An Article

People love to hear stories. They'll identify with what you have to say much more easily if you tell them an anecdote that relates to your subject matter.

The danger in using this method is that you can lose your way. Interminable, zig-zagging stories are just as boring in print as they are in real life! Keep your story under control, and it will speak to your reader.

THE RECIPE

1. Choose your subject

2. Tell your story

3. Identify the problem

4. Offer a solution

5. Draw a conclusion or call to action

6. Give your article a catchy title

7. Decide on the length. (Most ezines like articles of around 500 - 800 words.)

THE FINISHED ARTICLE

Title: From Chaos To Contentment: The Pocket Organizer

Like most people, I'm fighting a constant battle to stay organized. I have a range of clients both online and offline and projects due at different times. I'm surrounded by to-do lists, stacks of print-outs, address books, phone lists and folders. Finding something quickly is more of a challenge every day.

I was beginning to despair of ever clearing the decks - or even seeing a glimpse of the deck! Then I stumbled across a solution. Browsing around an electronics store looking for a label-maker, I walked past a display of Palm products. The Palm Zire 71 caught my eye immediately (okay, I'm a sucker for a nice-looking piece of electronic gadgetry). There it was, in an attractive blue casing with a bright, colorful screen... begging me to play!

So I played.

After ten minutes I was hooked. Yeah, I know... all of you Palm devotees are yawning and muttering: "Where has she been the last few years?" - but hey, I had one of the early Palm Pilots. The screen was hard to read and the graffiti option didn't work too well. I went back to notebooks and a rolodex.

This one was totally different. It won me in no time at all. I wandered out of the store to "think about it" - and was back within fifteen minutes handing over my credit card.

How ever did I manage without it? Now I have - all in one pocket-size organizer - a date book that stretches *decades* forward and back from today's date, an address book with customizable lists, an expense record, a calculator, a memo pad, a note pad, a to-do list, a world clock... and this little beauty even has a built-in camera. (With an expansion card it could also be an MP3 player.) I've tossed six different items out of my handbag and replaced them with just the Palm. Bliss. (Oh, and did I mention I can sit it in the accompanying cradle and back up everything to my computer?)

Don't worry, this is not an advertisement for Palm products! I'm sure there are other organizers that do all this and more. (You can now get phones that do it all, come to think of it.) The point is, since I don't work in the corporate environment, I just hadn't realized what timesavers these all-in-one products can be. Now, wherever I go I have an incredible amount of information at my fingertips. I don't sort through various folders and files in search of contact information. Heck, I don't even have to carry family snaps around in my wallet - they're all stored in the Palm!

The lesson? There are several. One: personal organizers are not just for so-called "business professionals". They can streamline anyone's life. Two: If you're losing time (and patience) because you're not organized, take the time to sit down and see what can be done. Look for a method that is easy to use and combines a number of functions. Three: browsing through electronic gadgetry is not only fun - it pays off!

=== Analysis Of The Completed Article ===

The Subject: Personal organization

The Story: How a pocket-sized organizer changed my life

The Problem: Too many diverse and unwieldy systems to store information

The Solution: A pocket-sized electronic organizer

Call to Action: Analyze your needs - choose an easy, effective method to get organized

A Catchy Title: "From Chaos to Contentment: The Pocket Organizer". The alliteration of "Chaos" and "Contentment" sounds good; the first part of the title summarizes the rewards, and the inclusion of "The Pocket Organizer" signals the subject matter.

Word Length: The finished article is 511 words: a good length for most ezines (yours or someone else's). You need to be strict with yourself here. If your article is too long, CUT IT!

About The Author

Marg McAlister's tips on writing are to the point and popular. To write great web copy, sales letters and articles, don't miss her ezine: the Web Writing Tipsheet! You'll find this and other top advice at www.writing-for-success-online.com

car service from Midway Anna ..

In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

A leader in autonomous vehicle technology has developed a free autonomous shuttle program in Detroit for residents who are 62 and older.

If you're looking for a fun and free way to create art, here are some new AI tools that can help you make anything from custom music tracks to quick video clips.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump could have been prevented had officials used drone detection technology for security.

Scientists at MIT have developed a neuroprosthetic that allows people with prosthetic legs to control them using their own nervous systems.

Artificial Intelligence protections for interactive entertainment companies like Activision have led video game performers with SAG-AFTRA to strike.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a tech guru's recommendations for how to launch a successful website for your business one step at at time.

SmartyPlants monitors your houseplants' light, humidity, temperature, soil moisture and nutrients and sends the information straight to a cellphone app.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson goes in depth with what actually happens after a data breach, when an unauthorized person gains access to private information.

The U.S. Air Force's newest aircraft is turning heads and raising eyebrows around the world. The XQ-67A is an unmanned aircraft with cutting-edge technology.

Your bank already has a host of sensitive info on you — combine that with your voice on record, which can easily be cloned with AI, and you have a cybercriminal's dream.

From smartphones to "dumbphones": A shift from distraction. Here's what tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson has to say about why some people are making the switch.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: We're witnessing the potential dawn of a new, cleaner era in mining as Hitachi tests the world’s first ultra-large, fully electric mining dump truck.

Elder scams are a prime threat. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals the top cons.

Survue, an AI-powered bicycle safety device, aims to revolutionize cyclist protection. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at the game-changing device.

Kurt the CyberGuy unpacks the best applications to share family photos with loved ones with privacy, security and ease of use for photo sharing.

The future of transportation is suddenly now in San Francisco with self-driving cars. Sleek, autonomous vehicles are traveling through city streets.

What to know and how to protect yourself from a new TikTok hack that has affected high-profile brands and celebrities from CNN to Paris Hilton.

CARMEN, a tabletop robot designed by researchers at the University of California San Diego, can help those with mild cognitive impairment improve their mental skills from their homes.

Here's how to protect yourself from cybercriminals following a massive global IT outage that affected grocery stores, banks, airlines, medical centers and more.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how digital price tags transform retail, offering pros and cons for stores and shoppers.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to categorize open tabs into custom groups for streamlined browsing.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how you can secure your iPhone/iPad: Strong passcode, biometric security and software updates.

Here's how you can take better family pictures by using your iPhone or Android's photo timer, a tripod, editing tools and a good prompt to get everyone to smile naturally.

An Article

Article Writing