Writing Articles
You Do Not Need to Know How to Write . . . If you can make a shopping list, you can write an article. It's that easy!
You possess the knowledge to write thousands of articles that will help or enlighten or entertain others. This is a fact. We all know things that other people don't know and would find interesting if we told them about it. That's all writing articles is - sharing the stuff we know with people who don't know the same thing.
Benifits
- Free Advertising and Promotion
- A more effective marketing tool than paid advertising
- Reach large target audience (Global market)
- Increase your credibility, confidence and trust with customers.
Steps
These steps will help you write your first article and begin to reap the rewards of publishing in Bread n Molasses:
1. Write what you know. This makes writing easier and will show in your article. Most people have an area of expertise. Some people know how to make crafts while other people know how to get the best buy on antiques. Maybe you're passionate about gardening, marketing, parenting, insurance, pets or something else. Figure out what you already know and tell other people.
2. Make a list. Write down all the points you want to include. Do not worry about the order just let the ideas flow. Later you can go back and group items under headings and sub-headings to organise your article. Keep the Five Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why & sometimes How) in mind to help you form a list. If you think about a topic and go through the Five Ws, questions will pop into your head. A list can be whipped up in a minute or two. These questions will inspire answers and help narrow the focus or direction of the article.
3. Write your article with an introduction, a body and a conclusion. A good introduction grabs the reader's attention right away. One way to do that is to make the first sentence a question. A question demands an answer and most people will read on to find out the answer. If you are writing a "how-to" article, you could begin by explaining the problems people usually have when doing the task and then provide the solution to their problems in succeeding paragraphs. The conclusion is just a brief summary of what you have written, and an opportunity to emphasise the main points.
4. Revise your article - read through it a few times to ensure the ideas build upon one another, support and expand upon your main topic. Use your spellchecker. Read it out loud and see how it sounds.
5. Write your Resource Box. A Resource Box is 5-7 lines at the bottom of your article that tells the reader who you are and what you offer. This is your opportunity to sell yourself to readers, link to your website, include information like your email address, telephone number and fax. Articles get more response than regular ads because if people like your article they will read your resource box to find out more information about you. This will lead them to visit your web site, send you an email, give you a call or visit your business.
6. Submit your article to Bread n Molasses by emailing it to editor@breadnmolasses.com and get ready to process all the emails and phone calls.
Tips
Keep it simple - don't use big words or technical jargon that people who don't know anything about your subject won't understand.
Write as if you're having a conversation with one person. Use the words 'You' and 'Your' throughout the article and ask questions to make your article more personal.
Try to include a small story that shows how you learned about the topic; the frustrations you had, the lessons you learned, and the solutions you finally found. Readers will connect to your article on a personal level if they are able to empathise with you.
Short sentences are easier to read and pack more power than long sentences. Keeping paragraphs short makes it easier on the eyes.
Save something for next time. You'll be tempted to do it all at once, but that is an impossible task for anyone - it can't be done. So, take it easy, pick a very specific topic and cover it well, rather than a broad topic covered not so well.
Finally, when you've finished your article, resist the temptation to send it straight off. Let it be for a couple of days and then come back and read it again. You'll be amazed at the improvements you can make. And remember, there is no perfect article. Do the best you can and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results.
EXERCISE:
1. Quickly jot down five things you or someone working with you know a lot about that the general public might not.
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Choose the third thing on your list and phrase it as an article topic, like a headline. For example: How to Marry a Millionaire, Reasons Why Everyone Needs Insurance, etc. Just make a caption, don't write a complete sentence.
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Write questions to find out more about the Topic you've chosen. Just write one question for each one.
Who ________________________________________________________________________?
What _______________________________________________________________________?
When _______________________________________________________________________?
Where _______________________________________________________________________?
Why ________________________________________________________________________?
How ________________________________________________________________________?