by Lucius Trae

Created on: May 02, 2010

Before moving forward, we have to ask "what is success?" I'd like to believe that a quality writer will succeed at writing online. And by succeed, I mean that people will enjoy reading their material. Because of this, any attempts they make to earn money will do relatively well compared to their peers. While being a quality writer does help you, it isn't everything. Writers can be stubborn, and I am not willing to change everything about how I write to be popular. I might make some sacrifices, but I don't change my writing more than I feel is appropriate and comfortable for me. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for writing well online:

1. Quality over Quantity: Almost all writers are guilty of being excessive at times. However, determining the right balance between length and content is an art form. In some cases, a longer article will provide better information to the reader, leaving them satisfied. In other cases, it will leave them bored and irritated. We always hear about writing less, but that is not always the best choice. We hear more about "being compact" because it's easier to write more than less. It doesn't mean less is always better.

2. Tone: When my articles are reviewed by peers, I am often guilty of a sometimes fatal mistake. I have an incredibly offensive sense of humor, and I'm quite disrespectful to those who disagree when they aren't present. Online, anyone can be reading. You might want to reach a specific market that enjoys your offensive articles (and believe me, offending people is a big market). However, if you're trying to impress a larger audience, such as that of Helium, it's important to treat others with the respect you should show in public. You aren't having drinks with friends at a pub.

3. Formal or Informal: We live in a world where people are busy. If they are on the internet, they might stumble across your article. As a college student, I am guilty of this mistake.  I can in too formal when dealing with certain topics. If you're talking about crazy things kids do, for instance, you should communicate like you're talking to a friend. This means you apply rule #1 in a specific way. You might introduce some unnecessarily long sentences. You might use some casual language. If your article flies out of your head like when your talking to someone, this is usually a good thing. People like the relaxing nature of informal writing when the situation allows for it. In other cases, you will need a certain amount of formality.

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