How to write an article for online publication.

Writing articles for online viewing can sometimes be a tough challenge!

Lots of people are used to writing essays, long paragraphs, and often with no pictures.

When I read articles online, I can easily be distracted by something flashing at the side. Long sentences, and not many spaces between paragraphs, are a sure way to make me fall asleep or click on another article link.

 

I don’t dislike long paragraphs really!

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that style of writing, I just think, when writing for an online audience, you need to captivate them:

  • Title – ideally, keep your title short, as a long title will carry the assumption of a long article.
  • Quick phrases – short sentences that have catchy words in them.
  • Get the facts straight – Don’t babble too much, try and make it obvious what your points are.
  • Sections – often splitting your article up into sections makes it easier on the readers eye.
  • Use pictures – without pictures, your article will definitely look more like an essay!
  • Links – a good idea is to hyperlink various sentences or words to other articles, this allows the reader to look into what you are talking about in more detail, rather than you having to explain it for them.
Obviously every person or website has their own preferred style. The above are what I personally would do to vamp up my articles.

You’ve finished your article.

Now publish it straight away get someone to PROOF READ it. In fact, get a few people to proof read it, but not at the same time! Often when you’re writing your own article, you can get too engrossed and start thinking your rubbish ideas are fantastic ideas!

 

Don’t stress too much!

For some people this all comes naturally! Where as for others, this is a more taxing task. Personally I have always struggled with my punctuation, although my spelling is usually on parr.

I guess the phrase ‘practise makes perfect’ is very true for me when it comes to writing for online publication.

Hopefully you will find this article helpful, even if it just inspired you to take a second look, at your own articles, rather than totally re-constructing the way you write.

 

For more fun chit chat and fully comprehensable tweeting, follow me @snoopedselby, or don’t.

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