How do I Write a Great Article?
I read an article the other day. Although I read articles for many reasons, which include checking out different writing styles, this time I was actually interested in the subject. The reason I picked that article was not because it was the best on that particular topic.
I chose that one because I did not want to read it. I know, it sounds contradictory at first, but actually is not. I am an article writer myself, so I wanted to know why I did not want to read that article. What was it about it that turned me off right away?
I am glad I read it, because I learned great lessons of how not to write an article. If you are contemplating writing an article and are asking yourself “how do I write a great article?” here is a quick formula that will improve your writing for at least twenty-five percent without costing you a dime.
- Spend fifteen minutes everyday reading about the topic you want to write about. Don’t be selective, reading the bad and the good, even the ones you think are not relevant will fuel your imagination and help you gain clarity on what you want to communicate.
- Spend another fifteen minutes everyday rewriting an article on the topic in its entirety, without changing anything. You will be surprised how much you learn about writing and your writing style by rewriting articles.
- After rewriting an article, if you felt uncomfortable with it, and you will if you don’t like the article or the style, rewrite it in your own words and style, then compare.
- Do this for thirty days and you will have developed your intuition to a great degree. You will instinctively know how to write your article effectively, sometimes without being able to explain why it is effective.
You are probably wondering how this works. It is simple; the exact same way you learn to walk, eat, use the toilet, dress. You observe, copy, try in a safe environment, and before you know it’s just the way you do it. And surprise, it’s also the right way to do it.
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