WRITING AN ARTICLE

I am trying to publish articles in the newspapers, I failed but I am still trying my luck. When I failed to publish the articles, I found that writing an article is not an easy job.  Furthermore, I started analysing my articles. While analysing the articles, I found that most of the articles which I wrote were already published. Not only that, some articles have good content but language issues and sometimes I have issues with both the language and content.  Moreover, I started reading online how to make good articles. So, what is an article and what are the ways to write a good article?

An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating news, research results, academic analysis, or debate. In other words, an article is a type of feature story written in the style of a news article. It tackles a topic wit painstaking detail and requires facts and research back-to-back the story.

News features are increasingly found in publications, as they are more engaging for readers than hard news. To write a news feature, journalists must focus on a specific topic that can be thoroughly covered within a given word count. The topic must also be important and include first-hand accounts of real people, opinions from experts and facts and shreds of evidence to establish the truth and gravity of the issue. Though their topics have a local focus, news features should put everything together and show that there's larger context to the issue.

So, what are the ways to write good articles? There are different ways of writing articles which are: 

1) RESEARCH YOUR TOPIC

First of all, before writing or to begin writing an article, you need to research the topic. In order to have a credible, well written, well-structured article, you have to know the topic well. While doing research, one must include the 5 W’s and one H which means:

• Who- Who was involved?
• What- What happened?
• Where- Where did it happen?
• Why-Why did it happen?
• When- When did it happen?
• How- How did it happen?

2) COMPILE ALL YOUR FACTS

After doing the research, you need to compile the facts. The facts should be relevant and should be specific. Moreover, it should be clean and to topic. Unnecessary information should be cut off.

3) CREATE AN ARTICLE OUTLINE

While writing an article, one must make an outline. There should be mind mapping. This helps to point out the main points and helps to include which point to keep and which one not to include.

4) KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

To write a good article, you must know who you are writing for. The audience will help to improve your articles by giving feedback and comments.

5) FIND AN ANGLE

Why is this article unique to you? What is your voice? These questions will help you to make your news article unique and something that only you could write.

6) INTERVIEW PEOPLE

When writing a news article, interviewing people and getting a first-hand source on your topic can be invaluable. And while reaching out to people and asking for an interview may seem daunting, it can greatly affect the credibility and authority of your article. When you interview people, you will learn about their experiences and you can get the topic from their experiences.

7) EDIT YOUR ARTICLE

Before publishing articles, you must edit your article. Proofreading helps to cut the unnecessary points. Proofreading helps to know your mistakes, what to delete and what to keep more.  

Moreover, while writing articles, there should kept in the mind that: -

• Always use proper grammar, spelling and proper punctuation.
• Furthermore, use vocabulary skills.
• Keep the introductions of the topic catching, interesting, and short.
• Discuss the opinion and the matter in an organized and descriptive.
• The language should not be too formal.
• No use of the paraphrase.
• The article has to be interesting.

In conclusion, while writing article one must be specific. There should not be jargon words used. The starting of the articles should be catchy and the body should be followed by the lead and the conclusion should also be meaningful to the lead and the body. The topic should not be diverted. Sometimes, people feel lazy to write a conclusion. I find difficult to write conclusion because of the repetition.  Moreover, I find the headlines more difficult. I don’t know how to write headlines. So, headlines should be catchy. Although it is difficult to write headlines, it should be according to the articles. Lastly, one must read the newspapers, books and online so that one can get ideas and know-how to write good articles. Moreover, one must observe the surroundings which help to get good articles.

 

REFERENCES

https://www.toppr.com/guides/business-correspondence-and-reporting/article-writing/steps-of-article-writing/

https://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/write-a-how-to-article-in-6-easy-steps

https://www.copyblogger.com/write-article-fast/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_(publishing)

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-News-Article