Writing Articles Information

How to Write Inspirational Articles for Newsletters


Inspirational articles were once limited to self-help and religious publications, but they are just about everywhere now. (Think about those wildly popular Chicken Soup books or most of the stories in Reader's Digest, for example.) Inspirational articles can be very useful in newsletters, because they make a human connection between the newsletter publisher and the reader.

Well-written inspirational articles move people emotionally and motivate them to do something or to make a change of some sort. Nonprofit organizations can use these articles to motivate readers to volunteer, write letters of support, or make a donation. Businesses can use inspirational articles to create a positive public image, build brand loyalty, and encourage repeat business.

Good inspirational articles have five characteristics.

1. They are personal.
Inspirational articles are all about the power of personal connections. They should include very personal stories about real people's lives. Don't shy away from the emotion, as strong and powerful feelings are central to good inspirational articles. You aren't speaking to your readers' minds with these articles; you are speaking to their hearts and souls.

2. They involve an emotional struggle or challenging decision.
Clearly describe the struggles, obstacles, or difficult choices that the people in your article have faced. How did they recognize the problem, deal with it, and overcome it?

3. They paint a scene.
Help your readers visualize what the people in your story went through. Describe the physical locations where the events took place. But don't stop there. Appeal to your readers' senses of smell, sound, taste, and touch.

4. They include a universal message.
Inspirational articles usually end with an epiphany. They enlighten us or remind us about the essential nature or meaning of some element of our daily lives. These are often very simple lessons -- the importance of family and friends, the joy in giving, the danger in stereotypes, or the value in facing our fears, for example.

5. They are true.
Your inspirational articles must always be true. It is OK to change the names or locations; just state that you have done so. Making up stories to play on your readers' emotions is unacceptable. If you are caught telling lies, you will destroy any trust your readers had in you and your organization.

What would make a good inspirational article for your organization? Think about the stories from work that you tell your friends and family. Consider interviewing a person whose life or work has changed dramatically as a result of your organization. The moments that inspire you to do the work you do will likely inspire your newsletter readers too.

© 2005, Kivi Leroux Miller. All Rights Reserved.

Kivi Leroux Miller is president of Writing911.com, which provides free writing advice, tip sheets, e-courses, and in-person workshops for people who need to write well at work. She specializes in providing guidance to nonprofit organizations on newsletters, annual reports, and other publications. Visit http://www.Writing911.com to sign up for "Writing Tips," a free monthly e-newsletter that will help you improve your writing and your publications.


MORE RESOURCES:

Conyers' year of tolerating contempt
OpEdNews, PA - Jul 16, 2008
All I can do it is point out to him that he’s not doing any more about it by writing articles than I am by writing articles. And that makes me and everyone ...


Botha wins American fellowship
Dispatch Online, South Africa - Jul 18, 2008
Botha will spend the next year researching, investigating and writing articles about the role of traditional healers in treatment of people with mental ...


The Last of the Meitei Sahebs
KanglaOnline, India - 4 hours ago
This is why I hate writing articles with pre-defined deadlines and sizes for newspapers. I did write sometime, but they were real tortures. ...


Calcutta Telegraph

Exchange of knowledge
Calcutta Telegraph, India - Jul 18, 2008
From writing articles, drawing pictures to designing the pages, the students have done it all, taking care of every detail. The magazine describes through ...


Keeping faith with Dr. King: Tibetan monk studying nonviolence at URI
Providence Journal, RI - Jul 18, 2008
He’sa teacher, he said, not only in classrooms but by how he conducts himself when meeting people, performing and writing articles and poems. ...


News & Observer

They come to praise the great 'Gonzo'
News & Observer, NC - Jul 17, 2008
... running for sheriff of Aspen on the "Freak Power" ticket; finding his "gonzo" voice when he began writing articles for Scanlan's Monthly and Rolling ...


Employees Want Corporate Sustainability, Says Study
Talent Management, CA - Jul 18, 2008
"From developing informational videos and podcasts to writing articles for company newsletters to hosting seminars, employees are working to educate their ...


Merck’s Vioxx Payouts to Begin in August
Newsinferno.com, NY - Jul 18, 2008
The judgment bans the deceptive use of scientific data when marketing doctors and “ghost writing” articles and studies and addresses conflict of interest ...


Terrarium program goes into history, creating, planting
Alamogordo Daily News, NM - Jul 18, 2008
"Ward became a zealot, writing articles for gardening magazines and later a book, and exhibiting his cases. He built bigger and bigger glass cases, ...


WorldNetDaily

History won't be kind to Al Gore
WorldNetDaily, OR - Jul 17, 2008
He rode the wave of book sales and popularity for a decade, making speeches and writing articles offering excuses for failed predictions and promising even ...

Writing-Articles - Google News

home | site map
© 2006