How to Generate Article Ideas as a Freelance Writer

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More and more people are earning an income by writing articles on a freelance basis. The Internet provides a huge market that is always hungry for engaging articles. But how do you go about identifying and selling great article ideas? Many would be freelance writers may have some difficulty finding subjects to write about. However, with a little creativity, you will be able to find plenty of interesting topics. Read on to learn how to generate article ideas as a freelance writer.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Generate Sellable Article Ideas as a Freelance Writer

Step1

Identify your market. Before you even begin to look for ideas, or start writing, you should decide who you are writing for and to whom you intend to sell your articles. If you’re aiming for an on-line magazine, read as much content on this site as you can. What kind of articles do they publish? What length are they? Are there areas where they seem to lack material? If so, target that gap.

Step2

Work from what you know. The best place to get article ideas is from your own personal interests. Make a list of your areas of expertise. Don’t worry if they don’t sound that impressive at the moment – just write it all down. Consider your hobbies – are you a keen bird watcher? Do you know how to knit?

Step3

Find your unique selling points. Remember that you are a unique person and things that may seem ordinary to you will be interesting to someone else. Think about other areas of your life that people might find interesting. What is your family background? Did your ancestors have interesting life stories? Where do you live? What’s in your area? Where do you work? Where have you visited?

Step4

Find an angle. Once you’ve made a list of areas of expertise, go through and brainstorm some actual article ideas. There are millions of people producing material for the web and print magazines and you need to stand out from the crowd. Try and find an “angle” for your article. This means finding a different approach to a subject, a new way of looking at it that will grab the interest of your readers. So, instead of just writing on bird watching, write about “Bird Watching in the City” or “Getting Children Interested In Bird Watching”. Instead of just “knitting” write about “Knitting With Beads” or “Train Knitting – Easy Projects For Commuters”.

Step5

Make a list of your article ideas. Even if you don’t have a finished article on the subject you are pitching, it is worth having a list of engaging article ideas on that subject. A sample of your writing, even on a different subject, can demonstrate that you can write up to the standard required. It should go without saying that you should make sure there are absolutely no spelling or grammatical mistakes in your sample. As you write more articles, you can build up a portfolio of articles in different styles and on different subjects.

Step6

Put out feelers. Once you’ve identified your market and put some good article ideas down on paper, test the waters. Approach websites with some sample article titles and gauge their interest. If you get a negative response, don’t be disheartened. Take note of the reasons given for turning you down and try and address them. Is it the subject of the article they don’t like? Could you change your angle to make it more interesting?