How to write a good online news story

How to write a good online news story

1. Headline

  • The headline of a story will turn up in many places online, often alone. It should therefore explain what the story is about.
  • A poor headline: “A great guy!” A good headline: “Rector awarded Royal order”.
  • The best headlines are often sentences with a subject, verb and object. This will also make the story more searchable in Google.

2. Introductory paragraph

  • One or two short sentences that expand on the title.
  • As a rule of thumb, the introductory paragraph should contain no more than 25 words.

3. Body

  • A story should be around 300 words or 2,500-3,000 characters with spaces.
  • An informative story answers the questions what, where, when, who, why and how.
  • Start with the most important points.
  • Use short paragraphs.
  • Use bullet points where this is helpful.
  • Use subsidiary headings unless the story is not very short. Use two or more (never just one) subsidiary headings, and make sure to not start the body of the article with a subsidiary heading

4. Formatting

  • Subsidiary heading: highlight the text of the subsidiary heading using “Heading 3”.
  • Fact boxes: highlight the text that is to be the heading of the fact box using “Heading 3”.
  • Double line break before the subsidiary heading.
  • Fill in the “title” when you put in links.

5. Using quotes in the text

  • In the news context, “quote” means a statement from a person.
  • – Use quotation marks to signal that something is a quote, says the Communication division.
  • Quotes are best used to comment on the body of the text or to express opinions, not to communicate general information.
  • Quotes should be brief and edited.

6. Images and captions

  • The image must be relevant and illustrate the story.
  • Avoid using photo montages with text, as this makes it difficult to use the story in other areas of uib.no.
  • Find images on Fotoweb or Colourbox. Read more here: http://bit.ly/profiluib
  • Captions are often read in online news stories, and these should be one or two sentences
  • Captions name the persons in the picture, and may explain the situation depicted.
  • Credit the photographer and copyright holder.

7. Using links in the text

  • Link to the employee page of the main person in the story the first time she is mentioned in the text.
  • Use common sense to determine which links should be included.

8. Fact box

  • The fact box contains background information for the story.
  • By putting denser information there, you can make the story easier to read.
  • A fact box may for instance be used if it is necessary to mention all participants in a project.
  • Use bullet points.
Want to Hook Your Readers? Apply These 10 Principles to Create Captivating News Stories

Want to Hook Your Readers? Apply These 10 Principles to Create Captivating News Stories

Writing well-structured articles that inform, educate, and entertain is not as easy as it looks.

There are billions of webpages out there that contain poorly written, unimaginative, boring content.

But those aren’t the descriptions you want associated with the media you produce, right?

As all content marketers who want to grow their digital media platforms know, audiences reward websites that offer special resources, whether they’re up-to-date blogs, in-depth ebooks, smart podcasts, or evergreen whitepapers.

There is, of course, a definite knack to writing well, especially about a newsy topic. And the print industry is particularly adept at understanding how to tell this kind of story.

Journalists are trained to write content that will hook readers from the first sentence and make them want to read on.

These journalistic principles can be adopted by content marketers to help engage their audiences.

Below are ten rules for writing a captivating story on a hot topic, whether in print or online:

