Article Writing Tips from a Freelancer

In the last year I have written over 500 articles. While I am still a freelancing newbie, there are things that I have learned that have helped me to produce both a large weekly quantity of articles, as well as good quality articles.
One of the most argued topics in the freelancing world is; can quality be maintained when quantity is the goal. The answer is a resounding; yes! Learning to balance article writing so that both volume and quality is achieved should be the goal of every hardworking freelance writer.

One of the easiest ways to create a large quantity of articles is to select articles with a similar theme. Let's face it; researching your topic generally takes up the bulk of your writing time. Research time is cut in half if you write several articles on a related subject.

Writing can be a chore, especially when you're writing in bulk. If possible, select articles with topics that you're interested in. Writing is a lot less painful if you are interested in a subject. For example, I love art and poetry, so when I have the chance I write about art and poetry. On the other hand, I am not a big fan about the topic "What Indicates Tree Rot," so I avoid those kinds of articles like the Black Plague. However, don't be afraid to try to write articles that are out of your element.

Flipping between web pages, books and magazines can be time consuming process. Every writer should invest in a pen and journal. Write down topics, thesis statements and key facts. Journaling links all of your ideas with their corresponding facts. It also helps you to create a rough outline of your article. Once I started journaling my own articles, I realized I wouldn't write another article without my pen and journal by my side. Remember to always cite your sources. If you're using a direct quote, make sure to note that in your journal! Never assume you're going to remember where your information came from.

Create a basic outline of all of the types of articles you write, or at the very least memorize the style format. For example, I often write articles that want basic facts. These fact sheets require at least five interlinking facts and three references. I know exactly what my basic outline has to be before I write, so I start each of these fact sheets by typing the name of the article, then add 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the word "references" to the page. This practice helps me to keep track of how many more facts I need, and enables me to lay out my basic outline. All I have to do is fill in the blanks.

Another important practice is to memorize word count. Many articles have a minimum and maximum word length. Learn what these lengths are and stick to them. Roughly 300 words will fit on a single spaced typed page. Watch how long your article is. If you notice you've filled up a page, and you only need 150 words. Stop writing, look over your draft, and see if you've added all the pertinent information. If so, start chopping words. Get down to the bare bones.

A trick to get enough word count is to always make your introductory paragraphs about 50 to 75 words long. This practice allows you to know if you've written enough. If I have a 400 word article due, I stop writing my article at 320 words, clean it up and add the introductory paragraph.

Freelancing can be a scary business, especially when it is your source of income. There are deadlines that have to be met, and editors expect quality work. Never substitute poor quality work so that you can achieve a high quantity of articles. Quantity and quality both come with experience, and experience comes from writing. The other day I looked back on some articles that I had written on Associated Content during the first month I started working. In my opinion, they are terrible. However, I would never delete any of them, because the experienced I gleaned from writing those articles has led me to the job I have today.

Hopefully, some of these tips aren't just more of the same old same old. You can achieve both quantity and quality of articles. Keep writing with self confidence, and know assuredly that you can reach that goal!