How Do I Get My Article Accepted?

Have you submitted an article here and it got rejected? Do you think you have what it takes to write an article for this site but you do not know where to begin? Well, here is your answer. This article will give some basics of article writing, discuss some reasons an article might get rejected and give pointers on how you can write an article that will get accepted as well as some subject ideas.

How to Write an Article

1. Make a checklist
For articles on this website you need a Title, Description, and the Article.

Title
Your title needs to deliver a powerful punch. Something that asks a question or presents a problem. For example: How Do I Get My Article Accepted?

Description
This is the small excerpt that appears in the articles list along with your name and the title of your poem. Your introduction can be a short phrase or a few sentences describing the nature of your article. My Intro is: An article with some tips on how to write an acceptable article for this website!

Article
Should include an opening, body and conclusion.

Opening. The opening should be a paragraph that summarizes your article

Body. Use a standard outline format or write in 4 to 5 line paragraphs. Use each paragraph or main point to discuss the subject you have chosen.

Conclusion
This should pull everything together and encourage the reader to use or apply the article to their own situation.

2. Write your article
a. Rough Draft. You can start with an outline (you can also leave it in outline or list form as I have done with this article) or just write down the ideas you have. Another option is to write it as if you were explaining the subject to a friend.
b. 2nd draft. Decide what form you want your final draft and begin transforming it from an outline/list into an article or polish up and fill out the points you made in your initial outline/list if that is the form you want.
c. Take a break. Leave your article for at least a few hours and up to a few days. When you come back to it, you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes and maybe some new ideas.
d. Write your final draft.

3. Check your article
a. Run it through a spell checker first, then read it through a few times to check for mistakes (like here/hear) the spell checker may have missed and to correct the grammar and punctuation.
b. Make sure it flows well by clearly identifying the problem, providing a solution and concluding with an action step or steps.
c. Get someone else to read it over. Often they will find the mistakes that you missed.

Reasons Articles Get Rejected On This Website

1. It is not an article. 90 percent of the articles that are rejected are simply poems! The articles section of this website is not a place to submit your poetry.
2. Errors! The second most popular reason for rejection is that the article is riddled with typos, misspellings and simple grammar errors.
3. It is plagiarized. Do not copy an article from another website and submit it as your own. Do not submit articles that are not yours even if you cite the author.
4. It does not offer anything new.

How to Write an Article That Will Get Accepted

1. Give us something fresh! Look through the already submitted articles. Try not to make your subject a subject that has already been posted. If you feel you MUST use the same or a similar subject, then be unique in your approach. Thoroughly research your topic and come up with some new ideas of your own!
2. Check, check, and recheck your article for errors.
a. Part of the problem is that when you copy your article straight from your word processor, the website adds funny characters like it does on poems. To combat that problem, post it in a thread in your club if you are in one (you can also use this as a trial posting, too and get input from your club members) and then copy it from there into the article submission form.
b. Read your article aloud. This will enable you to hear how it flows and sounds and you will also catch mistakes this way that you would not catch when reading it to yourself.
3. Use the basic pointers from the beginning of this article to help you with your form.

Subject Ideas
1. Title: Tongue Tied Over Tongue Twisters? Introduction: How to write meaningful, entertaining tongue-twisters that are not just a bunch of words that start with the same letter.
2. Title: If A Picture Paints a Thousand Words Introduction: Then how many words does it take to paint a picture? A look at the artistry of words. (subject could be about imagery, metaphorical writing or simple descriptiveness.)

Now you know how to write an article, why articles get rejected and some tips on how to get your article accepted. So pick a subject, do some research and get to writing!