7 Commandments of Writing Articles
I’ve been writing my entire life. Professionally, I’ve written for over a decade now. I recently thought about what all this writing has taught me. As such, I’ve come up with these seven commandments of writing articles to share with you.
Article Writing Commandment #1: Write well. If you are going to spend the time and put forth the effort, then make sure you write well. Always use your computer’s spell check. Furthermore, proofread your articles for proper grammar, which is a common pitfall for many writers.
Article Writing Commandment #2: Write often. Beginning writers often struggle with the idea of having writer’s block. The truth is writer’s block is just a form of stalling and procrastination to keep you from writing.
Article Writing Commandment #3: Keep an idea bank. This is quite possibly your best tool. Yet, many writers don’t make it a habit of keeping a running list of ideas. Compile them in a notebook and carry it with you everywhere, so you’ll never miss another idea again.
Article Writing Commandment #4: Write passionately about your topic. If you’re going to write, then write whole-heartedly. Trust me; your readers will know in an instant if you have no interest in what you’re writing about.
Article Writing Commandment #5: Use quick outlines. When you start with a quick outline before you begin writing, you are able to stay focused in your article. This helps tremendously if you tend to ramble or go off on tangents.
Article Writing Commandment #6: Have something important to say. If you’re going to write articles, be sure you have something of great value to say. Rambling on for 400-600 words about nothing in particular will drive your readership crazy and may even turn them off and cause them to avoid your future articles.
Article Writing Commandment #7: Be confident in your writing abilities. All too often, we writers tend to be our own harshest critics. Rather than nit-picking your articles to the point of desecration, focus on your positive writing traits.
Keep these seven commandments of article writing in mind the next time you write and you’ll be just fine.
*As published at Ezine Articles.
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October 31st, 2007 at 8:40 am
These are great “commandments.” I liked this post so much that I’m going to stumble it so that other writers can find it.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Awesome! Thanks a bunch, Laura.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:29 am
I love this post! The one I always forget is starting with an outline. It goes so much more smoothly when there is one to begin with.
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:17 am
How about adding “Write Outside Your Comfort Zone?” I find too many writers get jammed on writing about what they know best - which is normal, but limiting.
Be excellent at what you do know and enjoy, and then step out of your comfort zone. By writing on unfamiliar topics, you hone your research skills, learn to write effectively and with passion even on subjects that bore you, and become an overall better writer that is flexible and able to take on all sorts of writing jobs.
November 4th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Thanks Courtney! Excellent tip, James! I totally agree that you should step outside your comfort zone. Plus, there’s always the added bonus of learning something new when you write about a topic you know nothing about.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
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November 18th, 2007 at 6:05 am
[...] 7 Commandments of Writing Articles [...]
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 am
I just thought I would point out this wonderful bit of irony.
Article Writing Commandment #1: Write well. If you are going to spend the time and put for the effort, then make sure you write well. Always use your computer’s spell check. Furthermore, proofread your articles for proper grammar, which is a common pitfall for many writers.
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:32 am
LOL! Gotta love human error Logan. Thanks for pointing it out to me.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:04 am
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