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A Simple Guideline to Writing Articles That Will Get Read

I receive newsletters and articles online from ministries and businesses all day long. I read less than one percent of them. I am sure the content is very good. However, many are difficult for me to read. It is as important for the individual to read your article as it was for you to write it. I have been writing for more than thirty years. With all of that mileage behind me I am still finding tips to hone my trade. If you are an avid writer or just starting out the following thoughts may help you.

COMPARE

When you receive an article that you do not want to read, take time to compare it to an article you did read.  Rule out the issue that the title was not interesting. I have found many uninteresting articles still easy on the eyes to read.  When I first began writing newsletters I would collect newsletters from different companies and copy their layouts.  I pay attention to the response from people. If I have an article that has a wider readership I compare it to articles I have written before to determine what made the difference. Sometimes it is the content; other times it could be the layout.

MARGINS

Use a lot of white space.  Margins that reach to the edges of the paper (or screen) look like too much to read.  People make a decision immediately, based upon this white space. They ask themselves the question:  Do I have time to read this? If not, they will lay it aside, lessening the chance that it will get read at all.

If you are trying to keep your article to certain space requirement it is better to make it shorter.  I had an editor tell me once that it is difficult to edit your own work. However, if you must edit your own work, practice taking a two to three page article to one page.  You will be forced to focus on the main points. Begin your article where the eye naturally falls. If the eye has to strain much to see, your article will not be read.

Do not be afraid of columns. Newspapers use them for a reason. They follow the natural flow of the eye.

FONTS

A font is a complete set of type of one size and face. A face means whether it is bold, italic, underlined, or a different color. You should limit yourself in using typeface. Too many fonts produce a cluttered look.  Three of the most difficult fonts to read are:

• All bold
• All caps
• Lots of different colors and sizes in one article.

Fonts on paper look different than fonts on a computer screen.  If you are writing for internet reading, look at different web sites and compare the fonts you find easy to read to what you are using.

If the font is too large it is annoying and if it is too small, even more so. I have received articles in my email box with font sizes as low as 6 points. I do not even bother to read it. I do not have time to adjust every article so that I can read it.

Most word-processing and publishing software come with literally hundreds of fonts. Some of them are fun to use in the right setting.  All of these fonts are not meant to be used for everyday writing. Some are appropriate for headings; others are great for flyers, invitations, and other special projects.  Stick to the tried and the true rather than trying to be fancy.

PICTURES

Use pictures that are related to your article.  Some articles require a lot of pictures. Some do not. Know which kind of article you are writing. The placement of a picture is important.  Learn your software so that you can understand how the text will flow around the picture.  It looks unprofessional for the text to touch the edges of the picture.  Many of the professional software companies have forums that will explain how to do these things, sometimes easier than the help files.

GRAMMAR

Do not trust the spellchecker in your word-processing program. Words such as theirs and there’s can pass the spellchecker but can be used incorrectly. Another set of words that are commonly misspelled and misused are you’re and your. If you are attempting to reach an educated group of people, the continued misuse of words like those mentioned will quickly alienate this audience.

Although you do not want to trust your spellchecker to correct grammar, do not overlook your spellchecker for words that are misspelled because of your nimble fingers. It happens to the best of us.

If you are not going to hire an editor, develop a group of friends who are willing to read your work and are not afraid to tell you the truth. Give them permission to tell you what they honestly think about your article.  Be thankful when they point you toward misspellings or grammatical errors.

SPACING BETWEEN LINES AND LETTERS

If you are not sure how to kern you should leave this feature alone. However, I encourage you to study your software program or go to their forum and learn how to use it. Poor kerning is when there are only a few words in a sentence with huge spaces between them; or the words are squeezed together so tightly it is difficult to read them.

UNDERSTANDING WHICH SOFTWARE TO USE

There is a difference between word-processors such as Microsoft Word and Word Perfect and publishing software such as Microsoft Publisher and PagePlus by Serif.

The purpose of publishing software is to layout an article with all of its components (i.e. pictures).  Publishing is a lot like preparing to sew a garment or drawing a plan for a building. You lay out all of the pieces to see if they will fit in the space allotted; and how will the pieces look in the different positions. Once an article is written in the word-processor it is then imported into the publishing software. There is some publishing software that has a word-processor built into it. I suggest that you take advantage of your word-processor for editing before positioning your article.

