by Carol Gioia

Created on: July 16, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2008

An article is a singular literary composition with a clarified focal point delivered with a clean, accurate presentation. Attention to detail is pertinent. The article must contain proper, easy to read formatting, accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling and a fully developed premise.

Articles have two main purposes. One is to share valuable knowledge with the reader; the other is to convey a point to the reader.

For an article to be fully developed it will possess the following content:

* A strong introductory paragraph related to the title
* Followed by the author's comments or point of view
* Several paragraphs imparting the information or illustrating the point conveyed
* A satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader either informed or changed by the experience of having read the content of the article

Articles have categories or genres:

* Informational Piece

This type of article will require research, or hands on experience, with a subject about which the writer wants to impart information.

* Testimony

A first hand experience related factually for the education or edification of the reader. Testimonies can actually go into more personal detail than some other genres.

* Reflections

Articles that ponder universal truths or philosophies and the writer's thoughts on the subject fall under this category. Personal experience can be included for the purpose of illustration, but will not be the focal point of the article.

* Memoirs

Autobiographical accounts, memories, or small slices of life make up the articles in this genre. Memoirs are generally all about the writer and his life experience. They generally incorporate life lessons into the story that the author desires to share and are often inspirational on some level.

* Debates

This type of article has two components: a pro and a con side. The writer chooses his point of view and presents an assertive argument defending his beliefs, hopefully intending to sway the reader to agree with his premise.

* Short Stories

These are fictional pieces of writing designed to engage and entertain the reader. The successful short story is creative writing at it's best. Short stories fall into the same genres as full length books; for example, mysteries, adventures, science fiction, love stories etc...

If a writer aspires to be published, he will pay special attention to the style, content format and word length requirements of a specific magazine or publisher.

The first article I posted on Helium was not really an article at all. It was more of a blurb or blog; me spouting my opinion. I quickly learned that Helium wants to showcase magazine quality articles to their online readership and if I was to become a valued Helium writer, it would behoove me to learn the characteristics of an article and to put more effort into the articles I submitted.

Writing a good, magazine quality article and publishing it in a venue where it will receive exposure and appreciation for it's literary content, such as on a site like Helium.com, is a worthy goal for any writer.

Another worthy goal for any writer is striving to emphasize the "art" in the article and succeeding with an artistic flair.

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