Get Creative

Writing to express your opinions is a powerful tool in making your voice heard. Whether you are writing for your local newspaper or local MP – a well-written article will really get you noticed as long as you follow these cardinal rules...

Audience

The very first thing you need to think about when writing an article is 'Who is your audience?' Who are you writing for, and what style would appeal to them? For example, if you are writing for young people your style would probably be a bit friendlier and less formal than if you were writing for adults. Think about who you are talking to.

Do your research

It'd be a bit embarrassing if you stated a 'fact' in your article that someone later proved to you was wrong. Make sure you know what you're talking about by doing your research. If you're not sure about something, do not give it the benefit of the doubt – look it up! There are plenty of places to research your subject online, but make sure you use trusted sources. Anyone can create a website, so it's advisable to get your information from sites that you know are credible and trustworthy.

No plagiarising

Research is important, but be careful not to simply copy what someone else has said without crediting it to them. This is called 'plagiarising' and it's illegal. If you want to explain some research that you've done, simply put it in your own words and let the reader know where you got it from. It will not damage your credibility as a writer – on the contrary, you will be admired for having researched the topic so well. You can also directly quote something online or in a book, as long as you put it in inverted commas and tell the reader who said it.

Plan your article

When you've done your research it's time to decide what you're going to write. WHAT do you want to say and HOW do you want to say it? It’s then time to draw up an outline.

A good article structure could look like this:

• Title
• Introduction
• Main body
• Conclusion

The title is very important as it's the first thing people will see, and will often determine whether they will read on or not. Think of something short and snappy, that conveys what the article is about. It's often more difficult than it looks!

The introduction tells the user what the article will be discussing. The main body of the article will be quite long and may include snippets of interviews you've done, results of a survey that you've done, etc. Make sure you split the body up into paragraphs to make it easier on the eye for the reader.

The conclusion should summarise what you've said in the main body and could include a call to action for the reader, letting them know what they can do if they'd like to campaign, spread awareness or fundraise around the issue.

Use headings

If your article is quite long, it’s often a good idea to split it up with headings that indicate the start of a new theme or section of the article.

Interviews

Interviews are a great addition to your article, and can often provide you with some good quotes. Always make sure you let the person you're interviewing know what the interview is going to be used for, where the article will appear and what it is going to be about. You must get their permission to use what they've said before you include it in your piece.

Photos

Liven up your words with a photo story so your readers can visualise and empathise with your point of view. Remember, if you are publishing pictures of people – make sure you have their permission.

Finally... Proof read!

Make sure there are no glaring spelling errors or untidy formatting – you won't be taken seriously by your reader otherwise!