Essay or Article

What is an Essay? a guest post from freelance writer Deborah Lyn Stanley

Writing for magazines is fun and exciting.

Exploring and researching a topic for this purpose is much quicker than writing a book about it.

And, writing an essay or an article for a magazine is an excellent way to test your topic with your readership before you devote a great deal of time to develop it.

Many magazines publish essays as well as articles.

But What is an Essay?

And how is it different from a magazine article?

The Essay

• The essay is all about the writer, but an article is all about the reader.
• An essay is an opinion piece: an analytical or interpretative composition with a limited point of view.
• An article is non-fiction prose that is information or knowledge based.

My essays have been personal experience stories that fit into the Car & Driver or Finding My Way categories.

A dependable essay template includes:

Introductory Paragraph

In this first paragraph you capture interest, then move from general to specific. A thesis statement should be the final sentence of this paragraph.

Body of the Essay – Three Supporting Paragraphs

Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.
Present the evidence to support your ideas.
Anticipate push back – refute it here.
Finish the paragraph with a smooth transition to the next supporting point.

Conclusion – One Paragraph

Restate your thesis in a similar way but not a copy of your introduction.
Summarize your first, second, and third supporting points.
Confirm the validity of your ideas.
End the conclusion with a call-to-action or an emotional appeal.

The Magazine Article

I have written several How-To articles for magazines. Graphics are common in How-To articles defining each Step. The recommended template for a magazine article includes:

Opening Paragraph

This is your introduction. It should be to the point and tightly written.

Transition

This is where you start getting into the subject of the article.

Steps

Describe the how-to process in easy to follow steps.

Tips

Offer tips for success.

Conclusion

Wrap up the article in some way. Your conclusion can be as simple as a single sentence reminding the reader what he can now do if he follows the steps you’re just provided.

Is this an essay or article: Toilet Paper War

About Deborah Lyn Stanley
Deborah Lyn Stanley writes articles, essays and stories. She is passionate about caring for the mentally impaired through creative arts. Visit her web-blog at: Deborah Lyn Stanley: MyWriter’s Life.

“Write your best, in your voice, your way!