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How to Write a 400 Word Article

Posted on September 6th, 2010 in Writing by Val Mills
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Many sites require a minimum of 400 words for an article to be published. here are some hints on how to reach that required length.

When starting out many writers struggle to produce an article of a reasonable length. Some sites have a minimal length of 400 words in order for the article to be published. The ideal length is probably between 400 and 700 words. Any longer, unless it’s extremely well written, readers will start losing interest. With a little planning prior to writing you’ll be able to reach 400 words easily. Here’s how I plan to reach the minimum word count whenever I write.

The first thing you need to do is choose three or four key ideas or subtitles. These are the main things you want to address in your article and these become your paragraphs. For each heading or idea jot down as many supporting points as you can think of. It’s best to write down too many ideas for each heading or subtitle at first. When you write you are then able to choose the most relevant points for that paragraph.

Having chosen your key paragraph ideas, you then need to aim to write between 80 and 90 words for each paragraph. Obviously this number has to be flexible as some paragraphs may require more words, while others may fall a little short of the mark. When each paragraph is written, use the word count on your computer to check the length of that paragraph. If you adjust the number of words you’ve written as you complete each paragraph you’re more likely to achieve your goal of at least 400 words.

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Consider the best way to start your article. Every piece you write needs an introduction that entices people to read it. Whether you write this before your paragraphs or later is up to you. However, you should aim to make the introduction at least 70 words, possibly 80. This is a bit like an appetizer and enables you to outline what your article is going to be about and why it may be of interest to readers.

Now think about the conclusion of your article and treat it in the same way. Your article is not complete without a conclusion. Make this a strong reference back to where you started and a summing up of the key ideas you’ve already written. Then end with either a call for action or a strong reinforcement of your message. Writing a conclusion also enables you to add another 70 to 80 words to your total word count.

Considering the number of words written in each paragraph should make it easier for you to reach that magical number of 400 that many sites require for publication. It also ensures your article doesn’t become too lengthy. Including around 80 words for each paragraph becomes easier with practise and will soon become second nature. For example, this article has a word count of 490. So, why not follow this advice and see if it helps you write a balanced article that is neither too short nor too long.

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Use De Bono Thinking Hats to Help Plan Your Articles

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