WRITING CHRISTIAN ARTICLES   3

Grace Olumayowa Aideloje

Some Christian writers, in their zeal to pass on the gospel message, ignore the acceptable rules of writing. That’s why you find many Christian works done haphazardly with little attention paid to structure, style  and grammar. If you must be an accomplished Christian writer, you cannot rule out acquiring the necessary skills.

In the next few weeks, I will focus on ways you can improve on your article writing skills to communicate more effectively.

Generally, an article consists of three main parts –the beginning, middle and end, not necessarily in that order. The most important thing is for your article to be well structured, meaningful, with quality content and of course, conforming to the accepted rules of grammar.

This piece focuses on the beginning, which consists of the title and the introduction.

 CAPTIVATING TITLE

The first thing that grabs the attention of readers is the title. It is a descriptive heading that gives a hint of the content of your article. Your title must be catchy and interesting. It should arouse curiosity to the point of compelling your readers, to at least, start reading.

Some say titles should be short. I think length is not important, as long as it is remarkable, creative, witty, fascinating or noteworthy.

Here are examples of titles for an article that prescribes ways to enjoy life.

 How to enjoy life optimally

 What creates true enjoyment in life

 A Recipe For Enjoyment

   Enjoy your life

Which will you choose and why?

THE OPENING

How you introduce or open your article will determine if you will continue to hold on to your reader’s attention. The opening paragraph or line must be cogent; forceful and convincing to the intellect or reason. It must also be thought provoking in a way that keeps the reader wanting to know where you are leading. You can start with a question, a food for thought, a challenge or an absorbing story. Whatever you choose to do must be relevant and flow into the body of the article.  Don’t be so anxious to work on an opening line as you begin to write.  This skill is developed with much practice.

Sometimes, it comes after the first or second draft or even as you conclude the article.

Here is an opening of an article by Anthony Fernando titled, “How To Be A Leader In Life.”

As a new manager in a multinational corporation, Donna Peterson’s main focus in life was to prove that she had the skills and talent necessary to succeed in a male dominated industry.

After graduating from Harvard, summa cum laude, and completing her MBA at the Stanford school of business, Donna was confident in her knowledge and ability. www.anthonyfernando.com    

Here is another one by Gwen Smith titled, “Through the veil.”

Several years ago, my father was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that changed the course of his life. My family and I watched in agony as his health faded away and his future evaporated. He was just days away from dying when a donated organ provided a way for him to live. Dad received the gift of life as a transplant recipient.

Tragically, in order for my dad to live, someone else had to die. While our family rejoiced at this priceless provision, another family mourned the passing of one they loved. It was a bittersweet exchange… an amazing gift... wonderful and horrible at the very same time. www.girlfriendsingod.com

These articles started with interesting stories to pique the reader’s curiosity. 

This next one by Sharon Jaynes asks a thought provoking questions. The title itself is a question.

Lost that Lovin' Feeling?

If you're married, what do you do when you've lost that loving' feelin'? Maybe you truly adored your husband in the beginning, but now you can't remember why. Maybe you honestly admired his finer qualities, but now you can't remember what they were.  Maybe you appreciated his wonderful attributes, but now take them for granted. What do you do now?  www.girlfriendsingod.com

Here is another one that's food for thought by Sue Blaney.

It’s titled "My Parents Would Kill Me If..."

What a captivating title!

As a teenager growing up, I'll bet you could finish that sentence. "My parents would kill me if..."   What were some of your answers? "If I got caught shoplifting?"  "If I didn't call when I was late?"  "If I got caught drinking?" Your teenager needs to know where you absolutely put your stake in the ground, and these rules should be emblazoned in your teen's brain.  sue@parentingteens.com

This next one titled “Five Tips to Set and Achieve Your Writing Goals” by Melinda Copp is straight to the point.

If you want to write a book, or tackle any other important writing project, then setting clear, powerful goals can put you on the path to success. No matter what you hope to accomplish, the following five tips can help you get there. “http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/five-tips-to-set-and-achieve-your-writing-goals-704807.html“

Your choice of an opening will depend on the impact you want to create. Just make sure your opening is relevant to the subject matter.

To learn more about titling and introducing your articles, read other people’s articles. Observe critically how they are titled and opened. How does each style help the writer communicate his thoughts? How does it make the reader understand the piece? As you begin to analyze articles this way, you will find yourself improving in your own writing.