Article Writing TipsThese article writing tips were written with the freelance article writer in mind. However, if you’re not writing with the plan to make money writing the majority of these tips are still relevant. Know your audience Whether you’re writing for a paying market or for your local sports newsletter it’s essential to create an article that is of interest to the readers and one that is written in a way that can be easily understood. In most cases being able to write for your audience only requires a little research and thought before starting the article writing, a little time that if not spent could see your article unprinted. In many cases a basic understanding of the FOG Index doesn't go amiss either.
Learn more than tips. Most editors have a very clear idea of who their readers are and won’t print anything that doesn’t suit that demographic. Therefore research well and then write your article, not the other way round. Supply what is asked for This really follows on from the previous article writing tips. If every editor knows their audience it’s highly unlikely they are going to publish something that doesn’t fit their writers guidelines – even if you’re convinced that what you’ve written should be their lead story. Also if the editor asked for 900 words don’t send in 750 or 1000. Most publications have a set template the articles have to fit into. Supplying something that won’t fit the template, no matter how wonderful it is, will definitely lessen your chances of publication. To get a better understanding of what publishers want read writers guidelines tips Daft as it may sound, don’t forget to send your work in on time. (Yes, some people are commissioned to write an article but lose the contract because they can’t get the work finished in time.) If you’re given a submission deadline - stick to it. Sending your work in late will upset the whole publishing process and lessen your chance of future publication, while sending it in on time will increase your professionalism in the eyes of the editor. Specialise There is no doubt that we write best what we know best, and in most cases we each know a lot more about one or two topics than anything else. Therefore consider these article writing tips and write on topics that require little research because you already possess the knowledge. For example a young single mother might easily be able to write about: household budgeting, caring for young children, amusing toddlers, rejuvenating second-hand clothes, but struggle when it comes to travel articles and night club reviews. Everybody has topics they know about, writing informative articles on them not only will be quicker but having a selection of articles published relating to one topic will also give you a certain amount of credibility within that arena.
Receive individual feedback on your writing Learn how to Query When you’re becoming a writer it’s often easier to write an article in full than to write a query letter about it. There is no doubt that the former may be easier but when you’ve learned all about writing a good query letter doing so will save you a lot of time and effort, and in many cases provide you with a higher percentage of ‘yes’s from editors. Don’t take the easy way out, learn how to write a query. What rights are you selling? Different publications will ask for different Rights. Always make sure you know what you're selling them, and never forget that selling all rights on your articles means that you're giving up all ownership of them. So make sure that is what you want before you sign the contract or submit the work. Make sure you read our writers rights information Rejections are never personal Receiving rejection letters is just part of life for an article writer. They aren't personal. They aren't rejecting your skill as a writer. They aren't saying, 'Never send us anything else'. They aren't saying, 'We don't like you'. They are just saying, 'This last piece you sent us isn't what we need at the moment'. Never take rejection letters personally or you'll find yourself never submitting any work and then you aren't even giving editors the chance to say they like your work.
Enter the world of article writing Writing articles is undoubtedly one of the most prolific markets for writers, it’s also one of the most financially viable if you are able to get into it. Hopefully these article writing tips will help. Return from Article Writing Tips to Writing Information and Tips New! CommentsHave your say about what you've just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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