looked it up<\/a>: “The alternative spelling was invented to differentiate it from the metal lead (pronounced led), which was used in hot metal typesetting.” Also, DO back up your trend declaration with at least three examples.<\/p>\nBuzzword, buzzword, buzzword. Isn\u2019t the buzzword on your mind now? Perhaps it is on other people\u2019s minds? Read on or you\u2019ll be clueless, dated, and without any friends in the world. Buzzword again!<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Repeat the name of the trend without giving away too much so the reader feels she MUST click past the jump.<\/p>\nFirst, statistic plucked from academic journal where the writer didn\u2019t pay to pass the paywall. Also, a biased survey from a company with countless vested interests. It\u2019s official: the above trend is slightly more common than you thought.<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Do use numbers to prove that your trend is actually a trend, but avoid biased sources.<\/p>\nCelebrity examples: one to three months ago, blurry photos revealed Katie Holmes doing\/wearing\/buying the trend. Within the last month, the writer spotted said trend again on Gisele, who looked so good that her picture will run larger than all this copy combined. Then today, solidifying the trifecta, the second-best Kardashian was photographed mid-trend!<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Three makes a trend!<\/p>\nMinutes later, the writer pitched this piece. Months after that, when trend is nearly over, this story appears. \u201cWhy is this news?!\u201d angry anonymous commenter will write. \u201cI could have written a way better article,\u201d will add non-writer.<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Lucky you, you don't have to pitch your story to anyone. You can write about it immediately<\/em> on your blog.<\/p>\nBut how does this relate to the writer\u2019s life? Insert anecdotal overshare here: when the writer tested said trend, the writer\u2019s boyfriend didn\u2019t like it. \u201cMildly clever diminishing comment,\u201d he never said.<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Readers love personal anecdotes. But don't lie about what your boyfriend said. Paraphrasing and minor embellishment is usually OK if not put inside quotes.<\/p>\n\u201cIf you\u2019re going to attempt the trend at home,\u201d says trend spotter, \u201cyou must alter the trend to fit into the real world.\u201d To rock the look your way, trend spotter has three easy tips.<\/em><\/p>\n1. Purchase a subtle, less trendy version of the trend, preferably in wearable, forgettable black.<\/em> \n 2. Balance it with other, less trendy pieces, reminding people of how otherwise un-trendy you are.<\/em> \n 3. Be very selective about where you sport your trend. Don\u2019t even think of trying it at the office, out with friends, or when you\u2019re not on the red carpet.<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> You would never give such terrible advice. Tell your readers to rock the trend when and where they like with confidence.<\/p>\nAnd remember that while the trend is indeed a great trend for the trendy, regular people like yourself should probably avoid it. All involved in this trend piece will regret it. With any luck the trend will soon be over anyway. And if not, clever closing pun!<\/em><\/p>\nLesson:<\/strong> Again, you'd wouldn\u2019t give such condescending advice. And there\u2019s nothing wrong with a clever closing pun.<\/p>\nSo there you have it, everything you need to know to write a great trend piece, and hopefully get a little trend peace. See what I did there? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 Last week, the New Yorker published a funny satire article called “Trend Piece.” The idea is that all trend pieces are so predictably similar that it’s laughable. And although it’s a humor piece, it’s also instructional as to how to actually write a trend piece\u2014and how not to screw one up. Did you notice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55224,"featured_media":178951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7767],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-writing"],"yoast_head":"\n
How to Write a "Trend Piece" People Will Love (And Want to Share) - IFB<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n