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Always
seek to reflect the spirit of Christ.
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Write
catch leads that hook your readers. Within 3 seconds the reader decides to
read or turn to the next story.
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Remember
to answer the “W’s”, who, what when, where and why and sometimes how. Put the
most meaningful things in the first paragraph or two.
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Make
an outline to help organize your article.
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Remember
your audience. Write to inform, not impress. Use language your audience is
familiar with.
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Present
things in an unbiased manner; do not include opinion unless you are writing
an opinion piece (e.g. Moderator’s Message).
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Avoid
clutter, keep wording concise.
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Proofread
your article on paper (not just on the computer).
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Have
two other people read your article, one who is familiar with the subject and
one who is not.
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Check
grammar and avoid run-on sentences. Use the grammar (and spell) checker
available in most word processors.
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Give
your editor the right to edit submitted articles for length, style and
content. Don’t be offended if your wording has been changed.
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Keep deadlines! If you do know your deadline, contact
the editor to determine better ways to communicate this information. Be
responsible, it is not the editor’s job to hound you for information.