  1. Begin with the most important facts first. The intro to every article needs to grab the reader’s attention instantly and summarize the story with around 25 to 30 words.
  2. Make your text thorough but succinct. The first few sentences need to include “who, what, where, when, why, and how.” Remember most people will not read more than 250 words before they start to skim. You should try to give them all the information they need as quickly as possible.
  3. Use the active tense. It is faster and uses fewer words. For example, “Argentina was beaten by Germany in last night’s World Cup final …” takes longer to read than “Germany beat Argentina …”
  4. Communicate what’s new or different. Why would the reader care about what you have to say? Why is it relevant to them? Is there a trend happening in pop culture or the world that you can incorporate? What are people talking about right now, and how does this tie in with what you do?
  5. Focus on human interest. While people may be interested in the latest political polls, a new cancer treatment, a food or product recall, or what the weather will be like tomorrow, if you can put a human face to the story, you will create an emotional connection that will draw readers in and keep them engaged.
  6. Avoid jargon. Every industry has its own language, including journalism. For example, do you know what a byline is? (The name of the author included in a box at the beginning or end of a story.) How about a NIB? (News in brief: short snippets of news, which run down the outer edge of a newspaper page.) Or a splash? (The lead story.) Think about the language you use — keep it clear, concise, and to the point.
  7. Write acronyms out in full in the first reference. Consider the following acronyms: ROI, ASBO, PCT, SATs, and FTSE. What do they stand for? Answers, respectively: Return on investment, Anti-social behavior order, Primary care trust, Standard Assessment Tests, and Financial Times Stock Exchange.
  8. Use quotes. It’s powerful to convey important thoughts with someone else’s words. However, when you quote others, make sure to get it right. Double check the spelling of your interviewee’s name, and make sure you don’t take quotes out of context in a way that distorts the person’s intentions.
  9. Keep it real. Although journalists often joke about never letting the truth get in the way of a good story, you should never, ever write something you know is untrue. We all make mistakes, but a mistake is very different from a lie.
  10. Have someone else proofread your work. Very few people can spot their own mistakes, so it’s wise to have a colleague double-check your work before you publish. Remember that the human brain reads words rather than letters, so if the first and last letter of a word are correct, we will often read it correctly, even if the others are jumbled up.

So, how can digital marketers apply these rules when they write a piece of content or break an industry-related news story?

Let’s take the subject of self-publishing as an example.

Lead into the story with 25 intriguing words

Can you hear the death knell echo over the world of traditional publishing? It’s making way for a new dawn — the rise of self-publishing.

Answer pressing questions immediately

Online businesses, such as Amazon, Google, and Apple, have made a huge impact on the traditional publishing market by increasing competition among self-published authors.

These changes may have flung open the door of opportunity — allowing more writers to share their stories and giving readers access to more books than ever before — but they also signify that the traditional publishing industry is in turmoil.

The 2013 merger of two of the world’s largest publishing houses — Penguin and Random House — is additional proof.

In the past, the path to a book deal for an aspiring author entailed writing a book proposal and sample chapters. With or without the help of an agent, these materials would then be sent to a publisher.

If the publisher was not interested, the author would either get no response or, after a long wait, the transcript would be sent back unopened or accompanied by a letter of rejection.

Now, various tools for self-publishing have taken down these barriers for authors. Bestselling self-published authors have also …

10 Important Steps for Producing a Quality News Story

10 Important Steps for Producing a Quality News Story

Do you want to produce your first news story, but aren’t sure where to begin or what to do along the way? Creating a news story is a series of tasks that involve both reporting and writing. Here are the things you’ll need to accomplish to produce quality work that’s ready for publication.

01

of 10

Find Something to Write About

A woman being interviewed and photographed
Digital Vision/Photodisc/Getty Images

Journalism isn’t about writing essays or fiction—you can’t create stories from your imagination. You have to find newsworthy topics worth reporting. Check out the places where news often happens—your city hall, police precinct or courthouse. Attend a city council or school board meeting. Want to cover sports? High school football and basketball games can be exciting and provide a great experience for the aspiring sportswriter. Or interview your city’s merchants for their take on the state of the economy.

02

of 10

Do Interviews

A TV crew interviewing soldiers
Getty Images

Now that you’ve decided what to write about, you need to hit the streets (or the phone or your email) and start interviewing sources. Do some research about those you plan to interview, prepare some questions and make sure you’re equipped with a reporter’s notepad, pen, and pencil. Remember that the best interviews are more like conversations. Put your source at ease, and you’ll get more revealing information.

03

of 10

Report, Report, Report

Journalists in Tiananmen Square
Getty Images

Good, clean news-writing is important, but all the writing skills in the world can’t replace thorough, solid reporting. Good reporting means answering all the questions a reader might have and then some. It also means double-checking the information you get to make sure it’s accurate. And don’t forget to check the spelling of your source’s name. It’s Murphy’s Law—just when you assume your source’s name is spelled John Smith, it’ll be Jon Smythe.

