Jennifer Bryant - Writing and Editing Tips

Find Another Way

2010-02-19T18:06:00Z

When possible, enliven your prose with synonyms instead of repeating the same words throughout a story. A fresher read will be the result.

WEG Bound

2010-02-19T18:02:00Z

I’m credentialed to cover the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. me with your coverage needs!

Be a Backpack Journalist

2009-09-29T01:45:00Z

Editorial and art budgets are leaner than ever, while demand for multimedia is exploding. Learn to be a jack of all trades--writer, photographer, videographer, blogger--and you’ll set yourself apart.

WEG Blog Launches

2009-09-29T01:38:01Z

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, are one year away. My “Countdown to WEG 2010” blog launched today on TheHorse.com. Click here to read. Enjoy!

Got Multimedia Skills?

2009-07-02T15:24:00Z

Today’s media consumer demands it all: text, images, video, and interactivity. Learn to produce a multimedia story well and your skills will be in demand.

AHP Award

2009-07-02T15:21:00Z

My coverage of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events for TheHorse.com won first place in the online coverage/news breaking story category in the 2009 American Horse Publications awards contest.

Just the Facts, Ma'am (or Sir)

2009-06-06T12:50:00Z

Major media may employ fact-checkers, but the littler guys usually can’t afford that luxury. Endear yourself to your editor by verifying spellings and stats before you hit “send.”

Twittering About Horses

2009-06-06T12:42:00Z

Follow me on Twitter! I’m tweeting about dressage and other horse sports, horse-world goings-on, and especially that quest for harmony between horse and rider. Click here for my Twitter page.

"Dressage 101" Podcast

2009-04-14T01:59:00Z

Petlife Radio interviewed me for a “Horsing Around” podcast. Download “Dressage 101” at Petlife Radio; click on “Horsing Around.”

Specialize

2009-03-31T22:29:00Z

Writers hate being pigeonholed in terms of subject matter, and good ones can produce quality copy on many topics. But, particularly in a tough economy, specialized knowledge or experience may give you an edge in selling yourself to an editor or other content buyer. Are you an avid gardener? A teacher? A veteran? A parent? Yes, even certain life experiences may lend you an advantage in breaking in to certain markets.

New Book Celebrates Retired Racers

2009-03-31T22:22:00Z

Eclipse Press‘s new book, Second-Chance Horses, contains heartwarming stories of ex-racehorses (many rescued from slaughter) that are succeeding in new careers. I was pleased to be asked to contribute a chapter: on Standardbred pacer Getaway Hall, who was found wandering roadside in Delaware.

Reading Isn't Dead

2008-12-12T22:59:00Z

Reading isn’t dead, but ink and paper are poised to go the way of the Gutenberg press, especially in light of skyrocketing costs and economic woes. Ready or not, this is the era of electronic media. And if you need an editor or a writer for your own project, drop me a line.

Show, Don't Tell

2008-12-12T22:54:00Z

Show, don’t tell--that’s what my high-school creative-writing teacher taught me, and her advice still holds true. Make your interview subjects or your characters come alive through detail. How they dress, where they live, what car they drive, how they talk--all speak volumes about their backgrounds, values, and world views. Actions speak louder than words (narrative), which can be flat and dull.

Book Signings at Dressage at Devon

2008-09-20T23:29:00Z

Dressage at Devon, Devon, PA, is the preeminent dressage show in the US, with a great trade fair. I’ll be signing copies of Olympic Equestrian and The USDF Guide to Dressage at The Paddock Saddlery booth Friday, Sept. 26, from 2:00-3:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 27, from 4:00-5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 28, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Writer's Block Is a Gift

2008-09-03T20:39:00Z

Writer’s block is a gift. Why? Because it means you have time to fiddle and faddle with your words (or the lack thereof). Writing on deadline—as in news coverage for a Web site—is a sure cure for I-don’t-know-how-to-begin. Get yourself an assignment that requires you to file the story right away, and you’ll find that when you absolutely, positively have to write, you can somehow manage it. Don’t know how to snag such an assignment? Try signing up for a Journalism 101-type class—anything that will force you to create on the clock.