The answer to what makes a well-written article is, to some extent, a subjective one. Whether someone is going to want to read our finely crafted words is going to depend on their particular interests, prejudices, level of education and attention span. But all successful articles are going to have a couple of important factors in common.
One of the most crucial elements is the first paragraph, which needs to be appealing and attention grabbing – a few well-chosen words at the beginning can carry you a long way. Newspaper and magazines articles come in a big variety of forms and lengths but in all of them, the overall structure is important. Rather than a meandering series of points, your article needs a strong narrative framework to tell the reader a story.
The subject matter is obviously an important component but a well-written article by a writer passionate about their topic can draw a reader in and encourage them to read about something they did not realise they were interested in. That was one of the most rewarding parts of judging the Bronze Quill entries. They were a diverse collection of writing styles and subjects that demonstrated the passions and knowledge of writers spread across Western Australia. I found myself drawn into the world of obscure horticultural specimens, learnt about the origins of the colour purple, met fascinating outback characters as I was transported to beautiful and remote parts of Australia, got caught up in a few political causes and was moved by several tales of personal trauma and triumph. All entrants should be congratulated for taking the big step of putting their creative work out there for others to see and judge.
Picking winners was particularly difficult because of the totally different approaches each writer took to their subject but the one I eventually settled on for first prize ticked all the boxes for me.
The winner, ‘Isolation No Barrier to Outback Publisher’, by Outback Writer (Raelene Hall), presents a fascinating snapshot of the life and work of someone about as far removed from suburbia as we can get, in the remote Murchison region. It has a well-constructed narrative style in the form of a magazine article but it is written with a real compassion and empathy for its subject. It has elements of drama and even tragedy but these are incorporated expertly into the broader uplifting story, which is one of an individual succeeding against the odds.
The runner-up, ‘Wedgwood Mania’, by Collector (Mary Hicks), grabs the reader from the start with a nicely composed scene-setter and then proceeds to lift the lid on one woman’s obsession with sage green Jasperware. The writer creates an absorbing story about a subject in which I thought I had little interest but found myself strangely compelled by. It also manages the rare feat of entertaining while it educates.
Commended entries:
In ‘Sensual Writing’, Pam Edwards Rose van Son) displays an obvious love of the written word and a flair for how to use it. With some well-chosen examples, she demonstrates vividly how evocative and exotic language can be.
‘Journalists at Risk’, by Daisy Hennessy, (Dodie Henderson) is a well-constructed essay on a serious and topical issue – the perils faced by journalists in the world’s war zones. The writer compiles a series of examples to strongly illustrate her point that we owe a debt to those who put their lives on the line in the search for truth.
‘Behind the Scenes’, by Merry Ostler (Helen Iles) paints a picture of an exciting and colourful performance involving horses and cannon but instead of being in the audience, the reader is drawn right into the action of putting the show together, gathering a strong insight into the uphill struggle to the get various performers to the stage.
‘Taking the Lid off Teaching’ by Jane Smith (Astra Warren) is a humorous but insightful take on an important topical issue, the role of teachers, told from the sympathetic view of an insider. Its lively style keeps the reader involved and entertained.
Craig McKeough
November 2009
Award Wining Entries
