The “ingredients for an effective article post” provided in the Smart Strategies guidelines are very useful. As an editor for the website, I offer the following additional strategies, based on my reading of posts from new contributors.
- Consider your audience to be readers just like you. Although many will be older, you still have a lot in common with them. We are all changing and aging, and we all face similar issues in regards to health and well-being. Using words like “we” and “us” and “our” is more inclusive and shows that what you are saying is relevant to a wide range of people, including you! For example, “As we age, our past becomes longer, and our future becomes shorter.”
- Be as specific as possible. When you make a general claim, such as “exercise can improve brain function,” back it up with an example or some research. This shows that you care enough about the subject (and your reader) to do some fact-finding, and it gives your writing credibility.
- Plan and organize your article before you start to write. Choose a specific topic (say, mindfulness) and then decide on a single point you want to make about that topic (For example: “Becoming mindful takes practice, but it is worth the effort because it will improve the quality of your life.”) Then decide what evidence and examples you want to use to support the point and the order in which you want to present them. Organizing is one of the hardest parts of writing, but it’s also one of the most important.
- Pay attention to how you begin and end your article. Start with a question or statement that will get the attention of your readers. End with a statement or question that harks back to what you have written and also makes your reader pause and think. A summary conclusion is unnecessary and ineffective in a short article.
Cite sources within the text by title and date so that readers know where your evidence is coming from. You can also include the name of the author if it’s relevant. Here’s an example of a citation where the author’s name is not relevant to the reader: “Researchers have found that when the stress of a caregiver is unrelieved over time, he or she has an increased tendency to abuse or neglect the person being cared for (Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging, 2018.)” Here’s an example of a citation where the author’s name is relevant: “In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Zen Buddhist monk Shunru Suzuki says, ‘In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few’ (5th ed., 2007).” You don’t need to include a list of references at the end of the article.
- For the most part, paraphrase or summarize your source material and follow with a citation. Quote sparingly, and use only sentences that are essential to your meaning and extremely well-written. The writing in most academic articles and books sounds stilted to the general reader and should be summarized in your own words.
- When you have drafted your article, read through it several times and edit ruthlessly. Omit all repetitious material (you need to say something only once), and listen to how your sentences sound when you read them aloud. Each sentence should be easy to read, and it should move the text forward. You may also want to rearrange sentences and paragraphs so the article flows better. It’s often helpful to have someone else read your article and give you feedback.
- Finally, enjoy the process. When you have done your research and carefully crafted an article in a way that both informs and enhances a reader’s experience, you have done a great service. Acknowledge and appreciate your efforts!
Recommended by: Ruth Ray Karpen, Former English Professor at Wayne State University and feature writer, Smart Strategies for Successful Living.