# Focus is the key

**URL:** <https://forum.podcaster.community/t/focus-is-the-key/4270>\
**Category:** Workbench\
**Tags:** worth-hearing\
**Created:** [June 18, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.podcaster.community/t/focus-is-the-key/4270 "2024-06-18T13:23:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![craigconstantine](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.podcaster.community/craigconstantine/32/2322_2.png) [@craigconstantine](https://forum.podcaster.community/u/craigconstantine)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.podcaster.community/t/focus-is-the-key/4270/1 "2024-06-18T13:23:47Z")

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> How can we know if an idea is a good one? This time on Out on the Wire, we investigate how to refine story ideas using the focus sentence and the X/Y story formula. Plus, Ira Glass recounts a reporting trip gone sideways and Jay Allison’s takedown of formulaic storytelling.

Episode 2 of Jessica Abel’s [_Out on the Wire_](https://jessicaabel.com/podcast/episode-two-focus/) podcast continues to be really good.

ɕ

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**Author:** ![David3560](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.podcaster.community/david3560/32/145_2.png) [@David3560](https://forum.podcaster.community/u/David3560)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.podcaster.community/t/focus-is-the-key/4270/2 "2024-06-20T23:45:54Z")

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> [@craigconstantine](#):
>
> How can we know if an idea is a good one? T

Wow, @craigconstantine - this is a h-u-g-e question. We would all be well-advised to ask it about our work (in the What If? phase, while building, during initial implementation, and after enough time has passed to be thoughtfully reflective).