Remember, most articles benefit from quotes. Quotes make the story. They allow the reader to become involved. They allow the reader to learn what's happening at first hand rather than through you, the writer.
Quotes give authority to your story. What you want to say needs to be attributed to someone with expertise. Quotes also "look" good. They break up the slabs of narrative. Study your quotes to find the important and interesting ones. You must have quotes!
Avoid Commentary
Avoid comment. Don't write comment pieces unless you are writing a column or your comment is essential to the story. Obviously you have an opinion on the subject but get an authority to back it up. There are few times when you can get away with writing any story without going "outside" of yourself.
You can never write everything about a subject. You have to find the angle, something that makes the story new and interesting.
Provide Exciting Material
Any article should contain interesting and exciting material designed to "grab" the reader's attention. It's easy to become overly involved with any story. But you must put it to these tests just as an editor will. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this news?
- If not, is it a new angle?
- Is it timely?
- Does it provide valuable information?
- Is there a strong human-interest angle?
- Will this article interest a large group of readers?
- If not, will it appeal to a specific reader group?
Do Your Research Before Writing Articles
Most articles need research. You need facts, figures, quotes, examples and anecdotes to back up what you are saying. However, avoid unnecessary research material.
Always Edit Your Articles
All articles benefit from editing. You can improve almost any story the second time that you work on it. Always try to condense your copy. Get rid of the unnecessary words and phrases. Look for sentences that are sloppy and awkward. Say what you want to say in the simplest possible way. Don't forget "ear appeal". Read your copy aloud. Does it sound right?
Make Sure Your Story Flows
Ensure your story flows. You have to set out what you want to say in a logical sequence. Don't jump backwards and forwards between ideas and information. Look for the logical sequence. Deal with each aspect of your story before moving onto the next part.
Structure Your Paragraphs
Keep your paragraphs short. As a general rule, don't make paragraphs longer than one or two sentences, three at the most. A paragraph should not contain more than a single idea.
Avoid being long-winded. Use the short word instead of the circumlocution. Use adverbs and adjectives sparingly. Write in the active voice. Don't digress from the main points of your story. When you edit your copy ask yourself: "Does this serve a useful purpose?"
Hopefully these tips will help improve the structure and content of your articles. When writing articles for publications you need to ensure you are providing a story that will capture the audience's attention. What else do you do to grab the reader? Let us know in the comments
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