by Benita Rose

Created on: August 30, 2010

Have you ever written an article and wondered why it hasn’t been rated as highly as you expected, hoped, or thought it deserved? Submissions are judged by two major criteria- content and quality.

 Content means what the piece is about.  It is often the reason we write. We have something to write about; we have something to say. I have seen many articles, poems, and stories that have superb content.  I have seen so many pieces about life-changing moments, love, death or other meaningful moments in our lives. These are what inspire us to write; these inspire us to express ourselves.

 Do not simply write to a topic because it is there. You must find your own subject matter. It may or may not be in the title finder. If you are having trouble finding a topic, dig deep within yourself. You may find you not only have a topic, but something you need to say. What are you interested in? Is there something or someone you think about when you are by yourself?  Then start typing! The end result should be a topic you are very familiar with. You can only express yourself well when writing what you know. Searching for your own story reminds me of a news segment I used to watch called “Everyone Has a Story.” The reporter would throw a dart on to a map of the United States. He would then visit the town on which the dart had landed, knock on someone’s door, and find out what his “story” is, and then report it on his news program. He, too, knew everyone has a story!

 The second component of an excellent article is the quality of the writing. That means how you say what you want to say. If you are writing a personal story, remember the reader does not know the circumstances. Be detailed. But also be concise. Good writing makes its points with as few words as possible.  An article or story that has words added to meet the four hundred word minimum will stick out like a sore thumb. If a single word can substitute a group of words, use it. If ideas can be combined, combine them.  If more words are needed after you have followed these guidelines, instead of adding words, consider what other related ideas you would like to include.  Do not use “stretch” words. These are words that do not change the meaning and serve only to give a greater word count. They include words like “very, and, even, so”. These words will not impress your evaluator. Rule: Never use more words than you need.

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