Most beginning writers have a little trouble narrowing their focus when writing articles. Here's a good rule to remember: Don't write about the world—just one small section of it.

    Many times, the topic/story idea you choose is too big to really wrap your arms around it in text. It's not about thinking small. It's about selecting one aspect of the overall topic that you'd like to write about, and most importantly, that your readers would want to read about.

    Let's say I wanted to write about strokes, for example. I would need to limit my focus to what the family of someone who has suffered a stroke goes through or maybe the warning signs of a stroke. But, I couldn't include everything there is to know about strokes in one article. If I did, my article would fill an encyclopedia and be less than interesting.  You need to focus your articles on the part of the topic that would most interest your target audience.

    Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Write about things that interest you: If you like running in races, write about competitive running and its benefits.
   
2. Study your market: Before you research and write an article about competitive running, find an interesting/unique angle to the sport and then find several magazines/publications that will publish your work.
   
3. Create a captivating query letter: Make sure you get the editor's name and title correct. (Call the publishing house/magazine if you have to and get the correct spelling and title.) Grab the editor's attention with your opening paragraph and then tell why you are the perfect person to write this article. It's always good to throw in a comment or two that shows you've read past issues of their magazine. That earns you quick brownie points! Next, give your qualifications as a writer, listing awards you've won; places you've been published; training or educational background that makes you qualified to write about this topic; etc. Send published clips if the magazine requests them in its blurb in the "Writer's Market." Always close with a thank you and a line that says, "I look forward to hearing from you in the near future."
   
4. Keep good records: Give your article a title and write it on a note card, listing all of the places you sent it (and the name of the editor you sent it to), and the date you sent it. Send your query letter to about five places to get you started—then wait for good responses! It's always good to let editors know you are submitting elsewhere, too.
   
5. Refocus your article for various publications: You can take the same interview/information/notes and make several different pieces from them. It's all in the focus! So, by adjusting your focus just a bit, you can sell and resell your article. For instance, if I sell an article about "Five Ways to Fit Fitness into Your Life" to a denominational magazine, I might talk about combining devotion time with walking for a worshipful workout. That would appeal to that audience. But, if I want to sell that same article to a secular teen magazine such as YM, I wouldn't use that language. Instead, I would write something like: "Girl, put down that phone and tell your best friend you'll meet her at the track. Then you two can gab your way to fitness."

Now, go for it! You're ready to publish!

• Newspapers and Magazines: Keep a clip file of interesting stories—things you can refocus/update and sell to various publications.



• The Web: You can overload on information! Use your search engine to find lots of interesting facts that could catapult you into sellable articles.



• Your Local TV News: I get so many story leads from Fox News Channel 4 in Fort Worth. Keep a notebook and pencil handy as you watch the news.



• Church: Your pastor's sermon may spark a devotion inside of you that is just waiting to get out!



• Your Journal: There may be several articles-in-the-making on the pages of your journal. Scan them for sellable stuff.