Writing articles for magazines, the Internet or the local community paper needn't be a headache. Providing they are informative, reasonably short and to the point, readers and publishers will welcome your articles.
But, if the secret to writing neat, sweet articles is to keep them succinct, how do you maintain your focus and avoid the pitfalls of waffle?
Try the 3 by 3 Plan!
Taking a really simple example, suppose you want to write about kites. The first stage is to brainstorm all the possible topics under the heading of 'Kites'. You may come up with several ideas here: for example, kite history, kite safety or making a kite. Any of these subjects could form the basis of a good article.
Select just one of these ideas (let's choose 'kite-making') and then you can start to put the '3 by 3 Plan' into action.
Brainstorm again to extract just three topics related to kite-making. Remember, you want to stay focused in your article, so three is a good number to begin with! The topics you find could be:
1. Types of kite
2. Parts of a kite
3. Decorating a kite
Now, for each of your three main topics, select three linked sub-topics that will relate to your audience. Children (or parents, for that matter!) might want to know the basic information about:
1. Types of kite - (a) Classic diamond (b) Hexagon (c) Star
2. Parts of a kite - (a) Sails (b) Spars (c) Flying lines
3. Decorating a kite - (a) Painting (b) T-shirt transfer paper (c) Applique
Once your plan is in place, write three sentences about each of your (a), (b) and (c) sub-topics. You'll be surprised at how quickly your article will grow and how sharp and to-the-point your finished writing will be.
And finally, staying with the idea of three as your 'magic' number, here are three more tips:
1. Make sure you have a connecting or transition sentence between each main topic. A good linking phrase will entice your reader to keep on reading!
2. Write your introduction after you've written the main body of the article. Keep it interesting but limit it to 3 sentences!
3. If you want to write a longer article, use 5 or 7 as your 'magic' number ...
? 2005 Lynda Blake. All Rights Reserved.
NOTE:
Feel free to pass the article on to those who you think may find it of interest.
You may also republish it without seeking permission, but it must appear along with the copyright and resource box.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynda Blake is an independent writer, working with small UK businesses to improve their web presence.
Resources used in this article: brainstorming and ideas organizer software
More articles by this author can be found at brainstorming and ideas organizer software
tidy up service Glenview ..Much has been touted about the effectiveness of article writing... Read More
This has to be the number one thing that most... Read More
The first twenty-five words of your article are the most... Read More
Don't let overwhelm hold you back- follow this expert advice... Read More
Writing articles is one of the best ways to get... Read More
So you've decided to market your home-based copywriting business through... Read More
Write articles, be recognized as an expert, drive a surge... Read More
You've got to start somewhere, but once you've created your... Read More
Find definitions from A to G! ~~~~~~~~~~~ A ~~~~~~~~~~~ About... Read More
This is a perennial question among writers and wannabe's. Many... Read More
Have ever wished that there were a formula for crafting... Read More
A simple technique to increase web site traffic is using... Read More
You know that writing articles is the best free way... Read More
This is Part 2 of a 2 part article -... Read More
If you are an article writer, you may have been... Read More
IntroductionThere are two ways to submit to magazine editors.One is... Read More
A "Thought Leader" is someone recognized as an authority in... Read More
It's no secret that writing and publishing helpful articles is... Read More
Need traffic? Write an article.Need sales? Write an article.Need Your... Read More
Have you ever seen articles that are not only related... Read More
Okay, so you're getting a feel for this article marketing... Read More
Strategically developing online content helps to ensure a small-business owner's... Read More
Back when I was in college, I belonged to one... Read More
A large portion of your business relies on your ability... Read More
"Ten Tips" articles are the easiest piece to write because... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..Whatever you're selling, writing articles to distribute freely amongst webmasters... Read More
This is precisely what I am doing here today (and... Read More
Are you ready to become an internet marketing expert? Are... Read More
A great headline can be the difference between having your... Read More
I was asked to write an article on a short... Read More
Not every web designer has the time ? or skills... Read More
Have you been writing and submitting your free reprint articles... Read More
Yesterday I met a 13-year old boy with a devilish... Read More
1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More
The first twenty-five words of your article are the most... Read More
It's no secret that writing and publishing helpful articles is... Read More
Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More
Submitting Articles for redistribution is the best way to get... Read More
It's not enough to scatter your articles across the internet... Read More
Okay, so you're getting a feel for this article marketing... Read More
Every day thousands of people join affiliate programs and yet... Read More
Submitting well planned articles on-line will increase traffic and can... Read More
Article writing can be such an intimate act as you're... Read More
Writing and leveraging articles is my most successful strategy for... Read More
I am often approached and asked, how do I write... Read More
Ever read one of those web articles written by an... Read More
Would it be worth it to master a technique that... Read More
One of the most common blunders by those using article... Read More
Ok, today we are going to talk about one of... Read More
Search Engines are constantly on the "look out" for freshly... Read More
Article Writing |