Tips for How to Write a Successful Factoidz Article

Factoidz is a concisely written, factually based article providing valuable content.  

Concisely Written

Use active voice whenever possible. Reread your article and eliminate redundant words.

Redundant Examples

Bad:

New innovations in the field of automotive technology

Good:      

Innovations in automotive technology

Active vs. Passive Examples

Bad:

The car was waxed in the garage by the mechanic.

Good:

The mechanic waxed the car in the garage.

Factual

Factual doesn’t mean that you have to make your article boring and dry. However, you don’t have license to assert information as fact when it is opinion. Avoid sweeping generalizations, broad characterizations and stereotyping. Be precise.

Articles about politics, religion and faith are not prohibited but they must be accurate. It is important when writing articles about these controversial and often contentious subjects to state the issue or topic clearly and concisely, cite your sources, provide further references and let the reader draw a conclusion. 

Bad statement:

Democrats have a large percentage of college students.

Better statement:

According to the 2010, XYZ Poll, 60% percent of college students identify themselves as Democrats.

Bad statement:

Christians baptize their babies to ensure they go to heaven.

Better statement:

The theology of baptism varies according to the doctrine of each denomination. (you may then elaborate according to doctrinal statements by various denominations with sources cited)

Citing Sources for Factual Articles

Your brother’s wife’s uncle who is a lawyer is not a good source. However, citing a law or an act by title or number is a good source. You may also reference blogs from law firms.

Make sure you are using references that have credibility, or at the very least, provide resources for additional reading.

Idea Articles

Articles on home management, decorating, gardening, parenting and other articles that present ideas and suggestions are appropriate and valuable. These articles do not lend themselves to extensive citations and references. They are often experience based. Be sure to write with authority. A brief biography at the end of your article may be helpful to validate your expertise in the subject. Choose your topics and titles to cover a specific aspect of a broader subject.

Bad:

Feeding a Picky Child

Good:

Ten Ways to Sneak Vegetables into Your Child’s Dinner

Bad:

How to Plant a Flower Garden

Good:

Ten Most Popular Flowers for an English Cottage Garden

Good:

Flower Gardens for Small Spaces

Article Construction

A well constructed article has an introduction, sections with headings and a conclusion. Bullet points are helpful and stand out nicely when making lists. It is not necessary to label your introduction. Your conclusion should not be labeled “Conclusion”; leave your conclusion without a section heading or consider using italics for a couple short sentences to delineate it from the final section.

If your article is very long, consider breaking it up into two or more articles. A very long article can be tedious and if a reader can’t find the information quickly he may just click out and go on to find another resource. Just remember that Factoidz policy does not allow for series articles that are labeled “Part I”, “Part 2”, etc. Title your articles so each one stands alone. 

Proofread and Preview

Even the best writers make mistakes. After saving your article, preview it. Read it through thoroughly, don’t skim. Read it word for word, deliberately and slowly. Look for awkward sentences, superfluous words, excessive passive voice, spelling and punctuation errors. Pay particular attention to words that are not caught with spell check that may be used improperly:

• There, their, they’re
• Too, to, two
• Past, pass, passed
• Threw, through

Careful construction with attention to sentence structure, spelling and grammar is the mark of a good writer. Be sure to link your work to other articles you have written and establish your credibility with readers. 

Writing for Factoidz is an excellent hobby and a venue for experienced writers who earn a great living from their freelance work.