7 Steps To Writing Articles That People Just Have To Read

7 Steps To Writing Articles That People Just Have To Read

(c) Copyright 2004 Charles Kangethe

This may come as a surprise... to you, but writing articles
that get published is an art anyone can learn.

For many Internet Marketers getting publicity and the
traffic it brings is second only in importance to making
sales.

Writing articles, press releases, and advertising copy is a
sure fire way to get publicity, but for many people, writing
is a chore best avoided if possible.

Learning how to write is as simple as putting this seven
step repeatable method into action.

Step #1 - Define Your Topic and Set Goals.

Good writers start by clearly defining what they want
to write about.

Start by focussing your mind on the topic and broad
message you want to communicate.

The topic can be one you are an expert on, something
you have an interest in, or even something about which
you intend to do some research.

The important thing is, be clear on the topic you intend
to write about.

Next, with topic and subject firmly in mind, define your
goals.

Decide on the writing format you want to put together.

For instance, writing these types of articles results in
different output even though you may be writing about the
same content.

* A report
* A "How To" style article
* A Press release
* Ad copy (display v classified)
* An e-Book

Setting goals focuses your mind on how best to present
your written material. It forces you to set standards by
which you can measure the quality of your work.

Step #2 - Research and Order Your Material

Depending on your knowledge about your topic, research
can be a completely new study of the subject matter or
it can be an organisation of your knowledge, thoughts
and opinions into a logical sequence or order.

Depending on content and subject matter, the Internet is
probably all you need for most research purposes.

For more complex content you have to use other sources
such as

* Libraries,
* Interviews with experts
* Public and private archives.

Make notes during your research, and catalogue the content
into structured order as you find it.

Step #3 - Write Mode

The objective in this step is to put all your material onto
the page without stopping to edit, format or in any other
way manipulate the writing.

This is a pure "Brain Dump", a non critical outpouring of
your material onto the page.

For short articles the "Brain Dump" can happen in one
sitting. For longer articles, break down the material into
manageable chapters or sections which you can then process
using the write, edit and polish method.

This is perhaps the most difficult step to perform because
we constantly try to improve things as we write. However,
going back and forth as you write interrupts your creative
flow and makes the whole process more difficult.

Such improvements come in the next two steps. For now
concentrate on getting the content out.

Step #4 - Edit Mode

In this stage you can now format the article, spell check,
order, and replace or modify the content. Organise your
paragraphs and get the layout and presentation correct.

This is where you proofread and check your grammar, turning
the raw material from step 3 into a product resembling the
finished article.

Editing probably takes more time than any other stage in
writing.

Be prepared to spend time going over the material to get
it just right.

Step #5 - Polish Mode

At this point, your article is free of spelling mistakes,
it is formatted correctly, the content is ordered and it
flows in a logical sequence.

However, it needs polishing to improve its "readability".

The way to do this is to take it and read it out loud.

The objective is to discover the "flow" or "tone and
rhythm"

Flow is like an elephant - difficult to describe, but easy
to recognise. Just as you listen to music or a poem and
identify rhythm, you should "listen" for the rhythm of
your written work as you read it out loud.

Using one word instead of another or changing the order of
words can make a huge difference in the "tone and rhythm"
of an entire sentence or paragraph. In turn, this affects
the readability of the entire article.

This is what makes the difference between words people read
and words people feel they HAVE to read.

Your aim is to write content using "flow" from words, tone,
and rhythm that make people feel they have to read
everything you write.

Think of it as compelling writing.

Step #6 - Submit For Publication

Once your article is ready you must submit it to as many
publishers as will put it on "paper" for their readers.

This is the heart of the article publicity generating
machine.

You can submit articles manually or automate the process
to an extent using software such a ezine announcer.

The process is the same in either case.

* Find the publishers by using directories on the Internet
* Send them the written piece with a short cover asking
them to publish
* Ensure your resource box with appropriate contact
details is prominent at the bottom of the published piece.

Remember you cannot over submit your writing - get it
published as often and as widely as you can.

Step #7 - Start Again

Even though a written and published article will give you
f'ree publicity, you must publish frequently and to an
equally high standard in order to build a reputation as an
author or expert in your field.

Start selecting a new topic and doing the research for your
next article even as your current one is hitting the
publishers' pages.
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Use these 7 steps and writing will become something you
enjoy rather than a chore.
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