Rosetta Stone of Narrative Journalism, J.B., Act 1

   Standing in a roomful of students ranging in ages from 15 to 55, the author explains the fundamentals of narrative journalism.She explains how every quality story must go through the process of writing and all its inherent mysteries:
     1) Conceive (of the story idea and thematic purpose)
     2) Collection (of concrete facts that support the story)
     3) Focus (of the story)
     4) Organization (of the story structure)
     5) Draft (of the story without ANY self edits and with full creative head of steam and NO notes)
     6) Revision (of the story with Editing attitude at full tilt and with all fact-checking needed and OPEN notes)
     P.S. Weeks of research; hours of perspiration and creative generation, followed by careful, precise choices, repeat as needed.)

   She explained the ladder of abstraction and its surprising source. Learn more at: http://www.amazon.com/Telling-True-Stories-Nonfiction-Foundation/dp/0452287553 and read Jacqui's essays. Along with authors Susan Orlean and Malcom Gladwell, both of The New Yorker, etc. it's a wonderful read full of explanationa and inspirations for "The Spooky Art" of writing a la Norman Mailer.
   So Jacqui went through all the obligatory explanations and remedies for discerning the nature of procrastination, writer's block, fear of flying, etc., when it comes to young writers. She then went into a number of wonderful writing exercises. Jacqui inspired, provoked and then, climbed and slid down the ladder of abstraction in displaying her writing and teaching skills, like a gymnast born of Cirque de Soleil. The students left excited, restlessly motivated and certainly exceptional members of the chattering class.