3. Outline first. Then arrange your topics in a logical order. This reduces need for transition sentences.

4. Limit examples and anecdotes to one per topic.

5. Compress fluff. Don't use "in not-too-distant future" when "soon" will work.

6. If your topic contains do's and don't's, leave out one or other. Instead of "rather than doing 'X', it is better to do 'Y'", simply write "Do 'Y'".

7. Make friends with your dictionary and thesaurus. Replace adjectives and adverbs with active verbs and nouns. "Very, very large" might become "gargantuan", and "ran at top speed" might become "sprinted".

They're not revolutionary, but these simple rules can help you craft an informative, yet compact article for online publications that will have e-zine and Web site editors e- mailing you to ask when your next piece will be ready.

The Philosopher's Stone was published on 30 June, 1997 and was an instant success.

The book was published under her initials because her publisher feared that boys would be less likely to read book if they knew it was written by a woman.

At a book fair in Italy later that year, Scholastic Books bought American rights for $105,000, an unheard of figure for a children's writer with only one book to her name.

It was published in States in 1998 with title 'Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone'.

The sequel - 'Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets' - was published in June of 1999 and later that same year, third book in series was released, 'Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban'.

By time her fourth book appeared in 2000 - 'Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire' - series had become an international phenomenon: initial print run for her 4th book was 1.5 million copies in UK and 3.8 million in US.

By 2000, JK Rowland had become highest-earning woman in Britain, with an income of more than £20.5 million ($29.3m) in previous year.

In 2001 her annual earnings were estimated at over £24m, ($34.3m) placing her between Madonna and Paul McCartney in ranks of high-earning celebrities.

In October 1998 Warner Brothers bought rights to 'Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone' and its sequel ('Harry Potter and Chamber Of Secrets'), for tidy sum of $700,000.

With release of first Harry Potter film, J.K. Rowling's total earnings are estimated to have exceeded $100 million.

In March 2001 she was awarded an OBE (Order of British Empire) by Queen, for services to children's literature.