7 tips : 7 Questions you should ask your self befor writing

Make article writing a breeze with prewriting!                       

If you’re thinking, “what’s the deal? Writing shouldn’t bethis difficult?!” then you’re absolutely right: you’re spending way too much time writing and not enough time planning.

Invoke the 5 Ps of Success:

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

In fact, let’s put an Expert Author twist on the 5 Ps of Success:

Proper Prewriting Prevents Poor Performance!

Prewriting is the planning, researching, and organizing stage prior to the actual act of writing. If you treat the act of writing as a separate task that occurs afterprewriting, then you will squeeze more out of your efforts, alleviate frustration, and save time.

Use these seven questions as a guide to prewriting to ensure originality, creativity, and quality!

7 Prewriting Questions

Grab a notebook, a whiteboard, or your tablet and answer the following questions before you set out to write your next article.

1. Who’s the article for? Define your target audience – right down to their likes and dislikes.
    
2. What do they want? Brainstorm by looking for opportunities to provide solutions for your readers. Generate a list based on your audience’s most pressing problems or their needs and wants. If you begin seeing trends or themes, organize your list categorically.
    
3. Why? Pick a category or an item on the list and describe why the audience wants it (e.g., What ultimate benefit does it achieve? What does it solve?).
    
4. What headline will best grab your reader’s attention? In under 60 characters, draft a few headlines and consider the tone (such as compassionate, severe, and informative), angle (such as How To, Top Tips, and Why You Should …), benefit-oriented words (such as quick, painless, and easy) that will resonate with your audience. This title may not be the final title you work with, but it will be your guiding vision for the article.
    
5. What are the main points of your article? Incorporating your experience, research, and insights, outline the main points you want to convey to your reader.
    
6. What length and format will best suit the topic? Consider which format and article length that will provide the best user experience. If it’s actionable (e.g., how-to, top tips, etc.), use an ordered or unordered list format and keep the article within 500-700 words. If it’s non-actionable (e.g., industry-related news), consider a bricklayer format that draws the eye down the article with bolded headers highlighting key points between sections.
    
7. What do you want your reader to do? Consider what the number one benefit you provide your target audience is and what’s unique about it. Use the message in your Resource Box and your call-to-action (such as sign up for a newsletter, visit your website to buy a product, read a related article of yours, etc.).