5 Tips for Article Writing

52 replies
I know when I started writing articles, I had a lot of trouble. I'll share a few tips and feel free to chime in with yours, as I'm sure we can all learn a lot from each other with how important writing is to IM.

1. Make an small outline. For the average article you will want to cover around three points. Along with that list something within that point that needs to be in the article. Believe me, this will help a lot. This also helps when creating list posts and articles which are great for readers more likely to scan your article than read it word for word.

2. Remember your audience. You aren't writing for your own entertainment, you are writing for you readers and you need to write for them. The average man and woman use different language to communicate. Keep things like that in mind and try and write so they will understand.

3. Don't feel the need to use big fancy words and phrases unless they are appropriate for the audience. The average article should be written at an 8th grade level. This ensures the most readers will be able to understand it.

4. A catchy title really helps. Articles like "The best ___" or "Top 7 ____ Tips" attract readers well, but those aren't the only type of titles that work.

5. Spend some time crafting your introduction and conclusion. Your introduction is important because it draws your reader in and your conclusion should include your call to action so both are important.

I'll stop here so this doesn't turn into its own article. Let's hear your tips for writing articles!
#article #tips #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Melanie Crouse
    Good tips Amanda! I'll add:

    1. Make it interesting. Tell a story, ask a question, make a bold/crazy/controversial statement. This is not always appropriate, but when it is, it really works.

    2. Take a stance. Sometimes writing about something from the less popular point of view can get a lot of attention. (Particularly good for blog posts, as it often generates a lot of comments and sharing)

    3. Proofread for grammar and spelling as well as readability. This is important. Don't edit as you go, though. Just let the words flow non-stop until you're done, then go back an fix and fix again.

    3. If you have trouble getting a piece started, don't worry about starting at the beginning. Start in the middle or anywhere, then go back and put it all in order later.

    4. I used to kind of freeze up with a blank page in front of me. To combat that, either paste bits of research notes on the page first or just type random stuff for a couple of minutes then let the real writing flow. (Don't forget to delete the extra stuff when you're done! I did that once and it was rather embarrassing )

    5. Believe it or not, sometimes using a pen and paper (gasp!) can draw out more creativity than typing. I'm not sure what that's all about, but it does work for some people.

    Those are my top tips. I'd love to hear more!
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    • Profile picture of the author HostSentry
      Thanks everyone, some great tips here. I hope more will get added! Article writing is definitely one of my weaker skills.
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    • Profile picture of the author jwmann2
      Another good tip: take someone else's article on something mainstream in the news, form an idea on the subject and see if you can make it into a better article. The ideas you will come up with are endless. Don't steal the content. Take something-and make it better.
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    • Profile picture of the author samalexis
      Originally Posted by Melanie Crouse View Post

      Good tips Amanda! I'll add:

      1. Make it interesting. Tell a story, ask a question, make a bold/crazy/controversial statement. This is not always appropriate, but when it is, it really works.

      2. Take a stance. Sometimes writing about something from the less popular point of view can get a lot of attention. (Particularly good for blog posts, as it often generates a lot of comments and sharing)

      3. Proofread for grammar and spelling as well as readability. This is important. Don't edit as you go, though. Just let the words flow non-stop until you're done, then go back an fix and fix again.

      3. If you have trouble getting a piece started, don't worry about starting at the beginning. Start in the middle or anywhere, then go back and put it all in order later.

      4. I used to kind of freeze up with a blank page in front of me. To combat that, either paste bits of research notes on the page first or just type random stuff for a couple of minutes then let the real writing flow. (Don't forget to delete the extra stuff when you're done! I did that once and it was rather embarrassing )

      5. Believe it or not, sometimes using a pen and paper (gasp!) can draw out more creativity than typing. I'm not sure what that's all about, but it does work for some people.

      Those are my top tips. I'd love to hear more!
      I agree with the pen and paper idea. Seems ideas flow much better from the pen than the keyboard for me. Sometimes it's too much and I need to jump on the computer. Shorthand would come in handy then.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paula Steen
    Thanks for starting this thread. I'm always interested in learning from other writers!

