The Iconoclast FEB 2018

THINKING OF AN IDEA
This is probably the hardest part of writing– deciding what to do it on. You have to remember that the
best articles will be about things you know and are passionate about– so asking someone else for a topic
won’t always allow you to write brilliant pieces. Go on news sites; look at the headlines; read opinion
pieces; listen to podcasts; just try and get your mind whirling with opinions, and one will eventually come
to fruition that would be perfect sitting in the pages of The Iconoclast. There might even be a topic you’re
doing in a lesson that you enjoy. Remember that it doesn’t have to be hard hitting political commentary–
think of what you love doing outside of school, or an article that you have always wished you could read
yourself.
PLANNING
It’s worthwhile taking a few minutes to plan your
idea out before you start typing. Spider diagrams
are a good way to get all your thoughts down, or
you could just plan what you want to say in each
paragraph. Arrows are great! Keep linking all of
your ideas. Make sure it is planned well, so if you
lose your train of thought you can backtrack and
make sure you aren’t ‘rambling’.
WHY SHOULD YOU WRITE?
Ignoring the fact it should be fun to write about
something you love, writing for The Iconoclast will
also help you start to become more evaluative in
your thinking; it will help when you write in your
subjects, as you’ll improve how you structure and
put across your ideas. Also, it’s a great thing to put
on your CV and UCAS, as it shows you are getting involved.
Getting your name in print is also pretty
great, and you might even be able to spark conversations
on a topic you don’t think gets enough airtime
in the Foundation Room. Most of all, you should
write because you care about SOMETHING– whether
that be the topic you are writing about, or the challenge
that comes with stepping out of your comfort
zone and typing out 500 words.
PRACTICALITIES
When writing for The Iconoclast, there aren’t many
steadfast rules. Around 500 words is encouraged as
it ensures you have a substantial article, but stops
the amount of unnecessary digressing. If you want
to format your article– particularly lifestyle pieces–
that would be great, but I always set aside a while
to do that if necessary. If you do want to give a
helping hand, using Publisher is the best programme
to help me out. Then, email it to iconoclastbse@gmail.com
WRITING STYLE
Everyone writes slightly differently, but remember
what you are writing it for. Keep your personal
voice throughout, but make sure the language is
accessible to everyone in sixth form, and popping
in a few humorous bits can make sure that people
read on. A good tip is to presume everyone knows
the bare minimum– make sure you explain concepts,
as they might seem obvious to you, but if
someone doesn’t know much about that topic, it
can be alienating. Also, remember not to be too
opinionated– an ‘opinion’ piece is still balanced
and isn’t a ‘rant’.