You know that feeling when you’re reading a magazine article and it feels like it was written by a robot? That’s not the kind of writer I want to be: dull, humorless, and lifeless. I’m out to write stories that engage and entertain readers. So, how do you make sure your writing is anything but bland? Here are 20 tips for writing stronger magazine pieces:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| 1. Consistently practice writing to improve. |
| 2. Study successful magazine articles for guidance. |
| 3. Develop a unique voice to stand out. |
| 4. Edit and revise your work meticulously. |
| 5. Embrace feedback and learn from it. |
| 6. Understand your target audience. |
| 7. Incorporate storytelling techniques. |
| 8. Use visuals to enhance your content. |
| 9. Be open to exploring different writing styles. |
| 10. Focus on addressing readers’ pain points. |
| 11. Add a personal touch to your writing. |
| 12. Take breaks to overcome writer’s block. |
| 13. Stay persistent and passionate about writing. |
Talk About The Story
The first thing you should do as a magazine writer is a talk about the story. Don’t just tell your reader what happened in the story; tell them why it’s important and how it affects their lives.
If you can’t find anyone who cares about your topic, there will be no one interested in reading about it. The only way to convince someone that they want to read about something is if you make them feel like they’re missing out on something important by not doing so.
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Remember You’re Writing For A Reader, Not An Editor
It’s important to remember that you’re writing for a reader, not an editor. Editors and writers are two very different animals. Editors live in the world of magazines and are forced to read hundreds of articles each month.
The only way they can survive is by developing a thick skin and becoming numb to the inevitable disappointment that comes from reading so many bad stories daily.
But readers don’t have this luxury; they want interesting stories that keep them turning pages until the final word of every sentence has been read, conjuring up images of great characters with exciting lives worth living vicariously through (if only for an hour).
So while your goal may be to make your editor happy, who matters here?
Do Your Research
It’s important to do your research before you begin writing. You should read magazines and newspapers in your field, talk to experts in the industry, ask people what they like and don’t like about the products they buy, and talk to those who are similar to your target audience.
You should also look at competitors’ websites since they often provide valuable information about what others are doing right (or wrong).
Mastering the art of magazine writing involves continuous improvement and learning. Explore our 15 tips for better magazine writing to enhance your writing skills and captivate your audience.
Have A Strong Point Of View And Make It Clear In The Early Paragraphs Of Your Piece
You need to have a strong point of view and make it clear in the early paragraphs. But you also need to know who your audience is and what they want to read. If you are writing for a business publication, then your points should be relevant to their interests.
If you are writing for a lifestyle publication, then it might be best if your points were more personal rather than strictly business related.
If there isn’t anything controversial or new about what you are writing, then don’t bother submitting it.
Write Simply, Clearly, And Directly
Good magazine writers use a variety of techniques to achieve this clarity. They:
- Write in an active voice, not passive.
- Keep sentences short and simple.
- Avoid jargon that only a few people understand. If you write in a way that only your mom will understand it’s not good writing!
Explain things clearly, but don’t over-explain. Do you need to tell someone how to make toast? No; we all know how to make a toast! But if something is more complicated or unusual, like how to make cheese soufflé or build a nuclear reactor, then yes you should explain it.
The same goes for explaining something in an article: if it’s obvious then don’t waste words on it; otherwise, explain clearly what you mean by “the world is ending” or why “it cost him his job.”
Eliminate Redundancy
Thesauruses are an excellent tool for writers. Once you’ve gotten over the idea that it’s a fancy word for a dictionary (which it’s not), then you’ll see that they can be quite helpful.
The best way to use a thesaurus is to look up words you’ve already used in your writing and find alternatives. You should also use them to avoid repetition and overuse of certain words in your writing.
For example, if you’re writing about a person who has just completed a marathon, do not write “they finished” three times in one paragraph! It’s better to say “they were done”.
Embracing the magical world of magazine writing can be a fulfilling journey. Learn more about the joys of magazine writing in our article on magazine writing is a magical job and discover why it’s more than just a profession.
Use Active Verbs Over Passive Ones
A good magazine article is an active experience. It should make you feel something, and from that feeling, you should be able to learn or understand something new. Active verbs accomplish this goal more effectively than passive ones. Here’s why:
Active verbs are more engaging Active verbs give the reader a sense of action and momentum in the writing, which keeps them entertained as they read your piece. Passive sentences can feel stilted or even boring by comparison.
Active verbs are more concise-Passive sentences often contain many unnecessary words (like “to be”), so try to cut those out when rewriting a passive sentence into an active one. You’ll find it much easier to say what it is exactly that you want to say with less clutter around it!
Active verbs are direct-When using passive voice, your writing might seem vague or unclear because of its lack of specificity; using active voice will help make sure your point comes across clearly without misleading readers along the way!
Take Advantage Of White Space By Using Bullet Points And Numbered Lists To Break Up Text
When it comes to magazine writing, you need to avoid the temptation of writing long paragraphs. If a reader finds themselves having to scroll down for more than five seconds, they’ll probably just give up.
A great way of breaking up your text is by using bullet points and numbered lists. Bullet points are good for emphasizing key points, while numbered lists can be used to break up large blocks of text or highlight important information.