PUNCTUATIONS AND OTHER NECESSITIES

It is important to become consistent in using quotation marks, underlining, and italics and/or bold and color when attempting to bring attention to a particular word or phrase. Do not use them all at the same time.  Underlining a series of sentences or a paragraph will cause a reader to jump over it rather than to read it. The human eye is a very curious organ and tends to follow after peace quicker than our own hearts do. It will rest on words, paragraphs and colors that help it to see without turmoil or clutter.  As an example, the color red is a powerful color wherever it is used.  However it can do the opposite of what you intended when over-used.

JUST LIKE CLOTHES

I know we have all seen someone who appears, in our eyes, to be overdressed. There may have been times when you have shown up for an event only to find that you were not dressed properly for the occasion. Writing is similar to this way of thinking. Less is really more. You must know the audience you are trying to reach and “dress” your article appropriately.

IMPROVING YOUR SERVE

Even though I have been writing for more than half of my life I realize that there are others who know more than I do. Consequently I keep abreast of current writers whose work I respect. I also avail myself of instructions from seasoned writers. Whenever possible attend a workshop or conference about writing. Take advantage of the internet for information on writing. I have found very useful forums and articles on the subject.  Those tips that apply to me I integrate into my writing.

I keep dictionaries, grammar books and other tools of the trade close by. When in doubt about a word or style I look it up.

While many of the upgraded word-processing programs have rich tools available to the user I do not trust them completely. Many of the newer programs are being written and proof-read by those who have acquired what I call “the English language by usage” as opposed to proper grammar. Since texting on electronic devices has become so popular there is a whole generation of people who do not know that “u” is not the correct spelling for “you” and “your” does not substitute for “you are or you’re.”  While these are appropriate shortcuts for electronic texting the English language properly written is what will increase your readership.

SELF-PUBLISHING IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER

A couple of years ago I bought a book from a young minister that I have not been able to read. I have heard this minister teach on the radio and have listened to him speak in a public meeting. There is no doubt in my mind that he has good and accurate things to say. He self-published his book.  It is obvious to me that the people who proofed it for him were not editors or writers.  Every page is completely covered in words, from the edges of the paper even to the “ditch” of the spine.  There are few paragraphs and the font is very tiny.  I’m sure he was attempting to save money by limiting the amount of pages in the book.  He would have done better with a good editor or some friends who really knew about writing who would have told him the truth. I am an avid reader with more than a thousand books in my personal library. When I find a good book I recommend it to people. Word of mouth is one of the best advertisements for books. I have never recommended this book to anyone, though I have great respect for this minister and applaud his message.

IN CLOSING

I heard an accomplished musician say once that many people would ask him how they could become as good a musician as him. He told them that they would have to practice as much as he does. Many of them would tell him that they did not have the time or that it was too hard. He then told them that they were not really interested in learning how to play an instrument as well as he does after all.

This is the way it is with any craft. If you have the desire to be a good writer you will have to practice a lot. I have learned to write an article and then let it sit. Sometimes I let it sit for weeks at a time. When I bring it back out and re-read it I either make the necessary corrections preparing it for publishing or I simply scrap it.

The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction.  By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.  Mark Twain

About the Author

I am a full time minister, having worked in many facets of ministry for thirty-three years. My journey includes administration, missions and pastoring. I currently provide leadership training and resources for ministries and churches. I provide workshops, training and mentoring for women who are called into ministry. I have a cocker spaniel who does not know she is a dog. I am an apostolic administrator for my home church, training all church workers, leaders and preparing ministers for their ordination. I am the mother of one son; grandmother of two and greatgrandmother of three.

SEW - DICTIONARY WORD DEFINITION Scrabble Pendant Charm $6.95

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A lack of pies
Spoonerisms are tips of the slung
Go and shake a tower

Answers:
a pack of lies
spoonerisms are slips of the tongue
go and take a shower

P.S i know you can figure them out, i just added the answers anyways

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