Stymied. It’s a good word to describe those poor, unfortunate souls who have knowledge to write a content-rich article but who run from idea like a quarter horse headed for finish line. Why do they run? Too often because when they sit down with a blank sheet of paper or a blank computer screen, it all seems too overwhelming to even begin, and so they don’t.

However, even if this describes you, it doesn’t have to forever. If you will follow these simple steps and practice a few times, you will be filling in those dead sections of your e-zine with aplomb.

The Idea

Obviously all articles start with an idea. This should be something in your chosen field or in your area of interest—some area that you can shed light on for others. When you find your idea, write it down immediately. Don’t try to write it into paragraph form, just take a moment and jot down a sentence or two—or even a few words—describing what you would like to write article about.

For example, idea for this article might state:

A step-by-step how-to guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.

The development

This step, I think, is where countless English teachers have completely set up brick walls in minds of their students for years. The teacher gives a writing assignment, and a student asks, “How am I ever going to write two pages?” To which teacher responds, “Just write.”

Of course most English teachers don’t set these blocks up intentionally. The problem is almost invariably, you teach what you’re good at. When you’re good at something, it comes naturally, and you don’t have to think about every single little step you’re doing. However, when you teach, you must think about every single step, and this is where train runs off track.

If we would teach following secret to children as far back as elementary school, fear factor when an adult sits down at a blank computer screen years later would be nearly non-existent.

Here’s secret. Once you have your idea, break it down into three separate sub-topics. For example:

A step-by-step guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.

1.Have or find an idea

2.Develop idea

3.The five-paragraph model

Each sub-topic is then written about and expounded upon by using supportive information. Think of this supporting information like legs under a table. If you have a table with one leg, obviously it will fall. Two legs will make it wobbly. With three legs table will be more stable, but with four legs it will easily stand on its own. This is your goal with your article—to make each sub-topic supported by enough legs so that it can stand on its own.

So, under each sub-topic, list three to four supporting information bits. For example:

A step-by-step how-to guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.

Subject-Verb Agreement – Errors in agreement are most common mistakes made in writings. To avoid this, just follow simple rule: A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

Wrong: Identification of these goods have been difficult.

Right: Identification of these goods has been difficult. (‘Identification’ is subject here)

Wrong: The best way to keep your children happy are to give them enough responsibilities.

Right: The best way to keep your children happy is to give them enough responsibilities. (Use a singular verb if subject is a phrase or clause)

Awkward: Neither John nor I am interested in this project.

Better: John is not interested in this project; nor am I. (If you write an awkward sentence, consider rewriting it)

Exception: Use a singular verb if a compound subject refers to same person or thing.

Example: Milk and breads is a typical breakfast for many people.

Tense – Tense refers to time. It tells when an action is happening: in present, in future, or in past. Whatever time it is, it should remain consistent throughout your whole piece of writing. There are three main tenses - Past Tense, Present Tense and Future Tense.

Here is an example of writing with mixed tenses:

Wrong: John wanted to know why Rebecca is sad, but she will not tell him.

Right: John wanted to know why Rebecca was sad, but she would not tell him.

Present tense, Past tense and Future Tense each has following four forms. The examples below will help you understand that:

Past Tense

Simple Past – I spoke Past Continuous – I was speaking Past Perfect – I had spoken Past Perfect Continuous – I had been speaking

Present Tense