Home » Writing Articles vs. Writing a Book

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Let's face it, readers of on-line articles don't really want to read articles that are more than about 1000 words. I find that, from time to time, I'm one of them. I find myself becoming impatient when I feel that the article drags on too long or I have to keep scrolling down further and further. I start skipping ahead to see when it will end and trying to decide if I want to invest any more time in it. In our fast-paced, hurry up world, time is precious and we never seem to have enough of it.

When writing for an on-line audience, it seems to be best to be concise and to the point. You must say what you really want to say and leave out the "chatter." That is maybe the hardest part for me. Partly that is because it seems to me that the little asides and anecdotes are what give anything I write its character.

I've been writing articles for Search Warp for over a year now. Oddly enough, in the beginning I was less wordy than I am now. My husband was constantly amazed at how I could manage to say so much with so few words. I've always been prone to long speeches and lengthy explanations. I think I may have been a little shy at first. Sometimes hitting that button to submit an article was the hardest part.

While I may still vacillate between wordiness and conciseness, writing for Search Warp has taught me so much about writing that I can not begin to list it all. I value it all very highly. In the beginning, other authors offered me tips on how to better write my articles. That and reader comments have been extremely helpful to me. They let me know when I am on the right track and when I need to go back and rethink something. And the friends that I have made through Search Warp are beyond valuation.

So now I find myself embarking on writing a book; something I thought I would or could never do. And I find that it is giving me a great deal of trouble. My husband gave me a good idea and I am having a wonderful time fleshing it out. That's not the problem. It's great fun coming up with names and appearances and personalities for the characters. That's not the problem, either. My problem is that I am still writing "articles" and trying to be brief and to the point. Although, if you have read any of my other articles you are probably wondering what I am talking about. In a book, you can say whatever you want, however you want to say it and in as many words as it takes to get it just how you want it. Or at least it seems that way to me. When I pick up a book to read, I don't expect it to be done in 100 pages or less. If I like it or if I know I like the author, then the longer it is, the better. And I never begrudge them using five words when two will do; especially if it paints a more vivid picture.

I will get it eventually, though it may take some time. I keep finding areas where I could have said it better or "explained" it in more detail; fleshed it out a bit more. Regardless of what you may be writing or want to write, be it books, poems, prose, articles, how-to's, you will benefit by writing for Search Warp. Sign up now and become a Search Warp Author. You will never regret it.
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