How Anyone Can Write an Article
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008How Anyone Can Write an Article
By Tom Lane
Many people believe that they cannot write an article, but this is not true at all. You do not need to have a writing background or even have a passion for writing in order to write an article. All you really need is the intention to write one and know how to read and write.
If you want to stay within the lines, write about what you are familiar with. Writing about what you already know will put you on safe ground. Everyone is an expert in the field of what they know and are passionate about. When you write about topics you know and are passionate about, this will carry over into your writing.
Choose a topic that you know quite well, then begin to write a list. Let’s say you know a lot about Internet marketing. From here, write down all of the different methods that you know about in Internet marketing. Now write down some of the questions that someone might ask you about this topic if they did not know anything about it.
This example will work with any topic. Snoring, TV shows, shopping at the mall and even the proper way to eat pizza.
From here, you can begin to write. You have a topic that you have broken down with questions others would want to know about your topic.
Article writing is not about a particular style except your own. Use your own voice. Don’t try to be the next Stephen King. Let Mr. King write his own articles. Your article is your own reflection, your own unique style. So use your own voice when writing and don’t try to borrow someone else’s.
The main key to writing an article that works well, is to write as if you were talking to a friend. Keep it conversational and you will develop a flow to the article you are writing.
Just pretend you are having a conversation with a friend who is asking you the questions you already wrote down on your list. From here, write as if you were talking to your imaginary friend, trying to educate him or her on the subject you are covering.
As you move along, you will begin to think of more content to include in your article. Word processors are nice because you can just start slipping in your additions where needed as you think of them. Before you know it, you have filled up a few pages of your writing!
If you do happen to fill up a few pages, this is a good thing. From here, you can begin to edit down what you want to stay in the article and what you want to edit out.
Your article’s tone should be conversational, friendly, helpful and upbeat. Do not come off sounding like a know-it-all, or be condescending to the reader. This is always a turn off to readers. Your article could have the all the information anyone could want, but if your tone is not appealing to the readers, most of them will not be reading your article to the end.
The important thing is not to think about writing an article, just start doing it. This is how I do it. If I suddenly realized that you were going to be reading my article about how anyone can write articles, you might not be reading this right now! Just kidding.
Tom