article writing a step by step guide
DESCRIPTION
A simple guide to effective article writing.TRANSCRIPT
A Guide to Article Writing
By, Priyan DC
Managing Partner, Ogilvy PR
What is an article?
• An article is a written full text document or literary work
• It may be for a newspaper, magazine, journal or just an informational document
• In addition, an article in grammar can be either a, an or the, and these are used before a noun
Writing tips
• The Brief – Understand the need for the article, what is the expected outcome, what is the essence, what are the highlights
• Brainstorm ideas – Engage with teams to discuss and get more ideas for a compelling piece
• Research – Preparation for the article in terms of background, originality, trends, Core concept, etc
• Know your audience – Visualise the ultimate audience for the write up, what is the expected impact, how will it relate to the audience and make it interesting
• Create a structure with flow – Outline the key areas to be covered in the article before you begin to elaborate each heading
• Build context – Find examples of recent trends and local happening to create relevance
• Quotes and paraphrasing – Include quotes by well known individuals or opinion leaders to engage the audience and for credibility
• Proof Read – Finally review the article to ensure it contains everything that you originally visualised, check for grammar and flow
Typical Structure
• An article typically contains an introduction, the body and conclusion.
• The introduction will flow from a suitable title that sets the tone
• The introduction features a brief note on what the reader can expect and the careful use of language to excite the reader to continue reading
• The body of the article is its core containing all essential details such as references, examples, quotes
• The conclusion is where the article is summarized reinforcing what the writer is aiming to communicate with the piece
• Credits – Especially in well researched pieces make it a point to provide necessary credits. This also adds to the credibility of the piece
• This method of writing is called "being taken down the garden path" by many professional writers as this neatly explains the process
A good article depends on
• A writers skill and experience
• A writers SEO knowledge and skill
• The writers good use of grammar
• Good spelling
• Research and knowledge of the topic
• Unique content - Avoid plagiarism
• A well structured article that grabs the reader's attention and compels him to read on
In summary
The key thing to remember is that you’re telling a story to your readers. That means you need a beginning, a middle and an end
It also means you need to think about where you’re taking your reader and create a logical path to that end point
THANK YOU