NONFICTION NINJAS
  • Home
  • Meet the Ninjas
    • Michelle Medlock Adams
    • Lisa Amstutz
    • Stephanie Bearce
    • Nancy Churnin
    • Susie Kralovansky
    • Wendy Hinote Lanier
    • Christine Liu Perkins
    • Peggy Thomas
  • Ninja Notebook
  • Contact

Lessons from The Great British Bake Off! by Peggy Thomas

4/24/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you have a tendency to cram every bit of research into your nonfiction, then watch The Great British Bake Off!

Seriously.  It’s a lesson in editing.

Some of the challenges take 5 hours to complete. During that time, several cameras stalk the bakers, filming from every angle as they measure, sift and stir. But do we see every minute?

No, we do not.The show’s editors select only the images and audio needed to tell a specific story in the 1-hour time frame. They show only what we 
need to know.

We need to know enough about the recipe so we understand the challenge and will be able to judge who has excelled and whose soufflé flopped. We don’t see all the bakers; just the ones who are doing very well, and those who forgot to add the eggs.

Then, just before a commercial, judge Mary Berry says, “I’m worried about Jamal,” or Gasp! The top layer of a cake tilts. The editors want us to worry. They strategically created mini cliffhangers to hustle us back from the freezer with our Dove bars.
You need to be selective too. 

Show readers only what they need to know. Select the facts and anecdotes that provide enough background so they will understand the subject.  That might mean skipping over the middle years in the development of an invention, or leaving out the spouse in a bio. 

Then create mini cliffhangers by placing a problem or question at the turn of a page in a PB, or at the end of a MG chapter.
The ingredients, or research, you didn’t use?
​
Bake another cake!
 
 
 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    We are nonfiction authors who support readers and writers through our writing, author visits, and workshops.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Disclaimer

    The Nonfiction Ninjas are a group of writers with diverse ideas and a strong belief in The First Amendment. The views expressed in each post are those of the author and may differ from others in the group.​

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    Agent
    Andrea Somberg
    Back Matter
    Bibliography
    Biographies
    Book Dummy
    Bookstore
    Breaking Writers Block
    Deadlines
    Editing
    Ghostwriting
    Holidays
    Holiday Stories
    Humor
    Inspiration
    Magazines
    Market Analysis
    Mentoring
    Mentor Texts
    Middle Grade NF
    Nonfiction
    Organization
    Picture Books
    Primary-sources
    Questions
    Reluctant Writer
    Research
    Rhyme
    Seasonal Stories
    Twitter Pitches
    Word Count
    Work For Hire
    Writing In Sprints
    Writing Protocol
    Writing Strengths
    Writing Tips

Copyright @2021
  • Home
  • Meet the Ninjas
    • Michelle Medlock Adams
    • Lisa Amstutz
    • Stephanie Bearce
    • Nancy Churnin
    • Susie Kralovansky
    • Wendy Hinote Lanier
    • Christine Liu Perkins
    • Peggy Thomas
  • Ninja Notebook
  • Contact