How do you write a good article that will be read and shared on social media? An attractive and coherent text? Here are a few tips from my experience as a journalist... which should make your life easier.
Article updated on 10 May 2021.
For many people, writing a good article is easy for a seasoned journalist. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Writing a good article, even if you're an old hand at it, is a demanding and labour-intensive activity.
I've put together this mindmap showing all the stages in the process. You can download this mindmap free of charge in XMind format at our Learn to Learn page.
1. Find a good subject!
Find a good subject for your readers: something intriguing, exciting, fascinating! Something out of the ordinary, with, if possible, a renowned specialist's point of view.
2. Write for your readers, not yourself
But above all, remember: you're writing for your readers, not for yourself! The reader must be your absolute reference point, and you must keep him or her in mind at every stage of the process.
Tweet
That's why I've highlighted the subjects that concern readers with a cloud on this mindmap, to remind you (and me too) of the importance of readers.
3. Listen to your readers
How do you find a good subject for your readers? Listen to them! It's never been easier: nowadays, everyone expresses themselves on the Internet. Via social media, blog comments, etc.
Set up a monitoring system, for example using a news aggregator such as the Feedly (there are many others) or with Twitter.
4. Gather relevant information
This will help you gather relevant information. But also amusing anecdotes, interesting points of view and unique accounts of major events.
Things that will flesh out your story.
5. Analyse your information
But gathering information is not enough: you also need to analyse it:
- What is really relevant?
- Are your witnesses really credible?
- Are your details accurate?
Cross-check and re-check your information.
6. To write a good article, choose the right angle
Choose the right angle to tell your story. Will you take the point of view of the actor in the story? A witness or a victim?
Are you going to compare this new situation with a previous one, to better highlight the differences?
The angle is extremely important: it is sometimes the only thing that will differentiate your paper from that of a competitor...
Tweet
7. Structure your paper
How will you structure your article? Will it be a funnel text, starting with the most general information and ending with the most specific details? Will you write a chronology, recounting events from first to last to set the context for a long saga? Or would you prefer to interview a key figure to illustrate the main points of the story?
The structure you give to your article is very important: depending on the form you choose, you can emphasise certain points, but sometimes downplay or even hide others. So be careful!
8. Write your story
Get writing! It's almost time, isn't it? Yes, now you can sit down at your desk and start typing...
You're finally going to put all these pieces together into a coherent and fascinating story. Do it with style: avoid clichés and obscure expressions. Avoid jargon and specialist terms that hardly anyone understands. Your reader is worth it!
By the way, your reader is not your mum: so don't expect praise and compliments if your paper doesn't meet industry standards... You've been warned.
9. Writing a good article: edit your text
After writing, edit your article. It's time to get rid of any spelling mistakes or syntax errors. Correct any awkward phrasing, prune any jargon or unclear expressions.
Try to be both simple and elegant. Ideally, you should have your work edited by someone else.
10. Publish your article!
And finally, publish your article! Choose the right channel. If you're a blogger, you have complete freedom. If you're a professional journalist, before you even start writing, choose the type of media you're going to write for. The rest - title, angle, structure, etc. - will be imposed - or at least discussed - by your editor.
But in any case, you'll have the pleasure of reading your text online or in print and getting feedback from your favourite readers (yes, from your mum too!).
And if you're feeling the anxiety of a blank page or finding it difficult to get started, here's a guide to help you. how to avoid procrastination...
Did you like this article? Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss another article or event!
English (UK) 
Français 
Italiano 
Español 
Português
So what do you think? Tell us all about it!