There are four main article components needed for an idea to be RIPE.
Reliable Research.
An idea needs authority. Reference experts of provide credentials. The research for this article comes from more than 200 articles and several books published by the writer. References establish trust with readers. Urban legends and false information remind people that they are gullible and make your audience cautious of the message unless it comes with dependable credentials.
Inspiring Illustration
Illustrations or stories involve the reader and captures the imagination so they can understand the message. The word picture a story creates must also link the reader to the point. A humorous piece about a guest, a flood, and prayers that led him to dream about the food prepared. However, it did not connect to the point about the positive power of water. Instead, an ancestor’s harnessing water for a mill and it flowed right into the point and made a better choice.
Purposeful Point
Every article or story needs a purpose Care about both the topic and the reader. Refine it until it is easy to convey. To make the point powerful, the writer needs passion for the point made. For example, in this article the acronym, RIPE, conveys the purpose of showing readers how to develop a plan.
Effective Equipment
The article must effectively direct readers what to do with the new knowledge. To effectively entertain an emotion must be evoked. An editorial needs to engage the reader’s mind with persuasive arguments and encourage them to open up and think differently. To educate the article must include instructions that are easy to follow or provide knowledge the reader can use and pass on to others.
Nurture the Idea
Write the idea. It may be a story or illustration. It may a main point or new fact . Or, it may be instructions to help others. Thus, there’s at least one of the four components. List the missing components and consider how to cultivate them. Here are some suggestions:
Reference
- Find professionals through the Internet or yellow pages. Check online sources that connect reporters to authorities.
- Find quotes from famous people or statistics.
- List credentials that establish authority.
Illustration. Look for a story that matches the idea:
- Seek stories from anyone with experience.
- Read extensively. Knowledge of Panda bears and the bamboo tree’s root system and unusual growth pattern provided an illustration on prayer for spiritual growth.
Point. An idea may exist but not be focused enough. Too much in one article is also unfocused and may confuse readers. Define the main purpose.
- List every reason for the article and decide what the reader needs to remember.
- Look at the other parts already chosen. Ask what the illustration teaches. To pass on an instruction, such as how to weave a plot, make that the main point. If presenting new research to share then consider why people need to know it and that will bring the focus.
Equipment. Decide how to share the information.
- For a how to craft piece make it; and at each step stop and write the directions.
- For entertainment, think of how to make it more humorous or creative. Act it out.
- To motivate a reader to act package the point in a memorable way with ideas to apply immediately. Use a short punchy sentence, alliteration, or acrostic. The acronym ripe is a simply way to remember the components of a great article. Each word of the acronym represents one point.
Once all the components are chosen the idea is RIPE and it’s time to start writing the piece.
Karen Whiting - Professional freelance writer with ten published books and hundreds of published articles. My books are for women (time management and ...
Join the Conversation