Article Writing: 4 Tips for Beginners

Summary

In this video, Lana Cesardic shares four key strategies that helped her write her best online article: creating a clear outline, studying modern online writing, mastering copywriting techniques, and incorporating personality and humor into your writing. She emphasizes the importance of structure, conversational tone, and curiosity-driven copy to keep readers engaged. Additionally, Lana offers two bonus tips: managing the rate of revelation in your writing and documenting memorable phrases for future use. These actionable strategies can help writers improve efficiency, enhance reader engagement, and develop a unique voice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Writing a clear outline is essential for efficient and focused writing, helping avoid multitasking and improving writing speed.
• 😀 Modern online writing is casual and conversational, focusing on simplicity, short sentences, and effective subheadings to improve readability.
• 😀 Short paragraphs with lots of space make articles easier to skim and lower the perceived difficulty of reading.
• 😀 Studying copywriting techniques, like optimizing for attention and curiosity, can make writing more engaging and enticing to readers.
• 😀 Using conversational copy (writing as you talk) increases engagement and makes writing feel more personal and approachable.
• 😀 Incorporating contractions and starting sentences with conjunctions helps increase the speed and flow of writing, making it more casual.
• 😀 Bring your personality and humor into your writing to make it more relatable and memorable, even if it involves taking risks.
• 😀 Writing with humor, such as using familiar references and vivid imagery, creates empathy with the reader and entertains them.
• 😀 Don't be afraid to take risks with humor and language, as exceptional writing often involves pushing boundaries and being polarizing.
• 😀 Pay attention to your 'rate of revelation'—the pace at which new information is revealed—to keep readers hooked and engaged throughout the article.

Q & A

What is the first tip Lana shares for writing better online articles?

The first tip is to start with a clear outline. Lana emphasizes that having a detailed outline helps prevent multitasking during the writing process, ensuring that your ideas are organized and focused, which ultimately speeds up the writing process.

How does a clear outline impact the writing process?

A clear outline helps organize your ideas before you start writing, which reduces the need to constantly rearrange and refine your content. This makes the writing process more efficient and results in shorter, more concise articles.

What is modern online writing, and why is it important?

Modern online writing is casual, conversational, and easy to skim. It involves using simple language, avoiding jargon, and breaking content into short paragraphs with frequent subheadings. This style makes it easier for readers to engage with the content and stay focused without feeling overwhelmed by dense text.

Why is it crucial to avoid long paragraphs in online writing?

Long paragraphs can feel intimidating and difficult to read. Shorter paragraphs with plenty of spacing create a more approachable and visually appealing layout, encouraging readers to continue reading rather than clicking away.

What did Lana learn from studying copywriting?

Lana learned that the first sentence in a piece of copy should hook the reader and compel them to continue. Copywriting also emphasizes curiosity and speed, keeping the reader interested by revealing information incrementally and maintaining a conversational tone.

How does Lana incorporate conversational copy into her articles?

Lana uses a conversational tone by addressing the reader directly, using contractions, and starting sentences with conjunctions to maintain a natural flow. This makes the writing feel like a personal conversation, which keeps readers engaged.

What does Lana mean by the 'rate of revelation' in writing?

The 'rate of revelation' refers to the pace at which new information is introduced to the reader. By revealing new details almost continuously, writers can keep readers hooked and maintain their attention throughout the article.

Why does Lana think adding personality and humor is important in writing?

Lana believes that injecting personality and humor into writing helps make the content more relatable, memorable, and engaging. It allows writers to connect with their audience on a deeper level and makes the reading experience more enjoyable.

How does humor contribute to the effectiveness of an article?

Humor adds personality to the writing, making it stand out and become more memorable. It helps create empathy with the reader by using familiar references and making the content feel more personal and less formal.

What is the significance of taking risks in writing, according to Lana?

Lana suggests that taking risks in writing—whether through humor, tone, or personal style—can lead to more exceptional content. Being willing to push boundaries and experiment with your writing makes it more engaging and helps you find your unique voice.