04

of 10

Choose the Best Quotes to Use in Your Story

Jeff Marks at a public speaking event
Getty Images

You might fill your notebook with quotes from interviews, but when you write your story, you’ll only be able to use a fraction of what you’ve gathered. Not all quotes are created equal—some are compelling, and others fall flat. Pick the quotes that grab your attention and expand the story, and chances are they’ll grab your reader’s attention as well.

05

of 10

Be Objective and Fair

Fingers typing on a keyboard
Getty Images

Hard news stories are not the place to for opinion-spewing. Even if you have strong feelings about the issue you’re covering, you must learn to set those feelings aside and become a dispassionate observer who does objective reporting. Remember, a news story isn’t about what you think—it’s about what your sources have to say.

06

of 10

Craft a Great Lede That Will Draw Readers In

A woman writing in a journal and her laptop
 Cavan Images/Getty Images

So you’ve done your reporting and are ready to write. But the most interesting story in the world isn’t worth much if no one reads it, and if you don’t write a knock-their-socks-off lede, chances are no one will give your story a second glance. To craft a great lede, think about what makes your story unique and what you find interesting about it. Then find a way to convey that interest to your readers.

07

of 10

After the Lede, Structure the Rest of the Story

An editor working with someone on photo proofs
Hero Images/Getty Images

Crafting a great lede is the first order of business, but you still have to write the rest of the story. Newswriting is based on the idea of conveying as much information as possible, as quickly, efficiently and clearly as possible. The inverted pyramid format means you put the most important information at the top of your story, the least important at the bottom.

08

of 10

Attribute the Information You Get From Sources

Journalists getting a quote
Michael Bradley/Getty Images

It’s important in news stories to be clear about where the information comes from. Attributing the information in your story makes it more credible and builds trust with your readers. Whenever possible, use on-the-record attribution.

09

of 10

Check AP Style

AP Stylebook cover
 Associated Press

Now you’ve reported and written a terrific story. But all that hard work will be for nothing if you send your editor a story filled with Associated Press style errors. AP style is the gold standard for print journalism usage in the U.S., which is why you need to learn it. Get used to checking your AP Stylebook whenever you write a story. Pretty soon, you’ll have some of the most common style points down cold.

10

of 10

Get Started on a Follow-up Story

You’ve finished your article and sent it to your editor, who praises it profusely. Then she says, “OK, we’ll need a follow-up story.” Developing a follow-up can be tricky at first, but some simple methods can help you along. For instance, think about the causes and consequences of the story you’re covering. Doing so is bound to produce at least a few good follow-up ideas.…

Importance of news

Importance of news

News is important for a number of reasons within a society. Mainly to inform the public about events that are around them and may affect them. 

Often news is for entertainment purposes too; to provide a distraction of information about other places people are unable to get to or have little influence over. News can make people feel connected too.

News is important as a social gathering space too, hence newspapers either online or physical place an emphasis on news. Where there are a lot of people gathered there is opportunity to advertise. This advertising sometimes can cause a conflict of interest in the way news is reported.

crowdpeople.jpg

Importance of local news

News from a local area is often important to advise people in a locality about activities that may have an impact on a community. This can allow a community to engage in decision making processes in a community. For example if a local community reports on a dangerous road or accident hotspot reporting these can be later used as evidence to lobby for funding to fix a problem.

Importance of national news

Often countries have a broad extent of distance and in some cases differing time zones.  Having a national news focus can allow people to gain a sense of national perspective. This is particularly significant for countries that have a diverse range of population centres such as cities or towns. For example large cities many thousands of kilometres apart may still rely on each other for trade or resources of economic significance. So knowing the situations in other cities and towns becomes important.

Importance of international news

News from one country to another is important in todays global economy. Knowing what is happening in other countries gives people a perspective of each others ways of life and cultural differences.  Certain kinds of news from countries that rely on each other for energy or other resources can often have a profound influence in overall global economics. …

What Makes a Magazine a Magazine?

