I receive WQ magazine online each day and thought these tips written by Allison Whitehead were great reminders to make sure my writing stays on track. Hopefully these tips will be useful for those that write articles.
1 – Always study new and existing magazines for market information and ideas.
2 – Listen to other people – they can give you excellent ideas for articles.
3 – Read everything you can, as often as you can, and write regularly. Both will help you improve.
4 – Make sure all work is professionally laid out.
5 – Always spell check your work and double check you haven’t made any simple mistakes.
6 – Once you have written an article, put it away for a few days before sending it off. Re-read it first – any errors will stand out.
7 – Keep a notebook handy at all times, to jot ideas down in.
8 – Research everything you write thoroughly. Double check all your facts.
9 – Don’t emulate the styles of others. As you practice, your own unique style will develop all on its own. It is far more satisfying than copying someone else's style!
10 – Put as much effort into query letters as you do into your articles. These are the shop windows for what’s inside (i.e. the articles themselves).
1 – Always study new and existing magazines for market information and ideas.
2 – Listen to other people – they can give you excellent ideas for articles.
3 – Read everything you can, as often as you can, and write regularly. Both will help you improve.
4 – Make sure all work is professionally laid out.
5 – Always spell check your work and double check you haven’t made any simple mistakes.
6 – Once you have written an article, put it away for a few days before sending it off. Re-read it first – any errors will stand out.
7 – Keep a notebook handy at all times, to jot ideas down in.
8 – Research everything you write thoroughly. Double check all your facts.
9 – Don’t emulate the styles of others. As you practice, your own unique style will develop all on its own. It is far more satisfying than copying someone else's style!
10 – Put as much effort into query letters as you do into your articles. These are the shop windows for what’s inside (i.e. the articles themselves).
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11 – If editors request changes, follow them to the letter.
12 – Always adhere to any writers’ guidelines a publication produces.
13 – Always study several issues of target magazines before attempting to write for them.
14 – Pay attention to any advice editors give you. These are like nuggets of pure gold! They will enable you to tailor future submissions more closely to their requirements.
15 – Structure articles before writing them – however roughly. It will prevent false starts and crossings out.
16 – Look in unlikely places to unearth new market information – magazines in waiting rooms, for example.
17 – Study the adverts in any magazines you wish to write for, as well as studying the content. They will provide clues to the readership and their likely interests and income bracket.
18 – Study article formats too. They will help you in planning out your own pieces.
19 – Keep articles and cuttings on subjects which interest you. It will save you time on research.
20– Try and become a specialist on one or two subjects. They will become easier to write about, easier to research, quicker to write, and you can develop a few steady markets as well.
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David J LeBeau AM Said,
20 TIPS ON WRITING
Well done. I am in the process of writing a book on the evolution of furniture style as it relates to social history. [No, that is what it is about, not the title.] And found this post very informative with some ideas I had not thought of and confirmation on some of my own. Well worth retaining to keep handy when you write.
Posted on September 25, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Jane at Appraisers Workshops Said,
Thank you David. I agree, for me it becomes a checklist of sorts.
Posted on September 25, 2009 at 12:24 PM