Studio Blog

Answerbag, I like to say, is in the business of great answers. Not OK answers. Not passable answers. Great ones. That’s a tall order, given the pace Studio creators need to maintain, not to mention the fact that you’ve only had a few months to learn our guidelines and the new Decision format. But if these last few months are any proof, it’s an achievable goal. I’ve seen many excellent articles providing answers that are difficult if not impossible to find anywhere else. Here are a few we should all aspire to.

Why are we so tired in the winter?

Who Wrote It: Hayley Harrison

Format: Fact Sheet

Why It’s Awesome: I found this piece completely fascinating. I’ve always wanted to know the answer to this question (but never bothered to look it up), and Hayley's article told me just what I needed to know. It was devoid of fluff so I never got bored, and each section gave me a new, interesting tidbit of information. It also had just the right knowledgeable, friendly tone. I would be proud to promote this article wherever I could.

How You Can Copy It:

Be informative, yet concise. Always aim to strike the balance between detail and concision. Don’t give so much information that it's hard for readers to find the answer, or so little that they’re left wanting.

Cite reputable sources judiciously. What is the point of in-text citations? Beyond appeasing our ever-vigilant copyeditors, it’s to instill trust in the accuracy of your work so that when readers find it, they don’t feel like they need to go to three other sites to verify it. This piece did a great job of including reputable sources (Mayo Clinic, Cornell University) where needed.

Do diet drugs work?

Who Wrote It: John Dye

Format: Decision

Why It’s Awesome: This is a tough article to do in 200 words, but John knocked it out of the ballpark. He was authoritative, friendly, and most of all, he really answered the question. Decision articles often tackle thorny issues for which no good answer is readily available, so the key is to synthesize the mass of conflicting information out there down into what readers need to consider and what the answer is at the end of the day.

How You Can Copy It: Do the Disappointment Test. The first thing I do after I’ve read an Answerbag article is ask myself, “If I really needed this information and found this article, would I be disappointed?” I picture someone who is in desperate need of a clear, to-the-point, reliable answer, and I ask myself, would this give him what he needs to know? That’s the situation our readers are in: They are wandering in a sea of unreliable information, and we are the friendly face that appears to quickly and confidently guide them to solid ground. Every piece you write should be that outstretched hand.

Have a little flair. This article had just the right balance of personality and professionalism. Too flavorful and the article could appear untrustworthy. Too dry and you could lose readers along the way. This piece sounds like a real person wrote it—one who knew what he was talking about.

Be technically flawless. Error-free spelling and grammar are not the pinnacle of perfection; they’re the minimum qualification. Why? Not because it’s in the guidelines. Not because you’re being rated on it. Not because it’s one of my pet peeves. Because they make the ultimate article trustworthy. And in order to grab our hand, they have to trust us.

See also:

Does weight loss by hypnosis work?

Do sunbeds help acne?

Can acupuncture cure infertility?

How do you help an alcoholic spouse?

Who Wrote It: Carl Hose

Format: Strategy

Why It’s Awesome: For this piece, we were lucky to have a writer who was both knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, but you can always write a great article if you just remember one thing: Be substantive.

How You Can Copy It: Write authoritatively. The more well-versed you are in a subject, the stronger the end-result will be, so select titles that allow you to show off your depth of knowledge. If you’re not familiar with a topic, research until you’re writing confidently. If you find yourself getting into verbal contortions to complete a sentence without writing something that could be way off, call an expert. You’ll be surprised how much time a quick interview can save you.

Be substantive. If I could synthesize all my advice down to just one directive, this would be it. Whether the article is entertaining or serious; short or long; Strategy, Tip or any other format, stay razor-focused on providing substance. Every single adjective, preposition and dependent clause, right on up through the sentences and sections, should have a good reason for making it into your article. You only get a few hundred words; make every one count.