Before I begin, here is a 5-minute video from EasyLearningWithHamaal on Article Writing Format.
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Article Writing is one of the freelancing jobs that you can do right at the comforts of your own home. However, it is important to note that article writing requires some techniques to become successful in this field. There are many different types of articles, but the process of creating one is almost just the same. Let me share with you what I know, and I hope you will learn something from it.
How to Write an Article?
Whether you are writing for personal, business or educational purposes, these simple tips will surely help you on how to write an article.
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Decide what type of article you would like to write
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As what I have said earlier, there are many different types of articles. There is the commentary, marketing article, news article, research article, reviews and spoken article to name some. I have written a good number of short research articles for a local company I have worked with before. And my article writing experience in college played a significant role in helping me achieve success in my freelancing journey.
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Prepare to write your articles
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Once you have come up with an idea of what kind of article you would like to write about, it is time to prepare writing your first article. First of all, you need a good motivation to write. Do you want to be popular in this field? Do you want to impress your teacher and get an A in your research paper? Do you want to write for a cause that you think needs some worldwide attention? Whatever your reason is, make sure that you know what you are writing. And then, think of an engaging topic. Write something that is clear and persuasive.
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Use the right tools
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Use the right tools to help you write your first article. Some articles require some media tools for conducting and editing interviews like CamStudio, Filmora Scrn and Monosnap. For writing, Google Docs and Microsoft Word are highly-recommended. To organize your files, Trello will help you keep in track and envision all of your ideas. You can use it for free, but if you want to take advantage of all its features, you need to pay at least $9 a month.
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Collect the reference materials
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Gather all the information you need from different reference materials. You can use the books from your school library, dictionary, and some online resources. A dictionary is essential to ensure that you are using the right words in your article. Also, you may refer to some free Associated Press Stylebook online to assist with your article writing. It will give you tips on how to avoid plagiarism and how to properly do citation. Remember, always give credit to your sources.
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Make comprehensive research
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Allocate some time to do comprehensive research on the topic that you are interested in writing in your article. Other than books, you may refer to different websites online like Bing, Google, Yahoo, and Wikipedia. Wikipedia may not be the best choice for most writers, but you can find here some ideas for your topic. Also, you may check out Google Scholar and CiteSeer for academic books, journals, and other essential documents.
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Work in a stress-free environment
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Writing your first article can be quite overwhelming, so try to work in a stress-free environment to help you keep laser focused. Avoid any form of distractions like social media and video games. Also, a stress-free environment keeps you inspired to write high-quality contents. Try to incorporate some classical music while you are working on your article because classical music is good for the brain.
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Write in simple English and check your grammar, punctuation, and spelling
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Write your article in simple English so it would be easy to read and understand. Use the most simple words as possible. Avoid using jargons and long and complicated words that may disorient the reader. Be clear and direct to the point. To check your grammar, punctuation, and spelling, you may use the app called Grammarly.
We live and breathe words. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt -- I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted -- and then I realized that truly I just wanted you."
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Write a good introduction
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The Introduction is the most important part of an article. And it happens to be the most difficult to make too. It will give your readers an idea of what your topic is all about. So, please make sure that the first sentence is powerful enough to catch the attention of your readers. Keep it clear, concise, and engaging as much as possible.
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Read and revise
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The secret to revealing any mistakes in your article is by reading it aloud. Read aloud what you have written and ask your friend for an honest opinion. Is it understandable? Or did it include all the information to answer the questions in your introduction? Once you have pinpointed the mistakes, it is time to revise. Repeat the process until you are fully satisfied with your work.
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Create a good writing habit
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Allot at least 30 minutes to 1 hour a day in writing. You can start by writing in your diary about how your day went or what are your plans in the coming weeks. It is okay to make mistakes the first time because those mistakes will help you learn and grow each passing day.
Before I end my post, let me share with you this video from EzineArticles about 7 Tips To Get Into Article Writing Zone
Video Credit: EzineArticles via Youtube
Final Thoughts
Writing an article takes some effort, time, and practice. Make sure to have a plan before writing an article and apply all the techniques that I have cited above. Always take time to read, revise and proofread your work before submitting it.
Again, thank you for reading my blog post. Blessings!
Written by: freelancermariagrace for Bitlanders
