I Am Not a Good Article Writer

Wait! Do not jump to conclusion!! It’s not me but my poor friend who felt like that when he met me over the week ends!!! For one or the other reasons, his articles were rejected that landed him into dejection and hence this comment. He had seen my articles in Triond and wanted to know how I managed! I told him that I never managed but just submitted my articles which were also subjected to scrutiny. In the case of one of my articles based on a news item in a reputed newspaper, the editorial team refused on the ground that it was already published, probably by me, and repeat publishing is not allowed by Triond! I was quite perplexed because I never sent it to any other site nor did I refer to the article already published and quoted!! Ultimately I discovered that both the author of the other article and I referred to the same news item. While the other author fully copied the news item, I just used it to explain my point that was entirely my own. Normally, I always base my article on a news item that affects me emotionally hoping that my readers also may be feeling so. This becomes easier for me to drive my point that has a community welfare stamp. I prefer normally a “Do(s) & Don’t(s)” type of article. On hearing this, my friend was somehow pacified that it is not he alone but persons like me also at times face the situation he did face.

I thanked Doraisamy, my friend for helping me in providing the headline for this topic and explained to him how I write my articles. Let me share that experience with you all in case there is any Doraisamy among you too.

Image via Wikipedia

Normally I get a flash in my mind whenever I want to write an article. This is because I constantly think of a good article that must be able to act as a guideline to some problem or issue that generally people face during the walks of their lives. It may be from a news item or a discussion I make with my wife, children or friends or a local, national or international issue. As far as possible I avoid anything controversial. I am very particular about the head line as it solves half of my head ache. It should be catchy so that my readers do not miss an important subject that is related to them or their nears and dears. I am also particular about the keywords since it enables the attention of good readers through search engines to locate my article. I am least bothered about the money it earns but very much interested that it should reach maximum number of persons to carry the message embedded in it. I avoid bombastic language and prefer the style to be more or less like that of Late RK Narayan. It is my wish that my article must have at least a strong message in it preferably at its end.

If you want to be a successful author you must dwell on a subject that has emotional appeal to your readers with a specific purpose and acts as a reference. If possible try to keep each article a separate entity. For instance, never mix a subject meant to entertain your readers with the one to educate them. Proper paragraphing without any spelling or punctuation errors with rich content enables your readers to read throughout with ease and comfort. There is also a way of presenting things in a cogent manner.  Each paragraph should have connectivity to the theme and be linked to each other. Give importance to the quality and not the length. If the article has to be very long in view of its contents, then split it in parts. None is going to appreciate the number of articles you turn out but the stuff you put in them.

I read somewhere that it is necessary to keep in mind “5 Ws” in mind to generate a good essay. This applies to article writing also. Determine who are the persons to be involved and who are either affected or benefited. What should be the topic, subject content/issues involved and what you want to insist upon? Where do you get the information? Where do you start and where do you finish? If an incident is to be quoted, when did it occur, who are all involved and where did it happen? Why do you consider your topic an interesting one? Why do you feel your readers must read what you write? All these will help you to a great extent in shaping your article.

Image via Wikipedia

Unless you are thorough about a subject never attempt to write on it. Somehow or the other you should have a fair knowledge. To polish your writing, it is very essential to read more on the subject, note down important points and aspects related to the main theme and content, collect details if necessary, filter the relevant ones and then arrange what you have attempted. Try to write in a calm and quiet atmosphere. Go on writing without being attracted by external influences. Never read back what you have written till you complete the article. Whatever comes to your mind, while writing, must be reduced on paper, whether it is relevant or not. Let there be a free flow of thoughts – which will normally take place if you have prepared well before writing. Hear what your heart says and never bother about your head or mind unless you complete. Many times, I found my heart to be more correct in assessment. Once you finish, give a reading after 24 hours. Meanwhile just think about what you have written. At least you need to give three readings at an interval of 24 hours. This way you get more ideas generated and add more shine.

One of the main issues on which an article is rejected is plagiarism. Remember that no one can reduce one’s thought just like that as it would be bland and wanting any interest in the absence of facts, details, quotations, statistics, etc as per the nature of the subject. Thus, you need to refer to many sources, many authors on the topic, their quotations etc. There is nothing wrong is using their thoughts if you find it is related to the topic you are writing but give the gist referring to them instead of blindly copying what they had written. Never copy their ideas but you can quote them with reference to the authors. The essence is that you must always identify a barrowed source, not claim others’ thoughts as yours and properly document all such references. This enables your readers to read those contributions also and compare with what you have written as well as act as an impetus to new ides and thoughts.

Before I finished, I wanted my unfortunate friend to note what Wikipedia says about a good article:

“In short, they should be well written, factually accurate and verifiable, broad in coverage, neutral in point of view, stable, and illustrated, where possible, by relevant images with suitable copyright licenses. Good articles need not be as comprehensive as featured articles, but they should not omit any major facets of the topic.” 

Doraisamy was keenly hearing all along and got up promising that he would be sure to submit this time an article on the basis of what I told him so that it sees its light in his favourite site. I wished him all success.