5 Types of
Article You Can Write
by David Goldsmith
If you always write the same type of article then you are
probably limiting your chances of getting published. Look at
your favorite publications and you will see they print a
variety of types of article. Here are five of the most
popular types.
The ‘How To’ Article
This is a very popular type of article, in which you tell
the reader how to do something. It could be how to build a
garage, how to write a book, how to sell a house, or how to
clean tar off a pair of trousers. These articles tend to be
particularly popular because people love to find out how to
do something.
When writing how to do something, and if the sequence is
important, then it is a good idea to number each step.
Remember to keep your instructions simple, yet specific. And
you could even use a picture or illustration if the
publication allows it.
The ‘List’ Article
The list article is an article that lists several related
pieces of information, and is one of the easiest types of
article to write. It could be “10 Ways to Save Money”, “5
Flowers to Plant In April”, or “The Best 12 Places to Live
in Canada”. A list article should have:
• An introduction.
• The list; each item may be a paragraph or two.
• A conclusion.
The ‘Roundup’ Article
In the roundup article, you provide a roundup of
information, statements, or opinions from a variety of
sources. You might interview a number of experts, for
example, and ask them the same list of questions. In your
article you then write a roundup of the answers, e.g.
“Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is confident that the
market will turn around soon. “Within the next six weeks at
most”, he predicted. But Tom Sloane, at Pickwick Associates,
disagrees. He explains why…”
The 'Inspirational' Article
Inspiration articles include inspirational narrative,
essays, articles on faith and religion, and self-help
articles.
Do you know of an issue or concern that affects many people?
Think of your own every day experiences. Write about the
issue… and help the readers to deal with life and to improve
themselves in some way.
The ‘As Told To’ Article
Because many of the people who have outstanding experiences
are not writers, there is a market for writing those
people’s stories. This is quite similar to ghostwriting,
except that in this case the audience knows that you are the
writer. In the credits, you would show “By Peter Wallace
[subject], as told to Jim Davies…” [writer].
Instead of writing a third-person narrative of the event,
the ‘As Told To’ article makes the tale more real and
personal by using the first-person.
So next time you are about to write an article, pause… and
ask which type of article would best suit your situation and
topic. By varying the types of articles you write your
writing will also develop a new depth and your articles will
be picked up by a much wider variety of publications.
About the Author
David
Goldsmith is a freelance writer and author of the popular
e-book "25 Ways to Write for Money". Discover how you can
earn a good living from your writing. Download your copy of
his e-book today at
http://www.WriterIncome.com
If you are an affiliate using this article, remember to replace the WriterIncome.com link
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