What Are Publishers Looking for in Pictures That Accompany Feature Articles?

Writing articles for magazines can be a very rewarding activity. It can also provide you with a great opportunity to improve your non-fiction writing skills, as you'll find that successfully writing articles for magazines demands that you have a wide knowledge of a whole range of subject matters, that you create a writing skill that is instantly accessible to a number of different readers, and that you are able to tailor your writing to meet the differing requirements of magazine publications. In addition, being able to write strong articles can ultimately be a very fruitful source of income.

Often writers find that they are more successful in achieving a publishing contract for their non-fiction, article writing if they are able to provide strong illustrations to accompany the articles they produce. Generally the type of illustration that is requested from magazines or newspapers is photographs. Having strong photographs included within a feature article can really bring the article to life. Not only do they add a visual dimension to the written piece, which can help the article to appeal to those readers who are particularly stimulated by imagery, but photography can also add colour and vibrancy to the piece of writing. Furthermore, pictures often really do say a thousand words, and so the key messages of your article can be effectively highlighted through the inclusion of strong photos.

Publishing companies will generally always look to add some form of photographic imagery or illustration to the feature articles they produce. And so if the article author has provided this imagery for them, that's one less job for the publishing company to have to finish...and one more reason for them to pick your article for publication! Therefore it is always a good idea to include one or two photos with your article submissions.
The quality of the photo provided is of paramount importance however. So when it comes to choosing a photo for inclusion with your article, think about the sort of things that the publisher will be looking for in the photo itself:

- Firstly make sure you have permission to use the article. Under no circumstances should you include a photo that you are not sure the publishing company will be able to publish. The best way to avoid this problem is to take the photo yourself!

- Look at the magazine or newspaper's guidance on photo submissions. They are likely to have specifics on the quality of the photo etc that you will need to meet. Almost all publishers will ask for digital photography.

- Be sure to choose a photo that really conveys the crucial messages of your article. The photo needs to be relevant to the article content.

Do you need help with editing or proofreading your articles? Then use the professional editorial services from Words Worth Reading Ltd.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Joy_Pearce

7 Simple Strategies for Better Web Content Writing

1. Personal deadlines matter
Deadlines give you something to work towards. They give you a fixed goal and force you to make the most of your time. If you set expectations for producing content on your website (i.e. publishing every day) then setting yourself achievable deadlines will enable you to structure your writing.

2. You won't always hit your deadlines
Deadlines set by other people are difficult to miss. You're letting somebody down if you don't deliver what you promised on the day that they need it. Your own self-imposed deadlines are another matter. It's easy to let them slide, to moan that you're "too busy" or "don't have enough time" to get the writing done. You won't always hit your deadlines. But don't let a sense of perfectionism hold you back.
"Perfect is preferable, but good is good enough."

3. Good enough is better than perfect
Many writers are held back by their built-in quality control. I've often polished and re-polished paragraphs to make them read better. I've often junked whole introductions in favour of a different approach. Sometimes, what you end up with IS actually better. But typically it's no better (or worse) than what you started with. In the interests of getting your writing done, articles don't need to be a work of genius. Perfect is preferable, but good is good enough.

4. There's no right way to write
Some people write in the morning, others in the afternoon. Some write in the first person, others do their best to avoid it. Some self-edit as they write, others brain dump a messy first draft and edit it afterwards. Some favour news and reviews, others swear by the power of interviews or comparison pieces...
Some write with all the grammar-correcting, spell-checking power of Microsoft Word, others revel in the minimalism of notepad or IA Writer. Some write to music, others crave the focus of almost-silence. There's no BEST way to write. Do what works for you.
"You don't need to study the mysteries of SEO to get your content found."

5. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times
When I was younger, I used to keep a notepad by the side of the bed, just in case I woke up with the spark of an idea or an opening sentence to an article I was writing. Now I carry an iPhone and tap notes into Evernote or the Plain Text app because inspiration can strike any time and anywhere - on the bus, in the bathroom, walking to the shops. You've just got to be ready to catch it.

6. You don't need to be an expert in SEO
Everyone who writes for the web will, at some point, think they don't know enough about SEO. I've been there. Worse still, SEO isn't a static business and it always seems like there's something new to learn. But you don't need to keep up with the subtle changes.
You don't need to study the mysteries of SEO to get your content found. A simple keyword strategy, intelligent keyword placement and GOOD content that people will want to read and share will ultimately see you through. Yes. You can game the system... But driving traffic to a website without good content is like leading Yogi bear to an empty picnik basket...
"Bad content can also be found. But it will rarely be shared, liked or commented on..."

7. Good content will always be found
If you write 'good content' that's original, genuinely interesting/helpful and optimized for search, then people will eventually find it. And if it's good enough, those people that find it will share it with their online networks, giving it extra exposure. True, bad content can also be found. But it will rarely be shared, liked or commented on.

For more content writing strategies like these, visit The Good Content Company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Evans