    Here are my five tips for writing articles for other people.

    1. Ask questions - When someone hires you to write an article, they probably already have a picture of what they want in their mind. Find out what they are expecting. What do they want the reader to do after reading your article? Should the article be written in a technical or personal style? Do they have a certain format they prefer?

    2. Research - Get interested in the topic of the article. One of the best parts of being an article writer is being able to learn new things every day. Take advantage of the opportunity!

    3. Brainstorm - Don't spend too much time planning out the entire article before you begin. Try to set up a basic outline first. Then just fill in bits of information until the words start to flow.

    4. Revise - Once you have the article written, read it out loud. Do the ideas flow smoothly? Can you change some words to make it more interesting? Does it meet the expectations of the person who ordered it?

    5. Edit - Before you send out your article, make sure you have not missed any grammatical or spelling errors. How does the article look? Is it divided into easy to scan sections? You want everything to be perfect when your client reads what you wrote.

    When you send your article to your client, ask for feedback! The more you write for someone, the better you can write content that will get them the response they want.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    When writing for clients, always take time to ask questions. You have no idea how many clients have thanked me for taking enough interest in their project to ask questions.
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    • Profile picture of the author Leunamme
      Originally Posted by AmandaT View Post

      When writing for clients, always take time to ask questions. You have no idea how many clients have thanked me for taking enough interest in their project to ask questions.
      Asking questions is also helpful in covering the things your client may have missed. It'll prevent some headaches in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Gould
    I've got a few for you guys too

    1. Structure

    Whether or not you do it in notepad, MS word or on an A4 piece of paper, do a small structure outline of what you're writing per paragraph.

    2. Relevant

    It's easy to deviate from the topic at hand. You start to ramble and all hell breaks loose. Constantly look back at the title to remind yourself exactly what you're writing about.

    3. Proof read

    Simple spelling errors such as a double letter or missing the plural from a word can drive the user away (I know, weird) so make sire you're reading back through your article to look for errors.

    Enjoy your article writing guys!
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  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
    I think #2 - Remember your Audience is the most important. Many writers forget this and many people spend so much time trying to write for google they forget about the reader.

    Benjamin Ehinger
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    • Profile picture of the author MrLinkBuilder
      Originally Posted by Benjamin Ehinger View Post

      I think #2 - Remember your Audience is the most important. Many writers forget this and many people spend so much time trying to write for google they forget about the reader.

      Benjamin Ehinger
      Yes, I do too believe that you shouldn't forget your reader as they are your end user. Pretty much everyone who are stuck with SEO and building links they tend to drift away from what is important when creating articles or posting in forums or commenting from blog sites. All they care about are links to their site just to generate traffic.
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      • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
        Originally Posted by MrLinkBuilder View Post

        Yes, I do too believe that you shouldn't forget your reader as they are your end user. Pretty much everyone who are stuck with SEO and building links they tend to drift away from what is important when creating articles or posting in forums or commenting from blog sites. All they care about are links to their site just to generate traffic.
        Traffic is worthless if they don't stay on your site and take action. Those concentrating solely on link building and SEO are making a huge mistake.

        Benjamin Ehinger
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  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
    Originally Posted by stevenjacobs View Post

    I like 4 tip most, it is the most important too. It converts like crazy and gets you the lead super intrested in what you are talking about.
    I agree that it is important for sure. The title is the first thing the reader sees and if it sucks they will not continue to read the article at all.

    Benjamin Ehinger
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  • Profile picture of the author stephenwaldo
    5. Spend some time crafting your introduction and conclusion. Your introduction is important because it draws your reader in and your conclusion should include your call to action so both are important.
    Expounding on point #5 a little bit...

    For the intro:
    #1. Remember that the first sentence in an article is what determines whether they're just going to skim or read the whole thing word by word.

