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Five Types of Article You Can Write
by David Goldsmith
If you always write the same type of article then you are probably limiting your
chances of getting published. Look at your favorite publications and you will see they
print a variety of types of article. Here are five of the most popular types.
The "How To" Article
This is a very popular type of article, in which you tell the reader how to do
something. It could be how to build a garage, how to write a book, how to sell a house, or
how to clean tar off a pair of trousers. These articles tend to be particularly popular
because people love to find out how to do something.
When writing how to do something, and if the sequence is important, then it is a good
idea to number each step. Remember to keep your instructions simple, yet specific. And you
could even use a picture or illustration if the publication allows it.
The "List" Article
The list article is an article that lists several related pieces of information, and is
one of the easiest types of article to write. It could be "Ten Ways to Save Money", "Five
Flowers to Plant In April", or "The Best 12 Places to Live in Canada". A list article
should have:
• An introduction.
• The list; each item may be a paragraph or two.
• A conclusion.
The "Roundup" Article
In the roundup article, you provide a roundup of information, statements, or opinions
from a variety of sources. You might interview a number of experts, for example, and ask
them the same list of questions. In your article you then write a roundup of the answers, e.g.
"Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is confident that the market will turn around soon.
"Within the next six weeks at most", he predicted. But Tom Sloane, at Pickwick Associates,
disagrees. He explains why..."
The "Inspirational" Article
Inspiration articles include inspirational narrative, essays, articles on faith and
religion, and self-help articles.
Do you know of an issue or concern that affects many people? Think of your own every
day experiences. Write about the issue... and help the readers to deal with life and to
improve themselves in some way.
The "As Told To" Article
Because many of the people who have outstanding experiences are not writers, there is a
market for writing those people's stories. This is quite similar to ghostwriting, except
that in this case the audience knows that you are the writer. In the credits, you would
show "By Peter Wallace [subject], as told to Jim Davies..." [writer].
Instead of writing a third-person narrative of the event, the "As Told To" article
makes the tale more real and personal by using the first-person.
So next time you are about to write an article, pause... and ask which type of article
would best suit your situation and topic. By varying the types of articles you write your
writing will also develop a new depth and your articles will be picked up by a much wider
variety of publications.
David Goldsmith is the author of "25 Ways to Write for Money". Discover multiple ways
to grow your freelance writing business at
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