I’ve discovered that many of the people who I talk to feel they can write well and would love to try their hand at writing articles for publication.
Many large companies and industries publish their own newsletters or magazines. They tell about present and future developments, how the international economic climate is affecting them, or what political influences are at work.
They may also give news of appointments, promotions, retirements and deaths. They give details of company competitions, awards and prizes. They announce new schemes that have been launched and tell about new campaigns. Some even have a correspondence column: ‘Letters to the Editor’.
Some are distributed to employees, some are sent out to suppliers and customers by post, and many are now circulated as e-zines or made available on the company’s website.
In small, informal newsletters the compiler/editor is usually glad to receive and publish any contribution, however amateurish. But in a more formal publication, which goes out to a wide audience, the editor will only consider your article if it is well written and presented. So, here is how you would go about it.
First study earlier issues of the newsletter or magazine to see what style the articles are written in. This will obviously influence the vocabulary you use and the formality of your writing.
What is the general length of articles or does this vary?
Study these aspects and try to get a ‘feel’ for the editorial policy of the magazine. If you do this you can then tailor your writing to the particular publication and this will give you a much better chance of actually seeing your work in print.
As with all writing, planning is important if you are to get your ideas across to your reader in a coherent and entertaining manner.
The Opening Paragraph
This must grab the reader’s attention, or they won’t waste any more of their time on it. It should also be relevant to the rest of the article and brief – a couple of sentences are all you need. These sentences should be short. The headline and the opening paragraph are the writer’s showcase; so take particular care with them.
In subsequent paragraphs the length of sentences may be varied to add pace but don’t write sentences that are so long that their meaning becomes obscure. And don’t cram more than one idea into a paragraph. If a paragraph makes a single point that’s enough.
The ‘Body’ of the Article
This should contain plenty of facts with each paragraph contributing to the whole article. Remember, you must include as much information as possible about your chosen subject. You can always edit out any superfluous material later when you revise your work.
If you are unsure how to build the article from start to finish it’s a good idea to first make an outline with the assembled facts so that you know you’ve got the material in the right order. Avoid cramming everything into the first three or four paragraphs and having nothing left for the middle and end. Also, try to avoid concentrating too much text on one fact, and having no space left for the rest. The majority of writers find that they need to plan their work carefully in advance.
The Closing Paragraph
When you write an outline for an article or are gathering the facts, try to have the ending planned in your mind. Stop when you have said all you have to say – don’t waffle on. End your article in a way that is appropriate to your subject and your target publication.
When you’ve done all this, you’re still not finished. You have to try to find an eye-catching but appropriate title and you MUST revise your work so that everything makes sense and there are no careless mistakes.
If you are one of those people who feel you have a talented writer hiding inside you, you might want to consider enrolling on our Advanced Business English Course where there is a whole module devoted to writing for newsletters, articles and press releases. Or, if you feel that you want to explore the possibility of writing on a more professional level then look at the courses offered by our sister college, The Writers Bureau.
Author: Diana Nadin
