

As Gather's de facto "editor-in-chief" I have learned that there are 2 kinds of articles that seem to register with the audience: those that provoke thought, and those that come from the heart. Both are great to read, come from very different sources, and are great in their own way. For those of you who have not yet posted content on the site, let me reassure you that we do not expect articles to be polished for print. They then become filtered versions of what you are really trying to say. What we hope you will do is think about how the audience will react to your thoughts, and how those reactions might turn into conversations, and those conversations into friendships.

For those trying to get a response around politics, the media, frustration with aid to New Orleans or Nigeria -- the thing I have found helpful is to find your voice, and choose your audience. By that I mean think about who you are writing to fellow republicans you want to find agreement with, or fellow business people who want to discuss the eBay acquisition of Skype. The best way to influence an audience is to talk to them. Do some research, make your argument, and the comments will fly.

Other folks just want to air their thoughts. This is often how I reason through the things that are bugging me, or share a part of me that other don't know about. In this case, speak from the heart. The articles I have read that do this well have the occasional grammatical error, may ramble a bit, or take an unexpected turn in the middle of the story. But they reflect the writer, the emotion, and the situation well. And rarely do we read published articles that have the freedom to feel as authentically first hand as they do on Gather. Say it how you feel, and others will love it.

As you think about what to write, think about the stories you tell everyday. The ones that you enjoy telling, or the issues you enjoy debating, are just right for Gather. Share your perspective, and people will gravitate your way.