by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: April 10, 2009   Last Updated: April 13, 2009

Writing articles for internet readers is much different than it is for magazines or newspapers. Learning some new tips from seasoned writers is your best bet for reaching your audience. Here are a few writing tips for Helium writers to get you started:

Remember Your Audience

You should always keep in mind that you are writing for every walk of life when you write to this site. Keep it simple so that it is easy for your readers to understand. Big words won't impress someone who has to look it up. They will simply leave your page before you can blink an eye. Using big words throughout your article may even come off as showing off. Again, this doesn't impress anyone but you. Simple is always better.

Be Original

Getting ideas from other writers is great, but there is a limit. Make your articles your own. Do not make your article so similar to someone else's that it appears to be plagiarism. You can get into big legal trouble for that. Helium doesn't care for the use of it either and it can get you booted off the site. Coming up with original and fresh material is what writing is all about.

Edit

Be sure to double check your article before you hit the publish button. Using a word processor does not promise there won't be mistakes. It only helps you avoid most of them. You also want to make sure that the sentences and paragraphs will make good sense to your readers. Correct spelling is only part of the picture. It also takes good grammar to get the job done correctly and to look more professional.

Don't Use the Word I

Using the word I is a big stumbling block. Although it's easy to write that word, especially when you are passionate about something, it doesn't bode well with raters. It may take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you will do fine. Reading what others have written will often reveal a lot. When rating, take notice of writing styles that are similar to yours. You will probably notice that some writers often use this word. You will probably easily recognize why it's a bad idea to use this word often in your work.

Be Mindful of Length

Making an article too long is just as bad as making it too short. You want the article to have all the information that the reader will need, but you don't want to lose your audience either. People who read internet articles are looking for concise and easy to read material. They want to read through it quickly so they can move on to their next destination. Keeping an article around the 500 word mark is one of the best ways to ensure that your readers will gain the information they want without wandering away from it.

Make Use of the Forums

One of the best ways to learn more about your craft is to talk to other writers. Hang out a while with the community. You can ask questions or listen to what other have to say. There is a critique board that allows you to seek help on specific articles. There are plenty of people who are willing to help guide you in the right direction. Don't be a wall flower, join in.

Leapfrog

Editing an article after it has been published is done all the time on Helium. Even when you think you have caught all the mistakes, you will often find something later on that you missed. Use the leapfrog to better you article. Formatting, spelling and updating are just some of the reason that you should use this feature. You will see your ratings soar if you keep a close eye on them.

Getting started is the hardest part. Once you have established your Helium writing, you will be giving tips to other users. Remember, don't be shy. Going to the forums is a huge help when it comes to writing for this site. Helium is one of the best places to go for great writing opportunities on the web but you have to take advantage of all it offers.

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