The goal here is to make your writing as easy and enjoyable as possible for the reader which means you should also take advantage of white space (space) within your article.
White space can help draw attention to key elements on a page, such as headlines and subheadlines; it will also allow readers with shorter attention spans some breathing room before they get back into the meatier bits of an article’s content.
Write Short Sentences And Paragraphs
Short sentences and paragraphs.
Why?
Short sentences are easier to read, easier to understand, and easier to read aloud, which means you can make your writing more engaging for readers who are hearing it.
Shortening your sentences also helps with the flow because it breaks up the text on the page instead of having long blocks of text that make it difficult for readers’ eyes to move from one spot in a sentence or paragraph to another spot (and back).
When you have short paragraphs, they’re also easier to remember; people tend not only to be able to recall what was said in a paragraph but also how it flowed into the next paragraph.
Moreover, short paragraphs help with structure: they help break up larger pieces of content into bite-sized bits that users can digest easily rather than getting overwhelmed by everything at once!
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Use Concrete Details To Create Texture And Engage Readers’ Senses
When you’re writing a magazine article, it’s easy to get swept up in the big picture. But when your reader is sitting down with a few minutes to read an article, they want details that help bring the story to life.
According to The New York Times Magazine, concrete details are “the small things that help create texture and engage readers’ senses: what the main character is wearing (a blue suit); what time of year it is (summer); whether it’s sunny outside or raining; what someone else looks like (her red hair).”
These images come together as a series of snapshots that paint an image in your reader’s mind and that’s exactly what you’re aiming for!
Connect With Readers Through Storytelling; Fictional Or Otherwise
When you’re writing, it’s crucial to remember that you are not the reader. The purpose of your writing is not just to communicate ideas or information (though it should be both of those things), but also (and perhaps more importantly) to create a connection between yourself and your readers.
Connecting with readers through storytelling is an easy way to achieve this. This can be done through fictional stories or non-fiction narratives, either way, there are multiple benefits:
Connecting them with a sense of place and time: Stories help readers visualize where characters are about each other and what’s going on around them.
They also give readers clues about when events occur by using details like seasonality or weather patterns; knowing this helps us picture ourselves in these places as well as understand their significance for our characters’ lives. * Showing us who they are:
We learn about characters’ personalities by reading what they say and do in different situations; we also learn more about their motivations from how they react when confronted with conflict (or even if there isn’t any).
For example, if someone says something mean out loud and then apologizes later on for doing so after being criticized it gives us perspective into their character because we know how important apologizing was
Keep The Narrative Moving Forward Through Dialogue
Dialogue can be a great way to move the narrative forward. It can also be used to let the reader feel like they are part of the story or to convey information and create tension.
Dialogue is one of those elements that makes writing an engaging magazine piece fun and easy. You don’t have to worry about describing everything that’s happening; you just need to give your characters something interesting and meaningful to say.
When you’re thinking about dialogue, ask yourself: what does my character want? How does he/she express his wants? And finally, why?
Don’t Be Afraid To Let Your Voice Come Through In Your Writing
If you’re writing a piece for a magazine or newspaper, use your voice. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in whatever you write.
You don’t have to suppress who you are or how you feel if it will make the piece more personal and relatable for the reader.
Letting yourself show through in your writing shows that you care about what you’re writing about and gives readers an insight into who their writer is as well as what their interests may be outside of work so long as those habits don’t conflict with their professional roles!
Crafting articles that publications crave is an art form. Learn how to write compelling articles that editors will love in our guide on how to write an article they want to publish and increase your chances of getting published in top magazines.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a career in magazine writing, you must know what the job entails and how to do it well. It’s also good to be aware of the challenges that come with this line of work so that you can prepare yourself accordingly. This article provides some tips on how to become a better magazine writer.
We hope this article has given you some insight into what it takes to be successful in this field! It’s an exciting job with many benefits as long as you put in the effort required. Good luck!
Further Reading
Rock Content Writing Tips: Enhance your writing skills with these valuable tips from Rock Content’s blog.
HubSpot Grammar School Writing Tips: Master the art of grammar in writing with this informative blog post by HubSpot.
Search Engine Journal Tips to Improve Writing: Take your writing to the next level with these useful tips from Search Engine Journal.
FAQs
How can I improve my writing skills?
Improving your writing skills requires consistent practice, reading, and seeking feedback from others. Set aside dedicated time for writing, explore different writing styles, and learn from experienced writers.
What are some common grammar mistakes to avoid in writing?
Common grammar mistakes to avoid include subject-verb agreement errors, improper use of punctuation, and confusion between homophones (e.g., their/there/they’re, your/you’re).
How can I write more engaging content?
To write more engaging content, focus on understanding your target audience and addressing their pain points. Use storytelling techniques, incorporate visuals, and add a personal touch to make your content relatable.
What are some effective editing strategies for my writing?
Effective editing strategies involve taking a break before revising, reading your work aloud to catch errors, checking for consistency in tone and style, and using editing tools to identify grammar and spelling mistakes.
How can I overcome writer’s block?
Overcoming writer’s block involves trying different writing prompts, taking breaks to refresh your mind, and changing your writing environment. Freewriting and brainstorming can also help to get your creative juices flowing.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.