How to Write an Article

Want to Know How to Write an Article?

People on my mailing list often ask me for tips on any number of things related to writing and the business of writing.

One question and request I get quite often is, “How do I put together a great article now that I’ve done all the research? Please direct me to some free articles or other resources that might help me.”

Hmm…that’s an interesting question and request.

And something I’m not usually able to answer or if the question is the ONLY information the person has given me about his or her article.

Here’s what else I’d need to know – and what you’d need to know – before I could answer the question and direct you to appropriate free resources:

1. What kind of article are you wanting to write?

Will it be a features article, a profile, an interview, or perhaps even a white paper?

Knowing what kind of article you wish to write will help you determine the purpose of your article.

Your purpose will also help you determine the structure for the piece.

This will also help you determine the questions you ask when you interview experts or other sources for your article (which is why it’s difficult for me to answer your question AFTER you’ve done your research. I much prefer to help writers BEFORE they even start the research process).

If you also know how you might repurpose your article (to make more than one sale), this will also help you determine the questions to ask your experts and other sources.

2. Will your article be used in a print publication or online (or perhaps both)?

While many articles now appear in print publications and also online, it’s good to know where your article will appear BEFORE you sit down to write it.

This will help you determine appropriate titles, subtitles, etc. based on keyword research, for example.

3. Do you know your intended market(s) for your article?

If so, do you know each publication’s submissions guidelines?

If not, you need to know what and how editors expect you to submit to these publications.

You can write a great article, but if it doesn’t meet the submissions guidelines for the markets you wish to submit it to, you’ll be wasting your time.

That’s why I can’t just tell anyone how to write a great article unless I know the intended market(s) for it.

If you’re new to article writing, you can probably tell by now why it’s not easy for me to give someone tips for putting together a great article if I don’t have enough information about the kind of article they are wanting to write, the purpose of the article, and it’s intended markets.

But I hope you now also realize many of the things you need to do even BEFORE you start researching information for an article.

But here’s another tip.

If you need free resources for putting together a great article, first answer the above 3 questions.

Next, use your answers to look for free online resources.

For example, if you know you want to write a feature article for a print publication, then google “how to write a feature article for a magazine” and see what comes up.

If you know you want to write a white paper, google, “how to write a white paper.”

But if you’re really serious about making money writing articles for major publications – both online and offline – I suggest you invest in your writing career and take at least one workshop to learn the basics of writing great articles.

Most successful freelance writers did not acquire their knowledge and writing skills simply from free online resources.

They took the extra step and invested in their careers by getting professional training.

In fact, the most successful freelance writers continually invest in training and education.

You should, too. It will be money well spent.

Try it!