Ins and Outs of Article Writing
Article writing is a process through which a nonfiction text regarding recent news, interesting topics and various matters are written. Articles may depict their topic directly or in a balanced debate format. Articles may consist of photos, facts and statistics, data and surveys, interviews etc. Articles have to be objective and include facts from verified sources.
Way To Good Article Writing
A basic grasp of grammar and syntax is needed for article writing. Magazines, newspapers, industrial blogs, and informational websites are usually hungry for sparkling, unique content material. While writing white papers, business-to-business communications, email campaigns, advertising, marketing, reviews, suggestions or handbooks, the article is always the place to begin.
Key parts in an article are:
- an attractive title
- a beginning paragraph
- the main body
- Conclusion: a closing or ending paragraph
The secret to excellent article writing is to recognize how to plot and structure a piece before we write it. A well-written article permits us to use our writing capabilities in the best way and talks our thoughts efficiently, concisely, simply, coherently, and completely. The key to the good structure of an article is ideal planning.
Creating A Very Good Article Title
New writers generally ignore the importance of titles. However, we have to write a title that is informative and engaging. It’s the primary component a reader reads. A writer must ensure the fact that it should no longer be the last. A very good title communicates at a glance what our article is about, the potential readership, and the questions the article guarantees to answer.
Take The Title Of This Article As An Instance
“How to Tell a Story” shows that it is educational writing about storytelling. “A Beginner’s Manual” helps us to understand the target audiences are a novice or aspiring writers instead of professional ones, and “How to Grow a Hobby” defines the area of interest. The query the title guarantees to answer is, “How is a writer able to write a piece of writing a reader is probable to buy?”
The Way To Write A Title For An Online Article
The title structure consists of popular search phrases called “keywords”. Selecting common keywords people find into search engines like google or bing, is crucial because we need readers to discover the article online. If we’re writing for the internet, the title has to encompass at least one keyword. However, we ought to include the keyword or keyword phrase in a manner which seems natural. At the same time, as it is vital to make our title easy for search engines to find out, we have to keep in mind our readers are not searching algorithms but living humans. Unless requested by the editor or reader, we must stay away from “clickbait” titles. Editors and readers link them with junk mail, sensationalism, and dishonesty.
A Way To Write A Title For Print Publication
Treating the title for a print article in a unique way is necessary. There is no need to apply keywords because the reader either subscribes to the publication or picks it up at a newsstand. It is needless to mention the readership due to the fact branding, cover layer, and editorial style already target a person who buys a newspaper or magazine. However, we still want our title to reveal something of the article’s content and raise questions in the reader’s thoughts.
While online titles should be unambiguous and search-friendly, one can be more innovative with titles for print publication.
Considering the article is for a gardening magazine and the subject winter-flowering border trees, the title “Five easy ways to grow plants that Flower in winter” could be an excellent online title. However, for a print magazine, we can try, “Add warmth this winter with naked ladies”. As eager gardeners know, “naked lady” is the common name for Amaryllis belladonna, a famous plant which blooms in late Fall. Without the constraint of keywords, we could have greater fun. While many editors nonetheless like a title to demonstrate the article’s content, in print it’s frequently more essential for a headline to pick interest than to inform.
Taking time while crafting titles is a necessary thing. Always examining the marketplace, or the publisher’s suggestions, and conforming to the editor’s or reader’s desired style is a good way. One final assumption about titles is, we prepare titles for editors to rewrite or update them, the final decision on headlines is the editor’s prerogative or for readers who should be keen to read the whole article after reading the title. However whether the title reveals its way into print or not, learning to craft an excellent title is step one in understanding the way to write articles that sell.
How To Write A Strong Beginning Paragraph
In case the title has accomplished its task, the editor will examine it. The first paragraph is the most essential part of the article, and the first sentence is the most vital part of the opening paragraph.
The first paragraph has special importance :
- Hooking readers’ attention
- Applying to the title’s commitment
- Arousing curiosity
- Leading the rest of the articles
If the opening is illogical, stupid, or inappropriate we will lose the reader’s interest. It will not depend on how good the rest of the article is because the editor will not go through it. It is important to keep the sentences brief. Also, we need to be clear, coherent, and precise. The reader should not have to work out what we wanted to explain, rather the reader should easily understand it. The most common cause for a form rejection is a weak start. If we need to learn how to write articles that sell, it is important to ensure we invest time and talent in crafting the starting paragraph.
How To Write The Main Body Of An Article
When we write the main body of the article, we use the same style as we did for the starting paragraph. In a brief piece, the body might also incorporate as few as 3 paragraphs. In a long-form article, we might write dozens. but in every case, the logical flow of thoughts from one paragraph to the next should be seamless.
The main body of an article should include :
- A sequence of paragraphs
- A main idea or concept in each paragraph
- Facts and information that support the main idea or main concept
Each paragraph must have a main and focused concept. Giving an explanation for the idea and helping it with facts is included. We have to vary the lengths of paragraphs to manipulate the pace of the article. The main body should be starting with the eye-grabbing opener and progressing to a satisfying end.
The length of an article is generally generated based on the demands of the market for which it is written. In case the article seems short of the required word count, we should not pad it with superfluous waffle but to go back to the research and locate greater facts to feature in the writing.
In case we discover we have more facts than we may fit the article’s length, we don’t cram it in at the cost of clarity and coherence. Also, we choose important information to assist the argument and cut the rest. we can always use the information in any other article.
It’s difficult for new writers to sell article pieces. It is suggested that we stick to factual articles at first. If we want to discover ways to write articles that sell, we must conduct some market research. It’s less difficult to plan a well-structured factual article than one with opinion.