What Makes a Magazine a Magazine?

pile of magazines on a wooden table

Quick — name three passions. Now, name your go-to resources for keeping up with the latest news, trends and opinions on these passions.

Chances are, you’re thinking of your favorite news sites, social feeds, the sites of companies or associations that specialize in these topics — and magazines.

That’s part of the medium’s magic: It can be as mainstream or as niche as you need it to be, and it changes often enough to remain relevant.

The print magazines found in bookstores and on newsstands run the gamut of popular interests. Factor in the titles produced by custom publishers or brands for specialty audiences, and the well of information and inspiration that shapes the way we live and work deepens considerably.

Despite the tired tropes that “print is dead” and that today’s readers lack attention spans, recent research from MPA—The Association of Magazine Media  shows that 9 in 10 American adults  read magazines. The format is persists regardless of the platform it’s experienced through.

“Whether they are consumed in print, on tablets, on a smartphone or on the web, magazine media fulfill readers’ desires for timely information and entertainment that appeal to a broad spectrum of personal interests,” says MPA, adding that magazines also “deliver powerful relationships that influence, inspire and endure.”

To which I say, yes — and yes!

But what makes a magazine a magazine?

Each magazine has a unique mission and vision, target audience and subject matter focus — not to mention its own pool of contributors, publication process and methods for attracting readers.

And yet, certain common attributes distinguish magazines as a whole from other media. When clients ask what makes a magazine, my go-to answers are these.

Magazines have structure

Compare the latest issue of your favorite magazine with a preceding issue. The individual stories will be different, of course, but you’ll see that the bones are the same. In print publishing parlance, you’ll find these parts of a magazine:

  • Cover pages
  • Front-of-book content, which may include columns (including an editorial), letters to the editor, news, quick-hit trend pieces and publisher-focused content
  • The feature well, typically two to five long-form articles that are more extensively reported and more creatively designed
  • Back-of- book content, which may include reader-engagement pieces (such as quizzes or puzzles) and product-focused content (such as reviews)

The reason for this boils down to one simple truism: There’s comfort in continuity — both for readers and for the magazine producers.

Some readers consume a magazine from cover to cover. Others gravitate first to favorite writers or departments and then flip through the rest of the book, stopping to read only what interests them. Either way, all readers come to expect a certain experience each time. If there’s no rhyme or reason to what’s in each issue, they’re less likely to become emotionally or financially invested in the experience. On the other side of the equation are the publishers, editors, writers, designers, photographers, illustrators, advertisers and others who labor to create what ends up in readers’ hands. Having a constant framework from issue to issue allows for maximum creativity within that framework. Reinventing the formula every single time is exhausting, quite frankly, and deeply confusing to your readers serving.

Features are the entrees; columns, departments and spotlights of the magazine are the appetizers, sides and desserts.

Magazines have variety

If every story is roughly the same length and each issue is organized and designed the same way, what you get is a very boring reader experience.

To put it in relatable terms: If features are the entrées, then columns, editorials and spotlights of the magazine are the appetizers, sides and desserts. If you overdo any one of these, you’re going to walk away under- or over-nourished and, most likely, dissatisfied.

A well-rounded reader experience, on the other hand, offers a mix of quick hits and deep dives, informed opinions and straight facts.

Feature articles typically quote more sources and examine topics in greater detail and with more objectivity. Because they have higher word counts, they rely on callout elements such as sidebars and pull quotes to break up the text and draw readers’ eyes. And they eschew a templated format, with each feature having its own look via varied (often dramatic) photo, illustration and font treatments.

Meanwhile, columns tend to be subjective and conform to a templated design — thus, they’re shorter. Departments also tend to be templated, shorter and often more visual to help break up the monotony of dense copy blocks. Think: non-narrative techniques like checklists, charts and infographics.