    #2.
    Ask a question that relates directly to your reader's problem without being a simple repetition of the title, although even that can work out pretty well.

    #3.
    I always like to use a bit of psychological trickery and include phrases like "as you continue reading this article" or "by the time you've finished this article"...Something that tells the reader that they're going to finish reading your content.

    #4. It's also worked surprisingly well for me to include a bullet list below my first couple intro paragraphs that outlines the main points in an article. People love bullet lists!

    Seriously.

    And for the conclusion paragraph or resource box:

    #1. If you're doing article marketing, remember that a lot of people will strip your links after republishing from article directories, so having a naked link is actually not a bad idea. Plus, from an SEO standpoint Google loves seeing natural anchor text variation like naked links.

    #2. One of my highest converting resource boxes goes along the lines of "I know you've got more questions, but don't worry! That's normal! For more help go to [insert link website]".

    #3. Have a compelling subheading over your conclusion...Many times people will skim to the bottom of an article, but will read the last paragraph if it looks appealing.


    Hopefully something in there is at least mildly helpful to at least one person.

    If not, well I always love the sound of my own e-voice, so I guess I at least got to ramble.

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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by stephenwaldo View Post

      #2. One of my highest converting resource boxes goes along the lines of "I know you've got more questions, but don't worry! That's normal! For more help go to [insert link website]".
      That is an example of a great way to do a resource box. It really shows you understand the reader and want to help them.

      Bullet lists are a great tool. I've found that my articles with numbered or bullet lists get much better click through rates and are syndicated much more often.

      Another tip: Remember to be casual unless your topic or audience requires otherwise. People have an easier time reading articles that read like a conversation. Write as if you are talking to someone and it will get through to them a lot easier. Don't be afraid to use contractions or slang that would be common for your audience, though you will want to be careful not to use unknown slang.

      When it comes to proofreading, the best thing to do is either have someone else proofread your article or simply close out and wait until the next day or at least a few hours later. Proofreading while you write will slow you down and interrupt your flow while proofreading right after you finish can leave you blind to errors because you just wrote it.

      Also, remember to actually add your call to action! You need to say "click here for more info" or "order now" or people are not going to do it. Leaving it implied is just asking for people to click away when they are done reading. You need a clear call to action.
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  • Profile picture of the author jahangir87
    Simple but some great tips to remember during article writing.

    Thanks for sharing indeed.
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  • I am not a professional writer by any means but when preparing to write an article there are a few basic things I do. They are:
    1. Establish who your audience is so you know what style of language
    to use.
    2. Do some research on your topic
    3. Brainstorm - Be Creative - I actually will write out a very basic
    outline of what I plan to cover in my article.
    4. Create a Great Title
    5. Make sure my opening and closing paragraphs are engaging and
    convey the message I am trying to make.
    6. Make your paragraphs short and interesting. If they are too long and
    boring you will lose your audience.
    7. Proofread your article and check spelling.
    8. Have Fun!!
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  • Profile picture of the author CanadaSEO
    Hi Amanda!

    Thanks for this very generous post. I learned something new today and I will surely share them to my workers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Psst
    Banned
    This thread is a good collection of top tips about writing articles. Thanks Amanda for starting it and Melanie, Paula and others for contributing. I'm bookmarking this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Batch processing works for me. If I have 5 articles to write, I'll research all 5 and make my notes before I start writing. Seems to be a more efficient process in my hands than research then write, five times.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    If the articles are on your own website, adding images is a huge help. There are tons of places to get free stock images and even more places to get cheap photos. Depending on your niche you could even take your own photos! (I used to have a cat care blog where all of the photos were of my cats or my friend's cats.)
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by Marianne Gonne View Post

      Great thread, Amanda, and some great replies.

      It's been touched on already, but I would always aspire to use Questions effectively - not only with my clients to ensure we were on the same page, but also when composing my articles.

      I'd ask myself the five or so questions readers might want to know about the topic, and then deliver the answers.

      Often, those very questions would make up the sub-titles of the article (or even the title or first sentence).

