Academic Monday : Article Writing

 First Thing First on Academic Monday

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

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Articles are generally defined as short pieces of writing of a non-fiction nature. They are used widely in journalism, creative writing, publishing, and online. How to write an article is a necessary skill for anyone hoping to make an income from writing, and it is vital for those undergoing creative writing classes. It is useful to know how to write an article for a number of uses in a normal adult life.

When being asked to write an article, a writer should keep in mind a number of things: the subject, the topic, the required length, and the audience or target market of readers. Then, there is the all-important aspect of what the article’s use or intention is.

Articles are used to sell, to persuade, to inform, to furnish details, and to entertain. Their use is widespread, especially in magazines, journals, newspapers, and online. The tone of an article can be casual, academic, or technical.

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 Steps for Article Writing

• Make sure you know the purpose or use for the article.
• Gather all information in one folder.
• Assemble as much material as you can on the topic or subject.
• Take notes and consolidate them thoroughly, to facilitate organization.
• Start a point list to cover subject, topic, length, market, and intention.
• Check the legalities and ethical issues related to the topic.
• Draft brief paragraphs to highlight a set of relevant points.
• Write an introductory paragraph last, in order to encapsulate the topic and rationale properly.

 Points to Consider

Writing an article compatible with a brief, a topic, or a host site or magazine means you must  do some research. Make absolutely sure that:

• You do not exceed or fall short of the required length
• The topic and subject are narrowly focused
• Your researched material is up to date and current
• You check whether the article is to be casual, academic or technical
• Depending on this, make sure it is entertaining, scholarly or informative

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ― Stephen King

Dos

• Do spend some time understanding the point of what you are about to write. All articles have a purpose, and you must keep it in mind.
• Do make lists. No article writer can work without a relevant list of keywords, topics, and relevant points.
• Do cultivate a germane tone. It must match two things: the purpose, and the content of the article itself, whether technical, scholarly, or entertaining.
• Do write several drafts of each paragraph.
• Do compare your first draft copy with other material from previous issues of the journal or website. If there are differences, they can be corrected in subsequent drafts.

Don'ts

• Don’t submit the first version of any article you write. Modifications are usually necessary, and several attempts provide the best language and content possible.
• Don’t leave it too late to learn how to write an article that is appropriate for the purpose.
• Don’t try to write from memory – all research and references need to be verifiable. Fraudulence put to this use is obvious, and checks do take place in the journalistic, entertainment or business environments.
• Don’t try to re-hash someone else’s ideas. Although ideas cannot copyrighted, the persons who read your articles expect original material, every time.
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Common Mistakes

•  As a result of scant research, lack of specific detail is often detected.
•  It is a mistake to write an article whose topic or tone is correct, but whose content is not of the same demanding standards.
•  Hasty or unprepared writing is the sign of a writer who either does not care, or has neglected to set aside enough time for writing the article. It is a serious error not to draft and rewrite properly and with due diligence. They are just as important with this kind of writing as any other commercial or scholarly document.
• Inclusion of misleading or incorrect material is an error which often occurs. To omit something of importance or something relevant, or to include text which has little to do with the intended use for the article, might disgrace your submission.
•  Lack of aptness, or poor language skills are frequently encountered. Avoid inappropriate or irrelevant vocabulary, and syntactical weakness. Article writers often use an inappropriate tone, with punctuation and grammar