Series on Freelance Article Writing

What is an Article by Debbie Roome
Welcome to our new series on article writing. Over the next few weeks we’ll look at the basics of article writing, how to market your work and what pitfalls to avoid.

Define an Article
Articles are nonfictional and come in many shapes, forms and sizes. They are generally an independent part of a larger publication.

What Kind of Articles can I Write
The word article encompasses a whole range of writing. Here are some possibilities to look at:
· How-to-articles give step by step instructions to help readers accomplish a certain task. This can include things such as unblocking a drain, baking the perfect chocolate cake or painting a wooden fence

· Self-help articles focus on specific areas. For example they may lay out the steps to overcoming addictions or clearing up a skin problem. They are similar to how-to-articles but the tone is more personal

· Reviews are articles that discuss books, movies, theatre and restaurants and look at the strengths, weaknesses and entertainment value of these

· Interview articles are normally based on a conversation with a celebrity or a person with experience or qualifications in a certain area. These may be on a serious topic such as global warming or may be about the person and their lifestyle and achievements

· Inspirational articles are those that inspire people to change their lifestyles and habits and help them see the positive side of every situation. They may include anecdotes about people who have achieved the extraordinary

· Humorous articles are just that. The writer takes a situation and writes about it in a way that causes the reader to laugh

· News articles are the basis of newspapers and are aimed at answering the questions of who, what, when, where and why

Come back next week to find out how to put an article together.

Debbie Roome works as a freelance writer from her home in New Zealand. Visit her at Debbie Roome or read some of her work at Suite 101 , Take Root and Write and Faithwriters.