      It was a method that almost always guaranteed I was writing for a targeted audience.
      That is another thing I will do when I am planning an article. Make a list of questions and pick which ones I plan to answer and put brief answers into my outline.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        A couple of things...

        > Bullets may be the only legitimate way to 'keyword stuff' a short article. Formatted properly, they also draw attention to important points and create white space at the same time.

        > Perry Marshall did a case study some years ago where he took the headlines from the cover of the current Cosmo magazine and reworked them for a boring tech product. Cosmo and the National Enquirer both hire some of the best (and most expensive) headline writers in the business.

        > I didn't see this mentioned above, so I'll throw it out there. It's great when you can start writing from your lead and go straight through to your conclusion. Flow like that just feels good. But it doesn't always happen, right?

        So what do you do?

        Is there part of the article you can do easily? Do that first. No one ever said you HAD TO write from beginning to end. If starting with tip #7 works, go for it. Once the parts are assembled, you can check for flow and adjust. After that, no one will be able to tell in which order you wrote your bits...
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        • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          A couple of things...

          > Bullets may be the only legitimate way to 'keyword stuff' a short article. Formatted properly, they also draw attention to important points and create white space at the same time.

          > Perry Marshall did a case study some years ago where he took the headlines from the cover of the current Cosmo magazine and reworked them for a boring tech product. Cosmo and the National Enquirer both hire some of the best (and most expensive) headline writers in the business.

          > I didn't see this mentioned above, so I'll throw it out there. It's great when you can start writing from your lead and go straight through to your conclusion. Flow like that just feels good. But it doesn't always happen, right?

          So what do you do?

          Is there part of the article you can do easily? Do that first. No one ever said you HAD TO write from beginning to end. If starting with tip #7 works, go for it. Once the parts are assembled, you can check for flow and adjust. After that, no one will be able to tell in which order you wrote your bits...
          I arrived here somewhat late. As I read through the thread, I was preparing to respond with the importance of "bullets". You beat me to it ...
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        • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post


          > Perry Marshall did a case study some years ago where he took the headlines from the cover of the current Cosmo magazine and reworked them for a boring tech product. Cosmo and the National Enquirer both hire some of the best (and most expensive) headline writers in the business.
          Great suggestion. I do have a swipe file of headlines both for my sales letters and for articles that I pull from and I think it is important to have ways to get inspiration for your titles. After all, a good title is what is most likely to get a reader to click your link. I highly suggest all writers keep track of titles that catch their attention and save them to come back to later for inspiration.

          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post


          > I didn't see this mentioned above, so I'll throw it out there. It's great when you can start writing from your lead and go straight through to your conclusion. Flow like that just feels good. But it doesn't always happen, right?

          So what do you do?

          Is there part of the article you can do easily? Do that first. No one ever said you HAD TO write from beginning to end. If starting with tip #7 works, go for it. Once the parts are assembled, you can check for flow and adjust. After that, no one will be able to tell in which order you wrote your bits...
          Another great point. Sometimes when I am stuck I write the middle paragraphs first since I have normally outlined the points I want to cover. Then I can go back and come up with a hook and introduction paragraph later. Just be sure to reread your article to make sure it flows right because a disconnected sounding article can turn away readers.
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          • Profile picture of the author takinwhatugive
            You should spend alot of time on constructing titles alone! Writing catchy headlines is an artform in and of itself.
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            • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
              Originally Posted by takinwhatugive View Post

              You should spend alot of time on constructing titles alone! Writing catchy headlines is an artform in and of itself.
              It's true, though many people don't realize that. Even when I outsource articles I tend to use my own titles. It takes practice and observation, like what I said above about the swipe file. Learn to watch out for great titles and learn what makes them great.
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            • Profile picture of the author vjboc
              Originally Posted by takinwhatugive View Post

              You should spend alot of time on constructing titles alone! Writing catchy headlines is an artform in and of itself.
              You are right. Writing in general is an artform. Thank you all for the tips. This is a post of great value..
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              • Profile picture of the author Rick88
                I like to mindmap different thoughts and then map out thoughts triggered by those intial ones. I use the free thought process or as some call it a brain storm method. You can then export that to a Word document and it comes out in an outline form.

