Journalists Jody Jaffe and John Muncie Bring the ABCDs of Writing to Williamsburg

Jody Jaffe is the author of "Horse of a Different Killer," "Chestnut Mare Beware," "In Colt Blood," and the upcoming, "Whoa Nellie," the equine mystery series featured in People Magazine and published internationally and now available in E-book form through The Pine Forest Press.

As a feature writer for the Charlotte Observer, Jody was on the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for the Jim and Tammy Bakker story. As a free-lance journalist, her articles have been published in many major newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Washingtonian, Out and Practical Horseman. She is also a columnist for The Chronicle of the Horse.

She and her husband, John Muncie, have taught fiction writing at the Bethesda Writer's Center and journalism at Georgetown, Washington & Lee and Hollins universities, in addition to holding private writing workshops through their company, The Comma Factory.

John was the Arts and Entertainment Editor at the Baltimore Sun, the Assistant Managing Editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune and a travel editor and columnist at the LA Times. He co-wrote two novels with Jody, under the pen name John Jaffe. He is the journalism intern coordinator at Washington and Lee University. His travel articles appear in many of the nation's top papers including The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. He writes the column, "Pilgrim at Poague Run," for The Rockbridge Advocate whose motto is "Independent as a hog on ice."

Good writing is good writing, regardless of the subject. As journalists, Jody and John teach the ABCDs of writing: Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity and the key to vigorous prose, Detail. Their session will include lecture and short exercises, but they have an informal and hopefully, fun, approach to teaching. No hand raising, no sitting like bumps on a log. You can't be a good writer if you're not engaged.

Among the topics covered will be: Reporting, where it all starts; how to craft the right lead; the right way to use quotes; getting the perfect details; endings; query letters and any problems or concerns of the workshop attendees.

Join this dynamic journalistic husband and wife team for “Better Story Crafting” on Friday afternoon, June 1 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. during the AHP “Ride Into History” Seminar in Colonial Williamsburg.