Just as a builder relies on a meticulously crafted blueprint before starting construction, a writer should develop a detailed outline before beginning an article. Architects consider the client’s needs, spatial arrangement, and room relationships when designing a house. Similarly, writers need to determine article length, content inclusion, section allocation, and part arrangement during the outlining phase. This planning is crucial for effective writing.
Thorough outlining involves complete article conceptualization, from introduction to conclusion. Each piece of gathered material must be carefully assessed for its relevance to the overall subject and its individual components. Logical thought progression is paramount to ensure the presentation’s effectiveness. Ultimately, good writing stems from clear thinking, which is most critical during the planning stage.
While some novice writers may find it easier to write without an outline, thinking that it takes less time to produce a feature story by dashing it off, the result often lacks clarity, logic, and organization. Resistance to outlining typically arises from the difficulty in systematically considering a topic from various angles and arranging thoughts logically. Avoidance of outlining often signifies an unwillingness to engage in thorough thinking.
Article length is determined by subject scope and publication guidelines. Extensive subjects necessitate longer articles, while significant themes require sufficient word counts. The length should correspond to the subject’s depth and importance.
The publication’s policy ultimately dictates the article’s length. Some publications prefer 4,000- to 6,000-word articles, while others limit it to 1,000 words. Submitting a 1,000-word article to the former or a 5,000-word article to the latter would be equally inappropriate. Periodicals also set specific length requirements for articles within particular sections. For example, a monthly magazine may feature personality sketches of 800 to 1,200 words, while other articles range from 2,000 to 4,000 words.
The practice of placing reading material alongside advertisements impacts article length in many magazines. Editors often allocate only one or two pages in the front for special articles, short stories, or serials, with the rest appearing among the advertisements. Articles must, therefore, be long enough to fill the initial pages and several columns within the advertising sections. Some magazines utilize short articles or fillers to provide the necessary reading material on these pages.
Newspapers, typically featuring 1,000 to 1,200 words per column, have greater flexibility in layout than magazines. They can accommodate special feature stories of varying lengths, and advertisement arrangement has less of an impact on article length. To understand the specific requirements of different newspapers and magazines, it’s necessary to analyze typical articles within their respective sections.