                I also follow the advice from John Carlton that there is no such thing as writer's block. If you think you have that it simply means you haven't done enough research. I have found this to be true.
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  • Profile picture of the author mileagedriver
    Great points Amanda & Melaine. I started my carrier as an article writer and wrote several articles but the point is I wrote what clients wanted and never ever questioned them for doubts or queries. Clearing our queries from client side is very important and I felt that later after a couple bitter experience. Also..I would say..the writer must be open minded & invite suggestions.
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    • Profile picture of the author MakeMoneyU2
      Thank for the tips ... very useful
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by mileagedriver View Post

      Great points Amanda & Melaine. I started my carrier as an article writer and wrote several articles but the point is I wrote what clients wanted and never ever questioned them for doubts or queries. Clearing our queries from client side is very important and I felt that later after a couple bitter experience. Also..I would say..the writer must be open minded & invite suggestions.
      Exactly. My favorite clients are those that know what they want but are willing to take suggestions as well.

      Only the client knows what they are looking for, but if they are coming to me as an article writing expert, I am hoping they understand that I have a great deal of experience in writing for a specific audience. The best clients are those that are willing to discuss so we can work together to make sure they get the best articles and the best conversions and clicks possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author umarshehzad
    pretty simple tips about writing an article. these can be helpful for a new writer.
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  • Profile picture of the author aqif
    Thank you guys for sharing all your knowledge and experience about writing good articles.

    In my personal opinion, persuasive articles have a deeper conversation. Because writers make a research from various places (books, blog, website, thesis, interviews) before outlining their articles.

    Writing article is easy, but writing great articles is an ongoing process.
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  • Profile picture of the author amritrr
    Hiring professionals to get the job done is also a good idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanmilligan
    Banned
    Good tips, thanks for sharing them
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  • Profile picture of the author Seedbox
    Don't be afraid to put yourself or your experience into the article. Build a personality or personal brand by doing it. Your reader will connect with you and not just good content making them want to follow your future work.
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  • Profile picture of the author stvbarb89
    Title that grabs attention and lets the reader know what your article is
    about
    - Intro paragraph that asks questions about the problem
    - Lead in paragraph that calms the reader.. “don’t worry, I have a solution for you”
    - First point with ideas and thoughts on solving the problem
    - Follow up point that could start with “Of course… but you should know..)
    - Second point
    - Follow up for second point with lead into the closing
    - Closing paragraph or two that will lead into your resource box
    - Resource box has one or two links with powerful words that promise to resolve
    their issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jasonmona
    Thanks for the share i really want to learn how to do article marketing, btw what are some great article directories to submit to?
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by Jasonmona View Post

      Thanks for the share i really want to learn how to do article marketing, btw what are some great article directories to submit to?
      Well, it depends on what you mean by article marketing. I only submit to EZA, and the articles are only submitted there so they can get syndicated, not for traffic or backlinks. If you look around there are TONS of threads with information on article marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author LeeLee
    I must put some time between finishing my article and the final edit. A day is ideal but even walking away or working on something else for an hour can help a lot.

    This allows me to break that phenomenon of seeing what you think is on the page versus what is actually there.

    And I seem to work on articles in the back of my head without conscious thought because when I pick one back up I can really see what works and what doesn't.

    Of all the tips offered here, this is the one I cannot write without.
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    • Profile picture of the author eddie jay
      Hello I just want to say thank you for this thread ...
      I'm just getting started with article marketing and it's always
      refreashing to see people who have gone before you who can
      provide you wit tips on how you can become better ...

