BAIT 'EM, HOOK 'EM, REEL 'EM
IN
or
How to Write a Good Article
When I set
out to write a non-fiction article, I am often reminded of childhood
fishing trips with my grandfather. Writing and fishing are more
similar than you think.
To bait your
reader, dangle a juicy title and an eye-catching first sentence in
front of them. Be sure to introduce what will be in your article,
then dive right in to the body.
Know
your subject well and be sure to answer how, who, what, when and where.
Jerk the line occasionally with some humor or startling facts to keep
the reader's attention before you reel them in.
Finally, review the main points and make a snappy ending. Then
rewrite, spell, grammer and fact check before sending it off to the
publisher.
Now grab that pencil
(or "log on") and go fish!
They
want you.
Well, you're ordinary, aren't you?
You're
no genius but you can figure your gas mileage. And you're no
idiot because you can program your DVD. You probably have a
decent job, you're not bad looking and maybe have a couple of kids.
I'll bet you even have a dog or cat.
They'll only come
for you when you're alone. You could be in your car, in an elevator,
or even sitting in your own bathroom. One minute you're there
-- the next minute you're not. So watch yourself.
Yup,
you're what they're looking for. Bill was ordinary. Bill
has disappeared.
