Article Writing

Tips for Quoting Sources
Quoting interview sources in your articles and press releases adds punch and credibility to your writing. But don't throw in just any old comment—quotations should add insight and flavor. You can quote people in a number of ways. Here are a few examples.

• “Before yoga, I was tight as a drum,” says Charlie Brown, the director of XYZ Fitness in Vancouver, B.C.
• “Before yoga,” says Brown, “I was tight as a drum.”
• Says Brown, “Before yoga, I was tight as a drum.”

Note that once you introduce sources, you can refer to them by last name only.

>From Newsletter 3, September 2001

Writing for Magazines: From Scholarly to Snappy
If you have an extensive academic background, you may be accustomed to writing in a scholarly voice. However, you'll need to adopt a more casual and snappier style to break into magazine writing.

One way to do this is to replace bigger, more academic-sounding words with everyday language. For example, instead of “ameliorate,” write “improve” or “better.” Also, use active voice instead of passive voice. And stay away from stuffy sentence-starters like “hence” and “consequently.”

>From Newsletter 8, February 2002

3 Tips for Communicating Effectively with Editors
Do your part to ensure smooth communication when you get an article assignment. Here are 3 strategies for communicating effectively with editors.

1) Check first about the check. If an editor doesn't mention a fee when assigning an article, it often means there isn't one. You might expect payment, but if he expects a freebie, you're out of luck. Ask about the fee before you write so there are no surprises.

2) Make second draft changes obvious. Editors commonly email authors a second draft of their article with editorial suggestions and questions. Address these questions and incorporate changes promptly. Always clearly mark your changes to save editors time and frustration (I use UPPER CASE letters, bold font or **asterisks**).

Editors don't have time to weed through a 2,000-word piece hunting for your last-minute additions or altered phrases. Also, don't rewrite sections that have already been edited unless the editor asks you to do so.

3) Ask questions. If an editor has changed something you don't agree with in the second draft of your article, politely discuss it with her. Ask why she made the change. You may discover there's a sound reason for it. Or, you might convince her to reverse the change.

>From Newsletter 9, March 2002

The Hidden Benefit of Writing Fitness Articles
Writing fitness articles gives you the rare opportunity to consult one-on-one with top exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, club managers and personal trainers.

Through authoring articles, I have expanded my fitness knowledge beyond what I ever imagined possible simply by consulting with some of the most well-respected experts in the fitness industry—and I even get paid to do it!

The Active Voice online workshop reveals how to start successfully selling your article ideas to editors and consulting with the fitness industry's most respected experts. Click here to find out more.

>From Newsletter 21, April 2003

Breaking into Health/Fitness Writing
Being an accomplished health/fitness writer is much like being accomplished in other areas of freelance writing. However, there are steps you can take to increase article sales in this competitive market. Here are five suggestions.

1. Tweak the Angle. It may seem as if fitness magazines just rehash the same topics in every issue. But take a closer look. Pitching stories that simply mirror past ones won't help you. Instead, search for a little something that'll give your piece a fresh spin. For example, cite a just-published research study on ab training or a new weight-training book. The right newsy item could be the springboard you need to develop a saleable article on an already popular topic.

2. Track Trends. Always keep your eye on fitness trends. Prepare queries about new ways to exercise or up-and-coming equipment. Or, suggest new training tips using familiar equipment. But make sure your idea stands out. I just received a press release about a stability ball program that didn't interest me because the idea was too similar to so many others I've come across and even written, myself, in the past.

3. Collect Fitness Clips. Build a file of your published articles specifically about health/fitness topics. Start with smaller magazines and newspapers before tackling the higher-circulation, higher-paying ones. And try the trades. Although most contributors to fitness trade magazines are fitness professionals, trade publications can also be a viable market for writers outside the industry.

4. Know the Industry. Even if you don't work in the fitness industry, get acquainted with its trade conventions and magazines. IDEA Health & Fitness Association publishes frequent industry trend reports. Workshops at fitness conventions trigger tons of story ideas. Contact the fitness organizations in your area for convention and workshop information. Two major convention organizers: Can-Fit-Pro and IDEA.

5. Comb the Research. A lot of health and fitness writers cite university-based studies. Your chances of landing an assignment increase if you can approach editors with current, well-designed and newsy published research. I like to search for stories at Reuters Health, MEDLINE/PubMed and UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

>From Newsletter 32, March 2004