When you're first starting to write and submit articles, it can be a little stressful.
You've got a blank page in front of you, and you're wondering how in the world to get started.
It could be that the last time you wrote anything similar to a free reprint article was back in high school or college, and you're not at all used to tackling a project like that anymore.
If this is you, know that you're in the same boat with loads of others who are just starting to submit articles.
Many people who are veteran article writers now started in positions similar to yours--not knowing how to write an article and not knowing what to write about.
In this article, I'm going to try to take some of the stress out of your experience and get you moving in the right direction.
Here are 5 writing tips for beginners: 1 - Your first articles will probably take longer to write.
Know that as you get more used to writing articles, the process will probably get faster.
So, just be patient with yourself--you're learning a new skill and as you get more used to it you will feel more comfortable doing it.
2 - Don't try to write an article in one sitting.
That's an unreal expectation, and it can lead to frustration on your part.
Writing is a process, and the first part of the process is just jotting down some general points that you want to include in the article.
This is called a "first draft".
The next step after that is to flesh out the information, adding examples or just more detailed info.
After that, you'll want to create an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.
The introductory paragraph tells what your article is about in a nutshell.
It gives the reader and indication of what type of information to expect in the article.
The concluding paragraph brings closure to the article.
You can recap the main points you made, give encouragement to the reader on implementing the instructions that you gave in the article, or you can even tell the reader how to start applying the information that your article taught.
After you've got all the elements of your article in place, then put your article away for at least 24 hours.
After that time, it's time to proofread.
Don't worry about typos or grammar until you get to the last step, the proofreading stage.
3 - Take your time--give yourself ample time to write and review your article before submitting it.
I know it can be exciting to get your first article published, but it's in your best interest to take your time and be sure that your article is pretty near perfect before you submit it anywhere.
Remember that this article will have your name attached to it and will be republished across the internet.
If there are any mistakes in the article, you will have a hard time making any corrections because the article will be published on sites over which you have no control.
So, slow down, take your time and ensure that this article you're creating is something you'll be proud to have your name attached to.
4 - Use proofreading techniques to polish your article.
You've read your article about a million times by the time you get to the proofreading stage.
Your brain is so used to seeing the words on the page that you almost have the article memorized.
In order to proofread, you need to look at your article with fresh eyes.
Put your article away for at least 24 hours before proofreading.
Then, read your article backwards, one sentence at a time.
This will help you to notice any errors that your mind might just gloss over if you read the article forwards.
You can also try reading your article out loud.
Speaking each word of your article out loud helps highlight errors.
5 - What should you write about? Write an article that teaches a beginner in your field how to do something specific and practical.
That's usually the type of content that readers are searching for.
When you're writing your first articles, it can feel awkward and slow, but that's the way it is whenever someone learns a new skill.
Use the tips in this article to help you complete your first articles, and you will start to feel your confidence rise.
Before long, writing articles won't be such a big deal--you'll be able to do these steps in your sleep!
You've got a blank page in front of you, and you're wondering how in the world to get started.
It could be that the last time you wrote anything similar to a free reprint article was back in high school or college, and you're not at all used to tackling a project like that anymore.
If this is you, know that you're in the same boat with loads of others who are just starting to submit articles.
Many people who are veteran article writers now started in positions similar to yours--not knowing how to write an article and not knowing what to write about.
In this article, I'm going to try to take some of the stress out of your experience and get you moving in the right direction.
Here are 5 writing tips for beginners: 1 - Your first articles will probably take longer to write.
Know that as you get more used to writing articles, the process will probably get faster.
So, just be patient with yourself--you're learning a new skill and as you get more used to it you will feel more comfortable doing it.
2 - Don't try to write an article in one sitting.
That's an unreal expectation, and it can lead to frustration on your part.
Writing is a process, and the first part of the process is just jotting down some general points that you want to include in the article.
This is called a "first draft".
The next step after that is to flesh out the information, adding examples or just more detailed info.
After that, you'll want to create an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.
The introductory paragraph tells what your article is about in a nutshell.
It gives the reader and indication of what type of information to expect in the article.
The concluding paragraph brings closure to the article.
You can recap the main points you made, give encouragement to the reader on implementing the instructions that you gave in the article, or you can even tell the reader how to start applying the information that your article taught.
After you've got all the elements of your article in place, then put your article away for at least 24 hours.
After that time, it's time to proofread.
Don't worry about typos or grammar until you get to the last step, the proofreading stage.
3 - Take your time--give yourself ample time to write and review your article before submitting it.
I know it can be exciting to get your first article published, but it's in your best interest to take your time and be sure that your article is pretty near perfect before you submit it anywhere.
Remember that this article will have your name attached to it and will be republished across the internet.
If there are any mistakes in the article, you will have a hard time making any corrections because the article will be published on sites over which you have no control.
So, slow down, take your time and ensure that this article you're creating is something you'll be proud to have your name attached to.
4 - Use proofreading techniques to polish your article.
You've read your article about a million times by the time you get to the proofreading stage.
Your brain is so used to seeing the words on the page that you almost have the article memorized.
In order to proofread, you need to look at your article with fresh eyes.
Put your article away for at least 24 hours before proofreading.
Then, read your article backwards, one sentence at a time.
This will help you to notice any errors that your mind might just gloss over if you read the article forwards.
You can also try reading your article out loud.
Speaking each word of your article out loud helps highlight errors.
5 - What should you write about? Write an article that teaches a beginner in your field how to do something specific and practical.
That's usually the type of content that readers are searching for.
When you're writing your first articles, it can feel awkward and slow, but that's the way it is whenever someone learns a new skill.
Use the tips in this article to help you complete your first articles, and you will start to feel your confidence rise.
Before long, writing articles won't be such a big deal--you'll be able to do these steps in your sleep!
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