Old Process - Forest Hunt

This is an overview of an outdated a writing and reporting process I used to use. I leave it up in case any nerds want to see how I've evolved and experimented with different tools.

Writing complex news articles can be overwhelming. To tell the cleanest and most efficient story possible it's key to have a good process from start to finish. I'm constantly revising and building my own process for reporting and writing.

Currently, I use Scrivener to organize and draft information into potential stories. I use google sheets to manage my public records requests. I use otter.io to transcribe and manage my interviews and quotes. I use the Hemingway and ProWritingAid editors, warily.

Below are some examples from my "Evergreen beat" scrivener doc and my public records tracking doc to give you a sense of how I work.

I have three stages: threads to follow up on, collections of threads that have the potential to become a story, and stories that are ready to be actively reported on and written.

I use icons to differentiate threads. Blackboard: developing story, speech bubble: quotes, magnifying glass: followup, paper: notes, rectangle & circle: link, etc.

Let's take a look at a draft of a completed article.

I keep a dedicated section for long interviews. Checkmarks indicate I have finished transcribing them into Scrivener. I transcribe shorter quotes directly into my writing from Otter.

Drafting for the article. Folders indicate two major sections of the final article. Text icons indicate the body text. Documents & information are organized into their own sections tied directly to the writing they support.

Tracking public records requests is not just about keeping track of documents, it's also about accountability. I track every email records officers send me so I can quickly see patterns of public records law non-compliance and prove it if need be.