A way to enter the writing profession is to write articles. Write article after article. Get published or self-publish. That’s it. That is the way of the writer.
Betty Friedman explained in an interview with PBS that she started her career as a freelance writer, as a way to start. How she stumbled into the idea for her book, Feminine Mystique. She explains with some humour:
“And after I was fired for being pregnant, I was technically a housewife. And it was the era that I later analyzed, the “feminine mystique” era, [when] “career woman” was a dirty word. And so I didn’t want a career anymore. [But] I had to do something. So I started freelancing for women’s magazines. And then I was asked to do a questionnaire of the alumni reunion at Smith, 15 years after we graduated, so this would have been 1957. And I, after all, had had some training with questionnaires [as a] psychologist, and as a reporter. But I put entirely too much work in this questionnaire, [and] I decided I’d make an article. I wrote for the women’s magazine and [for] McCall’s, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal.
Start with writing posts for websites, even your own. That’s a good way to start your writing career. Know that you will figure out a lot about your style as you do it.
So let’s lay down the foundation of what article writing is.
What is an article?
If you look it up in the Cambridge Dictionary, you’ll see that an article is defined as, “a piece of writing on a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine, or on the internet.” The purpose of an article is to inform, inspire, entertain, or educate readers on a topic.
How can you decide what to write about? Which style should you write in?
The writing style is determined by the reader and the genre. Many newspapers and magazines have submission guidelines that help you to form an article that appeals to your readers. If you are writing for your own website, you need to know the readership. It is a good plan to have your own set of guidelines. Submission guidelines point out the audience, the length of the article, style, and tone of voice…The article you write will depend on the publication or website you choose and its readers. Is the article long-form or short-form? Is it a listicle or is it a story-based piece?
What are the components of an article?
The components of an article include a headline, subheadings, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
You should always consider the hook or the lede that pulls your reader into the flow of the article.
The headline is the title. The subheadings are section titles. The introduction gives an overview, context and background of the article. The body is the content of the article. The conclusion is a summary of key points. You should also consider the kicker or call to action to end with impact.
How to write an article
A simple writing checklist
- select the topic
- come up with a unique angle
- know the readers
- research the topic
- review other articles on the topic
- outline
- add facts and research into the outline.
- write the first draft
- rewrite and rewrite to the final version
- edit the article
- proofread the article
- write great headlines
- Is there a hook or a lede?
- write a strong ending
- Is there a kicker?
- review
- publish
What type of articles are there?
Articles come in all shapes and forms including opinion pieces, features, and posts. Choose your flavour, sweet, sour, salty, or umami.
What’s your writing style?
Then, you need to decide whether to write in a neutral, formal, or friendly tone based on the reader. You can choose the point of view of the article.
That’s all you need to get going.
How to start?
Find a story that aligns with who you are, mind, body, and heart. It’s easy peacey. Now you know. Go forth and try it.
If you’d like to know more about writing, wander about the Textbook website for more articles to help you on your writing and publishing journey. Try some writing prompts to get ideas flowing.