Magazines have personality

Food & Wine versus Bon AppétitPeople versus Us WeeklyTime versus NewsweekSports Illustrated versus ESPN The Magazine. In each case, you have titles treading the same territory, but they aren’t the same.

This is because the people who produce each of these titles have worked hard to cultivate a voice and tone, an editorial philosophy or a point of view that’s unique to that brand — a personality.

It’s not just what they’re saying, it’s also how they say it. That’s why every magazine has an editorial style guide that goes beyond the grammar and punctuation rules dictated by the AP StylebookThe Chicago Manual of Style or other publishing authorities. The standards a magazine staff establishes for the writing and design of the publication ensure consistency across issues and clarify—both …

12 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE/DURING/AFTER YOU WRITE AN ARTICLE

12 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE/DURING/AFTER YOU WRITE AN ARTICLE

The next time you’re going to write an article, take 12 minutes (or maybe a little more) and go through these questions:

1) Why are you writing this article?

  • Is it to instruct people on a new way of doing business or of using your product or service?
  • To increase the value of your site’s archives?
  • To sell something?
  • To give your clients some new information?
  • To increase awareness of something or someone?
  • To be seen as more of an expert in your field?
  • Because you feel you have to do write an article this week (bad reason: Read If it’s not fun, why are you doing it? for why this is a bad idea).

Think about the reason why, as if it’s a compelling one, the article will be much more interesting than if you’re just writing to write.

2) Who are you writing the article for?

  • Yourself –– sometimes you need to write out what’s in your head to clarify something you’ve been thinking about. Sometimes you think you need to rant about something. Be VERY careful when writing these posts.
  • Your customers
  • Your prospects
  • Your peers

Every audience has very different needs. When you’re writing an article, keep the needs of WHO the article is written for  in mind throughout the article so you can write for what THEY need, not what YOU need.

Watch out writing for your peers, as they likely will NEVER do business with you, though getting their approval and/or feedback may be good for your business.

Or maybe not.

3) What specific action are you hoping the audience does as a result of your post?

Think about the specific action you want people to take.

Is it:

  • Clicking a link?
  • Entering a contest?
  • Emailing you?
  • Calling you?
  • Being better educated about something so they are one step closer to making a buying decision?

Is this clear from your post?

Say exactly what you want folks to do as a result of the article.

Is it dead easy to do this from your post? You’d be surprised the number of times the call to action is impossible to actually do from where the action is requested.

4) Where can you share the article to get it maximum exposure?

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ are no brainers. But where else could you share the article?

What about:

  • StumbleUpon
  • Delicious or other social bookmarking sites
  • An industry forum
  • In your email signature

Think of where your audience hangs out and would benefit from reading this particular post, and share the link there.

5) Who in your close network could benefit most from this post?

If you have someone you know could benefit, send them a quick note and let them know you were thinking of them, and include a link to your article.

6) What existing articles on your site could you link to inside the article to give it more depth?

Think about where you could add more value by sharing a link inside the article to additional resources, thus driving up your visitors time on site, and helping them get even deeper into your article.

7) How easy is your article to read? Does it have short paragraphs and is it free from buzz words?

8) How long will it take to read your article (read it out loud if you’re not sure)?

9) Is there an image that could go with your article to make it even more impactful?

If you can find an impactful image, include it and you’ll drive the point home even more.

10) Is there a way to turn it into a list?

If so, make it a list. People love lists, even if you have to expand on some points.

11) What overused words could be removed to make the article even more powerful?

I frequently remove the word “that” from my articles because I’m apt to overuse it and it doesn’t add much, if any, value to my article. Look at the words you use and change or remove any that are overused or that don’t add value.

12) Are there any questions you can ask to help your readers add value to your article? If so, ask them.

YOUR TURN:

What are the questions you ask yourself before writing a post? Leave a comment below so we can all learn from your experiences.…

5 Questions To Ask About Every Article Idea That Will Help It Sell

5 Questions To Ask About Every Article Idea That Will Help It Sell

How do you know whether your brilliant article idea will strike a chord and get you the assignment or land your carefully-crafted query letter in the slush?

