Professionals know how to write. Don’t they? Managers are constantly required to produce reports and strategies and most professionals spend a huge proportion of their day sitting in front of a screen. So why are so many people completely thrown when asked by the boss to come up with an article for the company newsletter or website? Here are my top eight tips for producing the kind of article that people will want you to read:
1. Have something to say
We all have something to say, things we know about and care about that we want to share with others. There are all sorts of reasons for deciding to write a particular article: to entertain, to inform, to stimulate debate or to make a call to action. But, whatever your aim, you should always write about something that you find interesting and exciting, that way your enthusiasm will be conveyed to the reader and you will be able to engage their attention.
2. Think about who you are writing for
It is vital to know who you are writing for. Is the piece you’ve been asked to produce for an audience of like-minded specialists, or for a general readership? Pitch your article accordingly; keep it fairly basic for a general audience and explain your concepts and terminology. If fellow-professionals will also be reading your piece you can always provide links to further in-depth reading.
3. Break it up
For any article longer than a few paragraphs, consider using headings to make your piece easier to read. Help the reader by providing a structure: an introductory paragraph to establish your subject, the main body of your piece to cover your key points and then a conclusion to draw everything together. Most readers want to read your article at one sitting; if it is too long you risk losing the reader’s attention. Take a tip from the American poet Lorine Niedecker who said the writer’s job was to condense words down from the rambling to the concise.
4. Give it a good title
Try to come up with a catchy, informative title that gives the reader an idea of what the article is about and makes him or her want to read on.
5. Avoid jargon
You may know what a feedback loop is or what SEO stands for, but that doesn’t mean everyone who reads your piece will. There is a danger people will end up feeling excluded by those they perceive to be ‘in the know’. Think twice before using jargon and make sure you explain all but the most common initials and acronyms.
6. Take a break
Once you’ve written your first draft, save your article and put it away until later. Come back to it with a fresh mind and read it through to see how it comes over. Editing really is the key stage of any kind of writing: try to cut out any ‘padding’ to make it more readable, rewrite any ‘woolly’ sections to provide greater clarity and remove any clichés or received phrases. Finally, check your spelling and grammar; and don’t just rely on your computer’s spell-checker, this can often give you the false assurance of the right spelling for the wrong word!
7. Get your facts right
The internet is a wonderful tool for checking up on that fact or statistic you seem to remember. If in doubt, make sure you use a reliable site to double-check. Also, if you add any quotes to your piece, ensure you give full details of your source.
8. Ask for feedback, and be prepared to listen
Before submitting your article, you may wish to show it to someone to see what they think. But choose someone who will give you honest feedback, and not just easy praise. But remember, if you’re asking for feedback, be prepared to listen to it!
1. Have something to say
We all have something to say, things we know about and care about that we want to share with others. There are all sorts of reasons for deciding to write a particular article: to entertain, to inform, to stimulate debate or to make a call to action. But, whatever your aim, you should always write about something that you find interesting and exciting, that way your enthusiasm will be conveyed to the reader and you will be able to engage their attention.
2. Think about who you are writing for
It is vital to know who you are writing for. Is the piece you’ve been asked to produce for an audience of like-minded specialists, or for a general readership? Pitch your article accordingly; keep it fairly basic for a general audience and explain your concepts and terminology. If fellow-professionals will also be reading your piece you can always provide links to further in-depth reading.
3. Break it up
For any article longer than a few paragraphs, consider using headings to make your piece easier to read. Help the reader by providing a structure: an introductory paragraph to establish your subject, the main body of your piece to cover your key points and then a conclusion to draw everything together. Most readers want to read your article at one sitting; if it is too long you risk losing the reader’s attention. Take a tip from the American poet Lorine Niedecker who said the writer’s job was to condense words down from the rambling to the concise.
4. Give it a good title
Try to come up with a catchy, informative title that gives the reader an idea of what the article is about and makes him or her want to read on.
5. Avoid jargon
You may know what a feedback loop is or what SEO stands for, but that doesn’t mean everyone who reads your piece will. There is a danger people will end up feeling excluded by those they perceive to be ‘in the know’. Think twice before using jargon and make sure you explain all but the most common initials and acronyms.
6. Take a break
Once you’ve written your first draft, save your article and put it away until later. Come back to it with a fresh mind and read it through to see how it comes over. Editing really is the key stage of any kind of writing: try to cut out any ‘padding’ to make it more readable, rewrite any ‘woolly’ sections to provide greater clarity and remove any clichés or received phrases. Finally, check your spelling and grammar; and don’t just rely on your computer’s spell-checker, this can often give you the false assurance of the right spelling for the wrong word!
7. Get your facts right
The internet is a wonderful tool for checking up on that fact or statistic you seem to remember. If in doubt, make sure you use a reliable site to double-check. Also, if you add any quotes to your piece, ensure you give full details of your source.
8. Ask for feedback, and be prepared to listen
Before submitting your article, you may wish to show it to someone to see what they think. But choose someone who will give you honest feedback, and not just easy praise. But remember, if you’re asking for feedback, be prepared to listen to it!
RSS Feed