I am even more impressed then that the M.O. of "over-reporting" is married so well with that pounded, "X number of inches to occupy this story within" that you took from that (which explains SO much about your fervor and discipline) but that you fed and let grow into a completely new and different style of reporting+story telling.
I am curious (and know I may not get an answer to this, being the last day of the month now and that I gleefully did get my one reply from you), did you happen to know Rick Bragg?? He actually taught a semester at my alma mater, the University of Memphis, where an ex of mine was working on his Journalism BA (to supplement his Creative Writing one) and who had the opportunity to take Rick's class, just because. They actually hit it off fairly well and I believe still occasionally keep in touch. I know the NY Times is likely to writers what the IT department for the Memphis-based major shipping company is, in that it is a sprawling collective, mostly disassociated from one another, but I just couldn't resist the one chance to ask. Rick was pretty much a good ole boy from my understanding, but also, in his case, writes non-fiction with the (as it was retold to me) desire to write fiction, but with the elemental draw and talent for writing non-fiction in a very accessible way -- vastly different from your own style, more personal. Curiosity killed the cat, they say...but what of the philosophy minor? Burning with thoughts and questions, always. ;-)
Thank you again for your wonderful affirmation that your journalistic background is a major contributor to your brilliant gifts in writing. It was a pleasure to read your response.
I am curious (and know I may not get an answer to this, being the last day of the month now and that I gleefully did get my one reply from you), did you happen to know Rick Bragg?? He actually taught a semester at my alma mater, the University of Memphis, where an ex of mine was working on his Journalism BA (to supplement his Creative Writing one) and who had the opportunity to take Rick's class, just because. They actually hit it off fairly well and I believe still occasionally keep in touch. I know the NY Times is likely to writers what the IT department for the Memphis-based major shipping company is, in that it is a sprawling collective, mostly disassociated from one another, but I just couldn't resist the one chance to ask. Rick was pretty much a good ole boy from my understanding, but also, in his case, writes non-fiction with the (as it was retold to me) desire to write fiction, but with the elemental draw and talent for writing non-fiction in a very accessible way -- vastly different from your own style, more personal. Curiosity killed the cat, they say...but what of the philosophy minor? Burning with thoughts and questions, always. ;-)
Thank you again for your wonderful affirmation that your journalistic background is a major contributor to your brilliant gifts in writing. It was a pleasure to read your response.