How To Write An Excellent Closing Paragraph Or Conclusion
An amazing closing paragraph is always brief. While studying and writing an article, we focus on what we are trying to express and convey it completely and sincerely. We do not introduce new information in the closing paragraph. If we have accomplished the task nicely, there has to be little left to say when we reach the end.
Important factors in ending paragraph are:
- A concise and brief explanation of the article
- Making the reader think
- Answering the questions that the article asked
A precise ending should be kept easy, short and sweet. 3 sentences should be enough to convey the whole thing in a simple manner. The conclusion must answer the query the article raised in its starting paragraph by the point readers reach the end. However, it is effective to close with a new query which follows from what has gone before. This method works well online to inspire active discussion in the feedback. If the main body of the article has laid out a logical argument, however, not yet answered the query raised, the final paragraph is the place to answer it.
Strategies for Writing Good Articles
Writing a good quality article is not as easy as it seems. It needs some strategy to follow. A good article needs attention and proper process.
Some tips which experienced writers give to new writers are:
Brainstorming
Any time an idea or concept appears to the writer’s mind, they should write it down quickly. Brainstorming is writing down the words that instantly appear in mind after hearing the topic name. Or thinking about the topic. This helps to gather more and more ideas.
Find a Unique Angle
After brainstorming, we have to narrow down our ideas and finally make a topic from that. There are plenty of similar articles available on the internet so we have to provide something unique to grab the attention of our readers.
Finding Audience Need
A good article writer finds out the shortcoming of a marketplace. He finds out what his readers want him to answer.
Researching Effectively
We have to conduct research about the words, ideas or phrases we get from brainstorming. After finding enough elements, facts and information regarding the topic, the writer should start preparing the draft. Primary sources of research materials can be interviews, one to one conversation, survey, information collected for the article and so on. Secondary sources of research materials can be collected from databases, books, bibliography, reference articles, web contents and so on.
Using Reliable Sources
We have to be careful while using secondary sources of materials because not all sources are reliable, some can be fake too. So to ensure authenticity, writers have to verify from different sources.
Keeping It Simple
Articles that are precise and brief, give a clear idea about the subject topic. Using complex words or making it longer will not make it any better. An article should be easy to understand and convey the meaning clearly.
Writing the Bullet Points
This step helps to organize the thoughts and main points of an article. Search engine algorithms often prioritize articles with bullet points and subheadings. Articles with good bullet points attract the attention of readers easily.
Removing All Destruction
The article needs complete attention and concentration. For that, all types of distractions should be eliminated. Turning off the television, muting social media so the writer can focus on the works in a better way. Otherwise, the concentration keeps breaking.
Never save a good concept for later
After the brainstorming, we should pick the best idea and work on that. Saving a concept for later is not always a good idea. Saving time at present and providing the readers with a good article are the main targets.
Avoid Plagiarism
Information collected from different sources should be compiled in a good manner otherwise the article will be plagiarized and it will lose its value.
Outlining the whole idea or concept of the article
Making a draft is a vital process because, without this process, the idea/concept will not be organized and will be unable to grab the attention of the audience. Article’s length, type of the audience, quotes and evidence to support the concept are part of outlining the idea or concept.
Online Articles
To write an online article, we need to follow the rules of SEO or search engine optimization. Also, do keyword research before writing the article.
Writing an article that can attract people is a much-needed quality these days. Article writing process needs to be practised by the writers. Otherwise, it will be tough for them to produce attractive writing without any practice.
To-Do List After Finishing an Article
After completing the article writing process, we must review and revise it. Even the article can be reviewed by others too if needed.
The following factors should be taken into action after finishing an article :
Cross-checking the facts
We must check all the facts again and again and verify those facts from different sources. If the article consists of quotations from other works, it also should be checked twice.
Rewriting the article
It is important to make the article errorless. It helps to find out all the grammatical mistakes and spelling errors and correct them. While reading the article again, many unnecessary words or phrases can be cut off. After that, we rephrase sentences and remove cliché to make them clear and precise.
Proofreading the article
It refers to reading the article again for checking spellings and grammar errors. Changing the font of the article may be proven helpful while proofreading.
The article should be revised at least three times. This is an important step and cannot be avoided.
Before Submitting The Article To Publication
Before submitting, a writer must read submission guidelines for the publication. He/ she has to follow the editor’s requirements for layouts, font size and font etc. It’s important to ensure the presence of the writer’s name and contact details along with the article.
How to Improve article writing skills
Article writing will not be improved without practice. The practice is a must in this field. Writers have to practice some particular techniques to improve writing skills. The following steps can help to accelerate one’s writing ability:
Trying to start writing on Impromptu topics
After writing a few contents and articles, the writer can find out his/her weaknesses. For example: if he/she is not good at brainstorming, he/she has to research the brainstorming process and gather as much knowledge as he/she can. After that, the knowledge needs to be practised too.
Defining the Purpose
The goal which we want to fulfil or the questions that we want to answer to our readers define the purpose of writing. The content and flow should be caught in the right manner are important.
Reading books/writings of others
By reading other writings, writers can understand the techniques and strategies. Also, they may gain some knowledge about the structure of a piece of writing.
Getting Out of the Comfort Zone
A growth mindset is really important to get out of the comfort zone. Every person has his/her own comfort zone but if they remain within that zone only, he/she may never be able to improve skills.
Thinking Outside of the Box
A normal and common concept also has an innovative side. The responsibility of a good writer is to think outside the box to bring out those new sides from an old concept. Thus new ideas are generated. Thinking on a different note can be proven helpful.
Word Choice
Depicting words with a more conversational tone and metaphors make articles more attractive. Also, illustrating the topic with short stories or starting the article with a good hook are needed.
Conclusion
The practice is very important for article writing as practising makes one’s writing ability perfect. Every topic has a unique aspect. The writer who can find out that unique aspect can be a very good writer.