| 1 year ago :: Dec 11, 2008 - 4:16AM #1 | |
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Hello, My name is Nina Lewis and I am a freelance writer. I usually write for the web to build up my portfolio. I would like to break into writing for magazines to get credentials as an "established" writer. However I have a hard time putting my research info together. I know how to do research and identify the right market for my topics. But when it comes to piecing the facts together I have trouble. For example I would like to write about alternative medicine and natural healing. I went to the library today and searched through some medical journals, but I did not know how to turn the information into an article. Is there anyone that can give me some pointers?
Thanks,
Nina |
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| 1 year ago :: Dec 18, 2008 - 8:33AM #2 | |
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It's really quite simple. First decide on the focus of your piece. For instance, you read that blackberry leaf tea lowers chlosterol. Now you try and find the research to document what you read. One of the difficulties you will have in writing these types of articles is the lack of information in scientific journals. Alternative medicine isn't all that widely studied in labs, particularly in the US (doesn't pay enough). If you dig deep enough and long enough, you can find studies that have been conducted. Be sure and check the validity of the study. Ask yourself it is self serving or was it conducted by an unbiased research team. Keep your articles focused tightly. If you go too broad, you reduce your chance of a sale. Hope this helps. Vic |
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| 1 year ago :: Dec 20, 2008 - 1:04AM #3 | |
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Focus is essential. After focus, get a couple of subject matter experts to breath life into the topic. Research is great but a practitioner telling about it, or even an MD who uses natural medicine also will provide credibility, take you out of the article and give that human perspective people need to see. |
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