Use the following checklist to determine whether you have a winner or another stale idea that the editor’s been rejecting for years.

1. What’s new in your article idea?

If you’re writing for a pregnancy magazine, chances are the editor has already covered topics such as exercise and diet regulation. What are you going to say that stands out? Can you provide a unique spin to these topics? If yes, you’re in the door.

Be different. Instead of talking about diet issues, write about 10 fatty things that a mother-to-be can eat during pregnancy. Flip issues on their head and come up with article ideas that are counter-intuitive.

2. Will the reader connect?

You may have a perfectly publishable idea for an article, but it will still lead to a rejection if you’re targeting the wrong market. The first thing an editor will decide when she lays eyes on your pitch is whether or not her readers will connect. If it’s not relevant to her audience your article idea is getting rejected regardless of its attributes. As I frequently teach, there are dozens of ways you can reslant an idea. Which way is the best fit for this publication?

3. Will it captivate readers?

Picture this: I plop myself on the couch after a long, hard day at work. While I’m relaxing, I might flick channels on the remote or I could pick up the magazine in front of me. I could scan through Netflix or leaf through magazine articles. As it happens, my eyes rest on your piece. Was your article idea intriguing and interesting enough to make me stay with you or would I prefer to watch what’s on TV?

4. Is there a bit of a surprise?

Readers love being surprised, and therefore, editors do, too. Surprise doesn’t always have to mean an anticlimax or irony. Surprises can be subtle. Add little known statistics or funny anecdotes to your pieces. Go out of your way to find an amazing fact or figure. In a serious business piece, add a touch of humor. Include these ideas for your article in the pitch itself.

5. What’s in it for me?

What does someone take home with her once she’s closed the magazine, newspaper or browser window and gone her own way? Has she learned a lesson? Will she take with her an experience? Will she be a better mother, daughter, wife, friend, or person because of it? In every article that you write, this question holds the utmost importance. What are you giving your reader that she can carry with her into the rest of her life?…

6 Important Tips for Magazine Article Writing

6 Important Tips for Magazine Article Writing

Writing articles for magazines is definitely a dream for a lot of writers. This is because the pay is usually huge. Not only that, it can also offer exposure that can lead to more article writing projects. Below are the things that you need to learn in order to write amazing articles for magazines:

1. Make sure to choose a topic that you’re an expert on or you feel interested in.

You’ll most likely to produce high quality magazine articles if you choose topics that are included in your areas of expertise and areas of interest. Publishers always look for articles that contain in-depth information or those that are very authoritative. I would recommend that you list down all the things that you feel you’re very good at. Then, choose those ones that you can easily sell to different magazines.

2. Choose interesting angles.

You have better chances of getting your articles published if they’re very interesting. Study your chosen topic carefully and figure out the angles that were not yet discussed before and those that will grab your target audience by the throat. Also, make sure that you do not write about general topics. Publishers in general do not like articles that contain too many information that are not really useful or beneficial to their clients.

3. Research.

Even if you think that you know your chosen topic inside out, I am sure it wouldn’t hurt if you conduct research. This will surely allow you to get more useful and fresh information that can make your articles more informative and more valuable to the eyes of your target audience. Read relevant resources and if needed, interview other experts.

4. Create an outline.

Next step is to create a structure that you can follow when writing your articles. This must contain the ideas that you’re going to discuss on your introduction, article body, and conclusion. Decide if you’re going to add images, testimonials, and graphics.

5. Write your articles.

Unlike when writing news articles, you’re not required to follow specific structure or format when writing your magazine articles. You can be as creative as you want to be. To hook your readers, I suggest that you write using their language. It will also help if you strive to sound upbeat and warm all the time. Remember, your readers are reading magazine articles not just to get informed but to be entertained as well.

