Some answers are there; the rest is just me. (Advanced Journalism)

Don Murray means that surprise is a contradiction or seeing something you didn’t expect to see or find. It’s your angle or edge that you didn’t think of before the reporting or that you didn’t expect to find in the reporting.

To me, surprise is basically the same thing. But, it is a totally positive thing when you find that one edge that sets you and your work apart. But, to me, surprise is a mix between something you may stumble upon and something you have to be looking for. If your eyes are not open, you will not see. Also, surprise is cool because it can give a reporter the opprotunity to step back and consider something from a different perspective. And, this is never a bad thing.

But what does surprise have to do with writing? Surprise is what is going to get you and your work noticed from the hundreds of similar stories and pieces out there. Looking for surprise can open up new vantage points and experiences that can only expand your horizons and abilities as a writer. Surprise can also expand your ability to be able to come up with new and fresh ideas on stale stories as well as see new ideas for stories before anyone else.

Reporting and writing are linked in some ways, yet entirely different in others. I believe it is possible to say, with justification, that reporting is a craft while writing is an art form. Journalism as a craft can be taught while writing as an artform is perhaps more of an innate ability within the writer. I can write journalistically. While I was taught basic formats, structures, etc. So, I can do it, but I feel that the writing I do otherwise is more of an art form rather than a craft. My journalistic writing is a craft, while my personal writing is an art. To me, anyway. Whatever - I just want to write. I just have to! (I also think there is a difference between a "craft" as a noun and craft as a verb, crafting. But, that's for another blog. Maybe.)

Murray, however, links the two together in that you are writing and reporting at the same time. In reporting, Murray wants you to be able to hold on to your voice in being able to write what you have reported on.

Craft and art are similar in that you can teach someone the craft but the art has to come from the person and is more innate and not necessarily learned.

I think surprise has to be looked for in a variety of ways. You have to have an open mind and try new things. And, in trying new things, I think you need to do that in a variety of ways such as reading different magazines, walking or riding a bike some place instead of driving, or attempting different styles of writing. If ever you get the change to read or try something new, do it! This will expand your knowledge and background information on different topics and open you up to new possibilties and experiences. For example, I bought a bike this weekend and rode to two different places downtown. I LOVED it. I was able to experience so much more than I do when driving. And my experiences were so different.

(And, of course, my first thought was how I could write about this. Oh wow, writing is like my cocaine.)

I am an addict.