      This is so inspiring ... Reminding me that I can succeed
      in Internet marketing. Thanks again
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  • Profile picture of the author redpenredtemper
    for me the most important part is the introduction. i tend to fell in love with first sentence. i bought dominic smith's 'the mercury vistions of louis daguerre' because of the first sentence: when the visions came, he was in the bathtub. intrigue. and the book is on my top list.
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  • Profile picture of the author smadronia
    Here's one tip I didn't see mentioned:

    When you're proof reading, read your article out loud. It will help you catch any missing words your brain is trying to put in as you read silently, but it will also help you find any sentences that don't flow properly, or aren't quite right. You may know what they mean, but someone reading it the first time won't, and reading it out loud makes all the difference.
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by smadronia View Post

      Here's one tip I didn't see mentioned:

      When you're proof reading, read your article out loud. It will help you catch any missing words your brain is trying to put in as you read silently, but it will also help you find any sentences that don't flow properly, or aren't quite right. You may know what they mean, but someone reading it the first time won't, and reading it out loud makes all the difference.
      Very true. I often syndicate my own articles into video before posting them on my blog and I have found that doing it this way is a great way to catch grammar errors and flow issues in my articles.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kevin Marshall
        I briefly scanned through this thread, and I didn't see anyone who has mentioned this:

        If you are writing on a subject where you are the expert, then you should pick up a copy of Dragon Naturally Speaking. You can talk a lot faster than you can type, and it will speed up your writing. You will have to edit your articles after you are done speaking them, but it can still be a lot faster than typing out your articles!
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        • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
          Originally Posted by Kevin Marshall View Post

          I briefly scanned through this thread, and I didn't see anyone who has mentioned this:

          If you are writing on a subject where you are the expert, then you should pick up a copy of Dragon Naturally Speaking. You can talk a lot faster than you can type, and it will speed up your writing. You will have to edit your articles after you are done speaking them, but it can still be a lot faster than typing out your articles!
          It depends... this works great for a lot of people and makes it very easy to get a conversational tone, though I type so fast that I found it slowed me down. If you aren't a very fast typist, Dragon is great and way worth the time to train though. I have it set up in case I choose to use it, I just normally don't.
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          • Profile picture of the author Azarna
            My 'secret tips' would be:

            1 - Proofread, my personal bugbear. We all make mistakes. But that doesn't mean we have to publish things with them in. Ideally get someone else to read over it for you. Its almost impossible to spot all our own errors.

            2 - Read everything outloud. This is the best way to spot your own errors, or sentences that don't sound quite right. It is amazing how just doing this can improve an article.

            3 - Get SOMETHING down. I tend to start with a bit of brainstorming, just noting down all the things I want to include, any phrases that instantly jump into my head etc. This also ensure you get over the most difficult bit - actually starting!

            4 - Write often. The more you do it, the easier it is. If you have a spot of 'writer's block' then write about something else for a bit - this is where blogging can be great, you can always go winge about your writer's block!

            5 - Never stop trying to learn new skills. Read a lot, watch documentaries, devour forum posts (yay, go Warrior Forum!) and make little notes if that helps you remember things. Challenge yourself, push yourself. Sure,I don't always practice this as much as I should, but I do try. I suffer from chronic migraines which take up an annoying part of my life. I used to get very depressed from them, but now I go from one little 'yay' to another. I get my 'yays' from learning and doing new things. Maybe I should write an article on this... it works for me :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    I find that I can input text faster now using voice. That said, it is not perfect, but it is better than before when my fingers were sore. That is from hitting the keys all summer.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    Another thing I do is make sure I always have a small notebook and pen with me. I never know when I'll get a great idea for a title or article for my website. Sometimes I even get great title ideas for articles outside my niche that I save for later in case I get a client in the niche.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by AmandaT View Post

      Another thing I do is make sure I always have a small notebook and pen with me. I never know when I'll get a great idea for a title or article for my website. Sometimes I even get great title ideas for articles outside my niche that I save for later in case I get a client in the niche.
      Another way to use this idea is to call yourself and leave a voice mail with your idea, title, etc.
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