6. Check out the style sheet or guidelines of the magazines where you would like to submit your articles to.

Every magazine has its own list of instructions about the subjects, approach, and tone that you need to use. If these are not published, I would recommend that you read all the articles that were used by the magazines where you would like to submit your copies to. Doing this will surely give you a clear idea as to what exactly they’re looking for.…

How to Write a Magazine Article Professionally

How to Write a Magazine Article Professionally

Qualified freelance writers know how to write a magazine article up to the set quality standards. They produce articles for different kinds of magazines highlighting various topics. Even the most popular magazines are in need of the services of freelance writers to get their publications filled with the required content.

If you desire to publish your article, the first thing you need to do is send a query letter to the magazine editors and try to sell your brilliant ideas. Imagine you are assigned to create an article. What would you do to capture readers’ attention and make your editor order articles from you regularly?

How to Write a Magazine Article

Below, there are helpful prompts on how to write a magazine article properly.

Select the subject which you are good at

You will be able to succeed in creating top-notch articles if you are completely familiar with the chosen topic. Publishers always search for profound articles providing valuable information about the matter in question. In order to pick the right topic, you should create a list of themes which you find engaging and strive to select those which you could sell to some magazines without a hassle.

Highlight the issue from a new perspective

If your article is appealing, it will be easier for you to get it published. Thus, explore the chosen subject and try to determine the aspects which have not been studied yet and can be of keen interest to readers. Additionally, you have to make certain that your topic does not belong to the general ones as publishers do not buy the articles that are of no use to their target audience.

Conduct research

You should do research even if it seems to you that you are fully aware of the topic you are going to create your article on. In this way, you will be able to collect more useful material for your feature and, as a result, impress readers with the result. Browse authoritative sources and interview professionals if needed.

Do interviews

Take a look at your research and ponder over the sub-themes which you could disclose by interviewing experts. Remember that interviews make articles more interesting, and editors always give preference to such articles.

Seeking a Professional

If you want your magazine article to contain an interview from an expert, you should cold-call organizations operating in the required area. You may also address PR agencies to get some advice on where to find specialists competent in your field.

Interviewing a Specialist

In order to conduct an interview successfully, you should prepare a list of questions which you would like to ask. It is worth following your plan when creating questions not to miss any points. Ensure that your list contains such data as name, job position, and location.

Pick the place and time for the interview that is suitable for the interviewee. With the interviewee’s consent, you may record your conversation. Ask open-ended questions. Try not to deviate from your course meaning ask all questions which you intended to.

Produce an outline

The next stage is to prepare an outline by following which you will be able to create the best magazine article. Your outline has to include the points highlighting the concepts you will discuss in your paper. Think about adding images, graphics, etc.

Write your article

There is no specific format which you should apply when writing magazine articles. It is up to you to decide what mode to use. In order to catch readers’ attention, you should use their own language. However, at first, you need to identify your target audience to know how to present data. Mind that the purpose of reading magazines is to not only find out some information but also get amused.

Check out the guidelines of the magazines

Check the demands imposed by the magazine which you want to publish your article in. Each magazine has their own guidelines about how to write a magazine article. Here, it goes about the topics, writing style and tone, etc. It is advised to read the articles published in the magazine which you are going to submit your article to. Thus, you will know exactly what types of features the publishing entity is searching for.

Send your piece of writing

Strive to make a good impression on the managers of the magazine in the course of communication. Make certain your emails are produced appropriately and clearly state your intentions. Remember to respond to the received letters on time.

Arranging a Magazine Article Format

As well as other kinds of articles, a magazine one should include a title, introductory section, body, and a concluding unit.

Organizing your article appropriately will ensure its clarity. Thus, check the following points to understand not only how to write a magazine article but also arrange it:

  • Title (here, you should highlight the topic of your article)
  • Introductory section (it should clearly present the matter under consideration so that readers know what they are going to read about).
  • Body (in this part, you should highlight the details of your subject, i.e. specifics, facets, experts’ viewpoints, statistics, etc.). This section should include a couple of paragraphs only. Mind not to exceed the number of the words allowed as the whole structure may be ruined.
  • Concluding unit (this is the final section of your article where you should provide a brief summary of the entire
7 Most Important Tips For Magazine Article Writing

7 Most Important Tips For Magazine Article Writing

How to write an article for a magazine? Well, these important tips will help you with everything you need to know along with some much-needed confidence to start writing articles for magazines, submit letters and queries to editors, and get your writing published without any hassle. Even if your aim is not to become a freelance writer, these simple yet important tips will help you enhance your writing for a magazine.

