| Part of the enjoyment of article writing is the | | | | them on and off, what are their main interests |
| wide variety of the subjects. Articles can a broad | | | | and what are their associated interests. Finally, the |
| range of topics, it could be an interview with a | | | | third thing to be aware of its the need to use |
| major celebrity one day and about a new | | | | that organ in your head. You need to think, think |
| domestic product the day after. | | | | some more and think again. Think of where you |
| The overriding prerequisite of a feature writer is | | | | are going, think of how you are going to get |
| the ability to write prose that's correct for the | | | | there, then think to see if you have reached your |
| target publication. The style for writing for a car | | | | goal. The more you think and the more you |
| magazine for instance will differ considerably to | | | | practice, the greater the probability you will move |
| that required by a knitting publication. Because of | | | | beyond an article that just informs to something |
| this fact, this is where the difficulty lies. Part of | | | | so much more. |
| the skill relies on holding the reader's attention and | | | | On a sliding scale the most basic article will just |
| what holds one group's attention will not be as | | | | inform a reader of some fact or situation. Moving |
| attractive and attention grabbing to another. If | | | | along the scale articles can assist or help, perhaps |
| you where to give ten journalists the task of | | | | entertain or amuse or even annoy, then they |
| writing about a car crash you would end up with | | | | may inspire the reader to action, be it buying a |
| ten almost identical articles. However if you gave | | | | certain type of car, joining a political party or |
| the same people the task of writing about a car | | | | something else that they wouldn't have done |
| you would end up with ten differing articles aimed | | | | before writing the feature. Kinsey Amis once said |
| at different audiences. | | | | if you can't annoy somebody with what you |
| Consequently an article requires more forethought | | | | write, there is little point in writing. However, as |
| than a news article. It can take more research | | | | this scale moves from the informing to inspiring, |
| and the ability to get to grips with complicated | | | | so the difficulty in constructing and assembling the |
| subjects and relaying the essence of the subject | | | | article increases. Luckily there are some points |
| with clarity whilst at the same time leading the | | | | that if you follow them will help you achieve these |
| reader on a journey where there are few rules | | | | aims. |
| and just a couple of imperatives. With those | | | | Research over many years has identified |
| imperatives being ignored at the writer's peril. | | | | numerous features that recur again and again in |
| There are only three of these imperatives which | | | | good articles. In no particular order these |
| the novice writer needs to be aware of. The first | | | | characteristics are: accuracy, involving the reader, |
| is to understand before you write the article what | | | | legible or readable, attention grabbing introduction, |
| you want to accomplish. If necessary write | | | | having substance and being well crafted. Finally, as |
| yourself a brief covering the main points of your | | | | once said by Don Marquis, if you want to get rich |
| article. The second imperative is to understand | | | | from writing, write the sort of thing that's read |
| who you are writing for - who is your target | | | | by persons who move their lips when reading! |
| audience, what do they like reading, what turns | | | | |