‘Everybody has a story’
Max McCoy teaches students the skills of writing
By Brandy Nance
Saturday, December 2, 2006
When it comes to investigative reporting, Max McCoy, 48, knows his stuff.
McCoy, who is from Baxter Springs, is a journalist in residence at Emporia State University. This semester he is teaching freelance writing and next semester he will teach a class on investigative reporting.
McCoy also was named the 2005 ESU Outstanding Master’s Alumnus Award, has written 16 novels and lectures in the Tall Grass Writing workshop, which is held annually on the ESU campus.
McCoy enjoys teaching, he said.
“I like the opportunity to work with students who are interested in a career in journalism or professional writing,” McCoy said. “It’s been illuminating for me in my writing class to work with people who haven’t done interviewing before.
“It’s a good reminder that these skills aren’t natural.”
McCoy said it’s his responsibility to foster those interview skills.
“I try to foster a sense that as a journalist they have the legitimate right to ask questions,” he said. “...It’s actually one of the basic responsibilities of our democracy.”
The students in McCoy’s class aren’t doing investigative reporting, they are doing profiles, but they are learning interviewing skills just the same.
McCoy became involved with writing when he started out with the Pittsburg Morning Sun. He started out entry level taking obituaries. He learned a lot from writing obits.
“I discovered that everybody has a story in obits,” he said. “I used to drive the funeral directors nuts. You can often get hobbies or travels in.”
Throughout his career, McCoy has done a lot of investigative writing for both newspaper and novels. He did investigative journalism for the Joplin Globe in Joplin, Mo. He spent a lot of his time researching and investigating for articles.
“Resources is number one,” he said.
Investigative journalism does pose some challenges, especially when time is of the essence in a newsroom.
“These aren’t things you can turn around in an afternoon or even in days,” he said. “There’s also the risk of being sued for a story. People can sue for anything. You don’t have to be wrong. Part of it is being accurate and being fair.”
McCoy said he enjoys what he does — some aspects more than others.
“I like having written,” he said. “I hate most things about writing. I like the research a lot. The creative part is putting plots.”
When it comes to writing, McCoy offered some advice.
“You must write,” he said. “You must get it on the page. A lot of people have the idea that they will write someday. The most important thing is to write it.”
But it isn’t enough just to write, McCoy said.
“You must have something to say,” he said. “Think about it critically. Will other people connect with it? Even if they don’t connect with it, is it something they need to know about?”
McCoy is working on a new novel about domestic terrorism. He just recently had another book released, a western called “A Breed Apart.”