Thread: "Spicing things up"

I have a client that regularly expects many MANY articles on the same exact topic. I'm getting down to my wits end with some of these, and it is becoming more and more difficult to write articles. Some are still easy, but I want to provide good articles even if it is becoming exhausted.

Do you have any tips on how I should go about "spicing things up"? Have you had similar problems in the past?

Originally Posted by gavenecko

I have a client that regularly expects many MANY articles on the same exact topic. I'm getting down to my wits end with some of these, and it is becoming more and more difficult to write articles. Some are still easy, but I want to provide good articles even if it is becoming exhausted.

Do you have any tips on how I should go about "spicing things up"? Have you had similar problems in the past?

Excellent question. I absolutely hate it when I have to write like 10 articles that all have the same structure. It can get mind numbing. So let me give you a few pointers...

The Thesaurus is Your Friend - Learn New Words!

Take this as an opportunity to learn some new words! Go to the thesaurus and throw in a few that you've never used before.

Use Metaphors and Similes

Pull out some literary devices and spice up the article with a great metaphor. Like with my Dad's meatloaf...all you need is a little salt.

Change Up Sentence Structure.

Use long and short sentences to get your point across. Seriously. People want to read articles that use grammar and spelling and literary techniques and personality and tone to get the point across. Get it?

Throw in some rhetorical questions.

Rhetorical questions can be fun. Don't think so? Try reading a few influential articles and see how many rhetorical questions you can find.

Use a (watered down) personal example.

If you have a personal experience with the topic, use it in the article. Instead of talking about yourself, tell the reader to imagine themselves in that situation.

Like imagining if you had a client that wanted an article on the merits of guest blogging, but everyone and their grandmother has written on it. What would you do?

Those are my tips. I'm sure other people have some ideas as well.

Those are good suggestions. But 10 articles on the same subject is nothing! I'm talking like - 30-50 or more articles on the SAME EXACT THING.

I will try those tips more often though. Thanks!

Originally Posted by gavenecko

Those are good suggestions. But 10 articles on the same subject is nothing! I'm talking like - 30-50 or more articles on the SAME EXACT THING.

I will try those tips more often though. Thanks!

As part of a non-writing project, I was required to write 30 200-300 word homepages. It was difficult, I seriously struggled...

• Use synonyms.
• Use sub-headings.
• You don't need to put across exactly the same ideas in each version of the article.
• Use lists/examples. These can always be different.
• Jot down what you're thinking, as you read each version of the article that has already been produced. This can always be edited later and will likely be something else that can be included.
• Work on other projects inbetween each version. This'll put you into a different mindset each time.
• Read a few pages from the dictionary inbetween each version. I find that I have a tendancy to use new words, as I learn them.

Writing on the same topic should be eaisier. You shouldn't have to spend as much time on research.

Some ways to increase article output are as follows:

1) create article packs by sub-topics
2) Use different syles of writing like bullet points, lists, conversational and discussion of the topic
3) Split longer articles in smaller ones

Originally Posted by bogart

Writing on the same topic should be eaisier. You shouldn't have to spend as much time on research.

Some ways to increase article output are as follows:

1) create article packs by sub-topics
2) Use different syles of writing like bullet points, lists, conversational and discussion of the topic
3) Split longer articles in smaller ones

It's easier in some sense, but more difficult in others. Some subjects don't have that much information, so I have to rely on creative genius to keep it going in the right direction.

Originally Posted by gavenecko

It's easier in some sense, but more difficult in others. Some subjects don't have that much information, so I have to rely on creative genius to keep it going in the right direction.

Have you tried lists? They work great.

Something else that may make them a little easier to write: spin them, just to get something new to work with each time.

Try approaching the topic from different angles. An article geared towards stay at home moms is naturally going to read different from an article written for motorcycle enthusiasts. Well, unless you are writing an article for stay at home moms who ride motorcycles.

Anyway, try using different article templates such as doing a case study or a 3 tips for such and such. I've got about 10 article templates that I use to help me think of different articles to write for the same subject.