Resources: Writing a Successful Article

Clemente News Scouts
How to Write a Successful Article

Writing a successful article is not a simple task. There are many considerations, and many “risks.” Some of the considerations are: Who is my audience? What am I writing about? Why am I writing about it? When will this be read? How can I best express it? Should I include opinions of others?

Some risks include misquotation or misinformation, misrepresentation of the facts, boring the audience, not reaching a broad enough audience, giving too much or too little information, missing the point and steering off in an obscure direction… etc.

There are ways to overcome these obstacles in writing a successful article. Most news writers try to concentrate on what is most important to their audience FIRST, and once they have captured the attention their article needs, proceed to give the details or other important information. For the purposes of a small newsletter, such as Clemente News, this is particularly useful.

Bias is hard to avoid in the news business for the simple fact that IT sells, and hard, cold facts rarely do without proper dressing. It is not enough to say, “There are many fights in a school.” Readers want to know what is “different” or special about either the fights or the school. Are the fights the results of gang-members going on about territory? Or are they about the latest disagreement in a family feud? Is the school a wealthy, “stuffed-shirt” school? Or is it a poor, low-budget school where security is not an affordable option? By emphasizing the fights, describing the school, and sensationalizing the ratios, the headline becomes the vehicle that guides the reader to the rest of the article.

The first lines of the article (following a catchy, witty, or dramatic title) should capture the attention of the reader by stating what is most important… in other words, what has the most impact on the reader! The next lines are vital in HOLDING the attention of the reader by describing some background or current information that backs up the main idea. The information that follows usually consists of details, quotes, opinions, and other “stuff” to flesh out the article to give it appeal.

Important to remember in writing an article is that no matter how sensational, radical, or dramatic the writer must be to sell the story – too much, too little, bad, and wrong information are NOT OK. Slander and libel are two other risks that writers take when they don’t take the time to research their information to ensure that everything is accurate. Don’t take that risk – take the time to get it right.

A final thought on writing a successful article is to follow the guidelines described as “working backwards.” This means instead of writing the background and important details first, and finishing with a climatic ending… start off with a BANG and work back to the underlying information that will support the article once the main points have been thrown at the reader such that the reader feels everything going on in the article. Capturing the attention is one thing, but it’s important not let it go because of mundane details. Keep the story fresh with creative, persuasive, and informative writing.

NOTE: Even more emphatic than a catchy phrase to strike home to readers is a captivating drawing or photograph that visually draws the audience into the scene, causing all the emotions and feelings of the story to “tantalize” the readers’ senses. It’s a good idea to practice the art of good photography for that purpose.