How To Profile A Saint

One big challenge with the kind of profiles some of you are pursuing is that they focus on truly admirable characters, such as outstanding faculty members or inspirational role models or people who have triumphed over adversity. The trick is to find a way to include something other than a string of consistently gushy quotes and flattering anecdotes. That’s tough to do when the subject is somebody who genuinely deserves admiration.

One way to provide a little balance is to ask your profile subjects some questions designed to provide a more nuanced portrait. Are there are any dark chapters in their lives? Anything they did they now regret? Anything about their past they’re not proud of? Any exceptions to what appears to be the life story of a saint? When they got in trouble in high school, what was it for? If they were writing their own profile, what would they describe as their strong and weak points?

When you talk to family, friends and colleagues, ask them whether the profile subjects are as perfect as they sound, or whether they have traits or experiences that would make them appear more human, like the rest of us. Sometimes questions like that will elicit material that makes the story less one-dimensional, and probably more honest.

To identify some of these sources, you will need to ask the profile subjects themselves for suggestions and contact information. When you talk to your subjects, ask them whom they would suggest to provide interesting observations about their present and past. Tell them you’d like to talk to old friends, family members, teachers, cronies, rivals, enemies, etc. Just asking for names & numbers might cause your subjects to remember and describe funny or serious anecdotes you can use in the story.

When it comes to in-depth profiles, nothing or nobody is irrelevant or off-limits.

Think about the kind of people you can use as sources, besides the obvious. People who worked with them in previous jobs? Professional competitors? High school buddies? Grade-school teachers? Parents? Siblings? Best friends? Spouses? Old boyfriends? Fellow poker players?

Also think about potential information sources. If your subjects are journalists or educators, what about clip searches for stories or articles they might have written? High school yearbooks? Report cards? Graduation speeches? Do your subjects have their own websites? Blogs? Do they post on other people’s blogs? Do they pop up on Facebook? MySpace? YouTube? The police blotter?

Good luck and have fun.

Kids Using Cell Phones Raises Concerns

The Indy Star reported today that kids as young as five are using cell phones now...
When Quri Twitty misplaced her cell phone charger about a month ago, the 5-year-old became upset, her mom, Collene, says.
So with this generation starting to use phones before they can write cursive, what does this mean for the next generation of drivers? Can this legislation be important as a preventative measure for the future?