Posted on June 10, 2008
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Guide to Freelance Writing
Eight keys to article writing
1. Writing is a process. You don’t just sit down and belt out an article, good writing requires: planning, research, rough draft, editing, and final draft. Often there will be several rough drafts required.
2. Always apply the ’so what’ factor to your article. Ask yourself why your article is interesting or important to readers. When a writer approaches an editor with a story line, for example: Girl rides bike from Sydney to Wollongong, the editor’s response is “so what”. If the girl has one arm, or is riding for charity, then you have a “so what” factor to sell.
Once you have your “so what” angle, decide what information should be included. Factors like: length, scope and focus should be decided in advance, this will save time and effort later on.
3. Show don’t tell. Articles should be descriptive, so draw on your own or the experience of others. It’s also important to obtain information from those who have a different experience or opinion to you.
4. Help your readers identify a problem, then sell your article as the solution. The best articles help readers solve problems, save time, or improve the way they do things. Don’t assume the reader shares your perception of a problem; you may have to sell them the problem before you can sell them a solution.
5. Your first draft should be informal and clear, write in a way you would speak to a friend. Keep your words simple and sentences short and to the point. Eliminate paragraphs that serve no purpose.
6. Stick to issues or problems that the reader can solve or control. Writing about an issue too large or expansive, can create anxiety in the reader.
7. Keep it real: real life stories sell, platitudes or lectures don’t. Readers are interested in something that has actually happened.
8. Readers are more interested in ‘why’ than ‘what’, so defining a problem is only the beginning and a point from which to launch your article.
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