by David
Goldsmith
If you always write the same type of
article then you are probably limiting
your chances of getting published. Look
at your favorite publications and you
will see they print a variety of types
of article. Here are five of the most
popular types.
The ‘How To’ Article
This is a very popular type of article,
in which you tell the reader how to do
something. It could be how to build a
garage, how to write a book, how to sell
a house, or how to clean tar off a pair
of trousers. These articles tend to be
particularly popular because people love
to find out how to do something.
When writing how to do something, and if
the sequence is important, then it is a
good idea to number each step. Remember
to keep your instructions simple, yet
specific. And you could even use a
picture or illustration if the
publication allows it.
The ‘List’ Article
The list article is an article that
lists several related pieces of
information, and is one of the easiest
types of article to write. It could be
“10 Ways to Save Money”, “5 Flowers to
Plant In April”, or “The Best 12 Places
to Live in Canada”. A list article
should have:
• An introduction.
• The list; each item may be a paragraph
or two.
• A conclusion.
The ‘Roundup’ Article
In the roundup article, you provide a
roundup of information, statements, or
opinions from a variety of sources. You
might interview a number of experts, for
example, and ask them the same list of
questions. In your article you then
write a roundup of the answers, e.g.
“Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is
confident that the market will turn
around soon. “Within the next six weeks
at most”, he predicted. But Tom Sloane,
at Pickwick Associates, disagrees. He
explains why…”
The 'Inspirational' Article
Inspiration articles include
inspirational narrative, essays,
articles on faith and religion, and
self-help articles.
Do you know of an issue or concern that
affects many people? Think of your own
every day experiences. Write about the
issue… and help the readers to deal with
life and to improve themselves in some
way.
The ‘As Told To’ Article
Because many of the people who have
outstanding experiences are not writers,
there is a market for writing those
people’s stories. This is quite similar
to ghostwriting, except that in this
case the audience knows that you are the
writer. In the credits, you would show
“By Peter Wallace [subject], as told to
Jim Davies…” [writer].
Instead of writing a third-person
narrative of the event, the ‘As Told To’
article makes the tale more real and
personal by using the first-person.
So next time you are about to write an
article, pause… and ask which type of
article would best suit your situation
and topic. By varying the types of
articles you write your writing will
also develop a new depth and your
articles will be picked up by a much
wider variety of publications.
About
the Author
David
Goldsmith is the author of "25
Ways To Write For Money".
Discover how you can earn a good living
as a freelance writer with these proven
freelance writing strategies. David's
book is available for download from
http://www.WriterIncome.com
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© Copyright 2008 David Goldsmith.
