How to Write an Article

Writing an article is an art, just like writing a story is. It may not seem as exciting or creative, but ultimately it is; just in a different direction. And unlike stories, articles are also able to express opinion.

Whether you’re writing an article, tutorial, or news, there are seven basic things you should make sure you do with your article or that your article includes.

1. Proofread and spellcheck: Please. I'd like to actually be able to read and understand your article; it's kind of a necessity. Plus, people will call you out on it relentlessly. There's an Editing and Proofreading thread if you feel your article needs a bit more fine-tuning. Also, Mibba articles utilize block format; that basically means you leave each new paragraph un-indented.

2. Don't lie with your lead: If you say you're going to show both sides of an issue in your lead and your article only shows one side...that's a bit irritating. Represent the article you're actually posting, because the lead is meant to draw people into that article. And try to make it catchy and/or interesting; if you can't come up with a short summary or lead-in to your article, it's fine to quote your own article.

3. You're allowed to express your opinion: You're also allowed to be biased; it's your article and your ideas. And opinion articles are most definitely allowed on Mibba, last I checked. However, other people have the same rights, so don't get too upset if someone attacks your idea. That being said; if you disagree with an article, then comment saying that...not a personal attack on the author. Make sure to explain why you disagree, rationally and logically. And try to keep things on the article comments page, not personal profile comments and such.

4. Back up your points! Like I said in number three, opinion is great. Opinion is awesome. But it's also totally pointless without supporting facts. Don't just tell me that veganism is good; tell me why it's good. That's one of the things that separate journal from an article; a journal can be an illogical rant, but articles need logic and fact. As well, not everyone is going to like your opinion; that’s a given. So instead of trying to please everyone with your article, you should focus on making your article as airtight as possible. Try to make sure your idea is expressed clearly and that people who disagree can only attack the idea, not your article.

5. Make sure your article goes somewhere: Just like a story, it needs a beginning, middle and end that all tie together. Your article shouldn't be a set of random paragraphs about how animals deserve love too, meat tastes icky, and global warming is real...that then ends with 'Which is why you should become a vegan.' Your main point should definitely show up before the conclusion; hopefully in the beginning. Don't try to write about too broad a topic, because this is just one article. If you do want to attack a broad topic, try writing a series of articles about different, smaller, more manageable facets instead. Ex: One article about animals deserving love, being intelligent creatures, and inhumane slaughter techniques, a second article about the non health benefits of meat, and a third article about the reality of global warming and how becoming vegan helps save the planet.

6. Sources: This is a bit of a minefield, because sources aren't technically required and articles won’t be denied solely because they don’t have them. However, with that said...if you claim something is fact and it's not commonly known (i.e. a statistic), then it's nice to know where you got it from. The more credible the source, the more credible the article appears. Also, when quoting from a book or when quoting a person, in text citations are good....just so we're clear that it's not your words, and you aren't plagiarizing.

7. Images: Try to keep them relevant to the article. I understand, that sometimes it's hard to find a picture that relates back to your idea, but there's always something. And hey, that's what the image description thing is for: a place to explain how a picture of the Sun and an article about veganism go together. Make sure your images end in .jpg, .png, or another picture ending; you don't want the site address where the picture is, you want the picture itself. Oh, and as the notice says every time you submit an article...do the admins a favor and make sure your images are a good size for your article and they fit within the given parameters. The recommended width limit is between 150 and 250 pixels and images must be at least 70x90 pixels.

If you've already posted an article and it doesn't seem to have been approved, check out the Article and Column Errors thread. That and the Article Help and Brainstorming thread are great places to go if you have questions as well!