A case study - in case you aren't familiar with the term - is a factual vignette presented as a short story. Think of it as a verbal snapshot of a specific situation. They're intended to draw the reader into a scenario in which he identifies with the subject and/or the problem presented in the case study. They're often open-ended, sparking the reader's independent consideration of the issue.
Writing case studies differs from other the other types of professional writing I do (like articles, eBooks, blog posts, instructional guides and website text) due to their particular purpose and unique format. Since I first became aware of them, case studies have seemed like an interesting challenge. I've thought of interesting topics over the last few months and added them to my independent projects to-do list, to write when I have free time. Lately it seems case studies are everywhere and they're wanting to be written by me!
At first I was leery of writing case studies because of their very nature which is quite unlike all those other pieces I write and especially my "anything goes so long as it flows" style which I employ here on my blog. No, case studies are more like writing poetry, complete with definitive guidelines distinguishing their construction from that of plain ol' prose.
Monday, March 28. 2011
Cooking Up Some Tasty Case Studies
Intimidated as I was, I have taken the plunge and written a couple case studies. The first one was - gulp - a case study about myself. I was invited to write a case study by the Hot Mommas Project which is a program sponsored by the School of Entrepreneurship at George Washington University. The purpose of the Hot Mommas Project is to compile a "mentoring library" for women and girls, telling stories of challenges others have encountered in their lives and careers. These case studies are added to the mentoring library and some are actually used as teaching aids in the classroom and in textbooks.
I considered it quite an honor to be asked to write a case study for them. This first case study about myself proved to be an emotional experience because, not only was it a new and challenging format to master but it required an enormous amount of introspection while writing about myself in the third person. The concept that my personal account of how writing has saved me, changed me and now sustains me would be read and possibly influence other women placed a great weight on that singular piece of writing.
The second case study was an audition piece for someone seeking to hire a freelance case study writer. I have not yet heard whether I got the job or not. Writing this one, however, led me to a revelation. Even though the pressure was on and the stakes were high, the words flew out of my hands effortlessly. Well, more effortlessly than a lot of the writing I do, which surprised me because as a writer, words generally come quite easily to me.
Case studies represent a puzzle to me. Presented with facts, it is my mission to sort them out, find the core, cohesive issue, then present the story in a compelling manner. Ohhh...fun, I squeal! Seriously, case studies are the perfect blending of my love of research and constructing something substantial and compelling from that information. The challenge is to pique people's curiosity, enticing them to come along for the journey. Case studies may be the ultimate hybrid of my particular writing skill set and talents: factual storytelling. On my blog years ago, I defined my style of writing as "narrative non-fiction." I think those terms could be used interchangeably with case study writing. Nice confluence of factors...
The facility with which I created the case studies got me thinking of them in terms of - big surprise - the kitchen. I love cooking. I love baking. While they both produce something edible (when capably executed) they are very different activities - at least when I perform them. Each appeals to a different aspect of my personality. Cooking is free-form and creative, allowing me to express myself by creating harmonious flavors. The way I approach cooking a dish is to follow my instincts as to what would taste good with what. The process is very much "a pinch of this and a dash of that." Of course I have some "best practices" deeply engrained into my cooking repertoire but that repertoire is the foundation upon which new dishes constantly evolve.
Baking, on the other hand, is far more disciplined, like science. Proportions and ingredients are as important as technique. If you leave something out of a pot of soup, it may lack a layer of flavor but it will still be soup. Leave out an ingredient from what is intended to be a loaf of bread and you have something other than bread!
I consider writing case studies to be an ideal meeting of these two ends of the spectrum They provide both the fact and precision of baking combined with the creative outlet represented by a pantry full of ingredients, A well-crafted case study is informative and flowing like a well-crafted dish that balances substance with palatability. I can do that. I love to do that.
In the bustling kitchen of the writing world, I believe I've discovered a tasty niche for myself.
I considered it quite an honor to be asked to write a case study for them. This first case study about myself proved to be an emotional experience because, not only was it a new and challenging format to master but it required an enormous amount of introspection while writing about myself in the third person. The concept that my personal account of how writing has saved me, changed me and now sustains me would be read and possibly influence other women placed a great weight on that singular piece of writing.
The second case study was an audition piece for someone seeking to hire a freelance case study writer. I have not yet heard whether I got the job or not. Writing this one, however, led me to a revelation. Even though the pressure was on and the stakes were high, the words flew out of my hands effortlessly. Well, more effortlessly than a lot of the writing I do, which surprised me because as a writer, words generally come quite easily to me.
Case studies represent a puzzle to me. Presented with facts, it is my mission to sort them out, find the core, cohesive issue, then present the story in a compelling manner. Ohhh...fun, I squeal! Seriously, case studies are the perfect blending of my love of research and constructing something substantial and compelling from that information. The challenge is to pique people's curiosity, enticing them to come along for the journey. Case studies may be the ultimate hybrid of my particular writing skill set and talents: factual storytelling. On my blog years ago, I defined my style of writing as "narrative non-fiction." I think those terms could be used interchangeably with case study writing. Nice confluence of factors...The facility with which I created the case studies got me thinking of them in terms of - big surprise - the kitchen. I love cooking. I love baking. While they both produce something edible (when capably executed) they are very different activities - at least when I perform them. Each appeals to a different aspect of my personality. Cooking is free-form and creative, allowing me to express myself by creating harmonious flavors. The way I approach cooking a dish is to follow my instincts as to what would taste good with what. The process is very much "a pinch of this and a dash of that." Of course I have some "best practices" deeply engrained into my cooking repertoire but that repertoire is the foundation upon which new dishes constantly evolve.
Baking, on the other hand, is far more disciplined, like science. Proportions and ingredients are as important as technique. If you leave something out of a pot of soup, it may lack a layer of flavor but it will still be soup. Leave out an ingredient from what is intended to be a loaf of bread and you have something other than bread!I consider writing case studies to be an ideal meeting of these two ends of the spectrum They provide both the fact and precision of baking combined with the creative outlet represented by a pantry full of ingredients, A well-crafted case study is informative and flowing like a well-crafted dish that balances substance with palatability. I can do that. I love to do that.
In the bustling kitchen of the writing world, I believe I've discovered a tasty niche for myself.
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