Many friends have recently wanted to start documenting or sharing their life experiences. I'm frequently asked how to write articles. Beyond producing 180 articles in the past year—at least 15 monthly, each averaging around a thousand words—I've worked in media for nearly four years and refined close to five thousand pieces in the industry. Through continuous accumulation and perspective-sharing, I've gained opportunities to speak and publish books. So this article distills three key points to help friends wanting to start writing online and diversify through content creation find focus and write compelling, engaging articles.
One. Structure: You Need Bones to Have Meat! Write About One Thing Per Article
Most people without long-term writing experience easily write whatever comes to mind. By the time they finish, they have the word count and feel accomplished, but suddenly realize the content doesn't match the title, or they don't know what to title it because they wanted to share too many things. The result? No focus. What a waste!
So what should you do?
Master the technique of "bones before meat." For myself, I set a topic or even write the title first, then anticipate three key points and divide them into different subheadings.
➡Article Example: "Empowering Partners' Dreams" How This 30-Year-Old Manager Built the Perfect Team
For this profile piece, the final draft was 3,400 words. My focus was this person's character. If I wrote whatever I wanted, I could have added another thousand or two words about their relationships, education, life anecdotes, etc. But that would lose focus or become a transcript. So during the interview, I already pre-set three key points I absolutely had to cover: personal background (work-related), philosophy and management thinking. Though the interview content was genuinely wonderful, I couldn't be greedy. After deciding on the key points, I added different mini-stories, examples, and classic quotes within them, resulting in these three focal points:
- Born from normal teacher training—An unconventional workplace survivor: Entering PR was completely unexpected
- Client pulled the case when we ranked first in sales, but didn't defeat me: Because we don't just sell relationships
- About interviews—Never say "I want to learn..." if you want to join
These viewpoints have massive relevance to the story's core "character." I wouldn't suddenly add a segment about PR theory when discussing the PR industry, like writing press releases or media relations—irrelevant points. Nor would I awkwardly analyze how to boost sales to first place in the second point. Instead, I tightly circle the core, spreading the issue like concentric circles while simultaneously containing it.
Master this absolutely. I've seen too many long-winded articles where A becomes B. That's not wrong, but learning to split each piece's key points into separate articles is the long-term method to increase both output and traffic.
But with three key points—after assembling the skeleton—how do you add meat?
Two. Content: Use Imagery, Numbers, Conversational Language, Contrast, and Examples
Since content is most important, here are five sub-points for you to review and savor:
（1）Use Text to Paint Imagery, Leading Readers Into the Scene
Some think: why paint scenes with text? I'm not making a video; why bother? Let's directly compare using simple news release examples!
Text alone:
The Tomb Sweeping holiday has four days. After 8 AM on highways, congestion appeared.
Text with imagery:
The Tomb Sweeping holiday has four days. The sun is shining, and after 8 AM, cars big and small flood the highways, turning the expressway into a giant parking lot.
Can you feel the difference between these two? The first objectively describes the situation; the second transforms "congestion" into imagery, adjectives, and reality—not just mentioning "congestion" and moving on.
For example, if we want to describe a graduate student finishing their thesis as "very happy," we might just leave it there. But if we say "When the thesis statistics came out, tears flowed, and I even screamed in the research lab," that's also happiness, but feels completely different.
Of course, most people don't write such explicit news releases or event descriptions. But adding imagery highlights a person's character or an event's tone. For regular article writing, I typically use this "situational writing" to set a tone for readers rather than simply stating facts.
Text alone:
This was my best decision last year. I thought I wouldn't get along with new friends, but many companions are easy to befriend. They understand that anxiety, so they support and help me…
Text with imagery:
This was my best decision last year. I thought I'd feel completely out of place and uncomfortable, but many companions felt like kindred spirits—a case of love at first sight. They understand that anxiety, so they became my strongest, most powerful backing. When you express ideas, they applaud louder than anyone; when facing opposing voices, they give you the strongest support, protecting your autonomy and creativity.
Feeling the difference? I transformed simple "support me" and "help me" into concrete descriptions of what they did—"applaud louder than anyone," "give the strongest support." These are far more precise and moving than simply stating an action.
（2）Concretize Numbers So Readers Feel "This Involves Me"
When citing survey statistics, bland writing bores people. Readers can't digest it themselves and feel the article's content is unrelated to them, so they leave and never return.
Using 104 job bank survey data:
Pure number writing:
104 Job Bank observed 109,000 graduates and graduate students preparing to graduate this year with updated resumes in the past year, of which 39,000 actively applied for full-time jobs in the first quarter this year, accounting for 35.6% of the total.
Concretized number writing:
With over two months until graduation season, 104 Job Bank's survey found that nearly 39,000 graduating students have already actively applied for full-time positions, accounting for one-third of the graduate job-seeking members. That means one in every three graduates is securing positions early, with each "early bird" averaging 12 active applications!
The first is objective fact description; the second transforms numbers into "concrete" language the general public understands—describing early job seekers as "early birds," converting 35.6% to one-third, and providing specific imagery of "one in three," creating urgency and tangible feeling.
Take birth rates: most people think birth rates don't concern them, especially young people. But when you connect birth rates to elderly dependency ratios—that in 2010, 6.9 people supported one elderly person, but by 2025, only 3.4 people support one elderly person—such strong numbers make people feel involved, anxious, and perhaps consider: by 2045, when I'm middle-aged, only two people will support me. Won't that make people care about birth rates and not end up alone in old age? （Source: National Development Council）
（3）Cite Wisely Using "Conversational Language" to Convey Views and Thinking
Isn't it true that after reading an article or book, what really moves you and stays with you are just a few sentences? "No one needs to be responsible for your knowledge," "There's no need to dull your edge for worldly opinions," "Reading is the lowest-cost yet fastest way to flip your life around," "Only dreams trampled enough can support true strength." These sentences have appeared in my articles, and reflecting on them again feels meaningful. So quoting someone's words to "provide the finishing touch" to your article is crucial, especially celebrity quotes.
I particularly enjoy quoting Jack Ma's classics:
"There are thousands of success factors, but failure factors are mostly similar. Combine all failed people's experiences, seriously study these mistakes, and I hope everyone spends time understanding why people fail."
When writing about startup failures, I love using Jack Ma's words. I even listen to audio of Jack Ma's speeches during walks to internalize his thinking. Beyond celebrity quotes, current reflections resonate deeply too.
For instance, during a speech, I shared a Facebook status from eight years ago:
Not settling for ordinary
This sentence deeply impressed my friends. I clearly remember it—the reason was shallow back then. