Storm chasers pursue tornadoes; I live to chase stories. With all the things occurring in the world, there is always something interesting happening that would be helpful to certain readers and it is my job and passion to look for those stories and serve them up well.

What makes a good story? In the jungle of information out there, how can a story stand out?

I have learned that there are basically four things essential to having a good story:

1. Relevance. Will the story give information that will make a difference in the lives of the target readers? Will it help them, move them to action, warn them, or satisfy their curiosity? Slant your story to catch the attention of your target readers.

2. Completeness. It seems a given that news and feature stories should be complete in information. However, in the rush to submit a story, sometimes important details are inadvertently left out. Once I read about a restaurant in Manila that seemed worth checking out, only to be left wondering where it exactly is located. Also, include a quote from your resource person to give your story added credibility.

3. Conciseness. Enough of flowery words–get straight to the point. Keep it short as readers do not have much time for leisurely reading.

4. Truth. Check all facts before submitting your story, and never ever write something based on a rumor you heard. This seems elementary, but believe it or not, not every story out there is true. Stick to the truth–your readers deserve it.

And that, my friends, is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Happy writing!

Karen Galarpe is a journalist with over 20 years of experience in the newspaper and magazine industry. At present, she is copy editor of Food magazine while blogging about business for Inquirer.net and editing book projects for Anvil Publishing Inc.