Structuring An Article for Readers: Finding the Flow While Writing
When writing an article, structure is key. I’ve put together a beginner’s guide on how to form the best article for your readers. Writing an article is very different to writing a fictional piece. Articles are generally non-fiction, and about a specific topic. The aim of an article is to inform readers about that said topic. With this in mind, a natural structure emerges.
Before I start typing, I like to make what I refer to as “article layout notes.”
I lay out what I want to say in bullet points. If you’re a beginner and you’re unsure of how to start your article, think about what you must include.
An article requires a title. Next is the introduction paragraph. What is the topic? Why are you writing about it? I keep this introduction brief, and elaborate later.
In my second paragraph, I delve into more detail about the topic. For example, if I’m writing about an event, I will explain the event in more detail, including some background info such as how the event came to be, when it started, who created it and why. I like to comment on growth here. E.g. “When you look at the first event and look at where we are now, it is wonderful to see how much progress has been made, thanks to the work of many dedicated people.”
A line that references the people involved leads nicely to my third paragraph, which is about the people. For example, if an event is run by a specific team, I will write about that team and the other work that they do alongside the event that the current article is about. Doing this paints a fuller picture for readers about what the point of the event is, who is running it, and why it is important.
Next I add quotes. Quotes add a personal touch to an article. A good quote not only informs, but adds a touch of warmth into a factual piece of writing. It is always lovely to gain some personal insights as well as simply knowing the facts. I will always try to connect with someone on the team so that I can ask them for a quote, and it is usually at this stage in the article, after the third paragraph, that I will weave one or two quotes in as this breaks up the blocks of text and adds some variety. Incorporating a quote serves other purposes too. It allows another voice to be part of the piece. This makes the piece more interesting to readers. Quotes also allow readers to feel a sense of personal connection to a piece. When a lot of the focus is on the where, why, and how, that personal connection is so important. The right quote could be the part that readers remember the most, and when you’ve included a quote that readers keep coming back to, it means that your piece is one that they keep coming back to. So, choosing the right quote and the right place to put it in the piece is very important.
How do you choose a good quote? This can take practice. As a writer, and as an avid reader, I do believe that in time you will just know when a quote is a great one. A general rule of thumb in my opinion, is to choose a quote that directly connects to the information you’re giving so that it doesn’t seem out of place, and try to select a quote that has a feel good element to it.
For example, if you’re writing about a fundraiser, there are two kinds of quotes that I would recommend you include. One would be a quote from someone on the team who runs the fundraiser that focuses on why this cause is so important to the team, and another would be from a person who will directly benefit from said fundraiser, showing a real life example of how this kind of event impacts people’s lives. In my experience, readers connect to pieces that include the voices of members of the public, rather than just having industry experts referenced all the time. Quotes from people who are in those leading positions who are sharing their expertise are important, but you also want the piece to be accessible to every reader. A mix of voices achieves this really well.
It is great to include images as well if you can, as doing so also breaks up the text. I usually place a header image at the very beginning of an article, directly under the title as I find that this gives readers an immediate visual example of what the piece is talking about. Some people are visual learners so an eye-catching image will be the thing that captures their attention and prompts them to keep reading.
I usually close an article with a very brief summary of events, and I will include links to relevant places so people can explore and learn more if they want to. If there are people who must be thanked, I usually do this at the end of my piece so that the article ends with acknowledging those who made the thing that I am writing about possible. If there is something for people to do, such as register for another upcoming event, I will include that info at the end of the piece to end on what is called a “call to action.” This is when we give readers something to do, click here, register here, for more info find us here, etc.
I recommend reading the piece aloud so you get an idea of how it sounds to the reader. Doing this allows you to improve your structuring skills as you may move things around in order to create a nicer reading experience. Finding the right flow takes trial and error, but in time, you’ll do it naturally.
(c) Kate O’Brien
https://katelovesliterature.com/