Anything here is not a “SECRET” of how to get your writing published in a magazine – but the motto is to let the information reach you so that you end up doing everything swiftly. Writing for a magazine is much simpler than you could imagine. But simple does not mean “easy”. The tips below have helped many writers who were about to start freelancing including me and it’s been a decade since but they are still useful.

Let’s begin with something easy, a foundational tip for how to write a memorable article for a magazine. Tip: “Don’t tell, show”. But why is it a foundational tip? Well, because most of the writers don’t do that! More than half of the writers just want to put their emotions and feelings forward or want to express how much they know(or they think they know) about a certain topic.

If you are among those few writers who simply put the facts in a catchy, intriguing, and plain way, you already know half of how to get started with magazine article writing. As we are proceeding further, another tip, never to dictate to the reader how they should think about someone or something.

“Tell them all the wonderful things but never tell them that something is going to be wonderful” – says a professional writer. “Just put forward the facts and let the readers be “WOW” how wonderful that would be!” Here, the writer means that you should not incorporate commentary if you are writing for a magazine. In blogs and other articles, you can tell the readers about your thoughts but when it’s a magazine, your focus should be just the facts.

So what did we learn?

  • “Just the facts, honey.”
  • Don’t tell, show.
  • Don’t opine, explain.

How To Write An Amazing Magazine Article

1.  Understand The Difference Between The “Story” And “Subject”

The fact that two well-known authors wrote a book that focuses on “writing” is a subject. How those two writers fought in order to publish their books is a story. What is the point of difference when it comes to story and subject? Suspense, Problems, Conflict, Drama, and Growth. Let’s look for another example: “The rabbit is sleeping on a mat” is a subject – a fact. The story comes in when we say “The cat and the rabbit both are willing to sleep on the mat.” A clear understanding of the difference between the subject and story is one of the most essential tips to enhance your magazine writing. Even if you are considering non-fiction, there too you’ll find a touch of story.

2.  Learn To Find Stories

To become a magazine writer, another essential tip is to be able to gather interesting stories to write about. The easier way to do so is by starting working in some office or a coffee shop. Interaction with common people will let you know what people are interested in talking about.

By being in a place full of people, you’ll see normal people helping you in writing different stories, good enough to be published in a magazine. Before stepping into freelance writing, writing articles for stories is an easy way to bear your expenses as well.

According to a general overview, writers are more creative when they put their laptops aside for a while, they come out with better ideas, find better inspiration, and even end up planning different pivots and career moves.

3.  Focus On Research – Try To Do It As Better As You Can

Not just at the beginning of your magazine writing career, detailed research is an essential aspect for professional writers as well. Do as much research as you can to gather information so that you can include more and better facts in your magazine article. Below are the two reasons why:

  • Even if you don’t use all of your research in the piece, it will help you write better (a writer should never include all their research in a single magazine article)
  • Your research can be used in a different magazine article. If you don’t toss away your extra research, it won’t be squandered. Don’t try to pack all you’ve learned into your essay. Select the most relevant facts to improve your piece; preserve the rest for a future magazine article, blog post, or media outlet.

The more time you give to practice writing a magazine article, the better you will understand how much research is “enough” for the job.

4.  Calm Down, There Is No Single “Right Way” To Write A Magazine Article

While the fact remains intact that there is no right or wrong way of writing a good magazine article, it’s essential to know that the beginning plays the most important role. The beginning of an article can be more time-consuming and frustrating than rest and that’s an undeniable fact. The start and the end of your article are two crucial parts. Why?  Because they play an extensive …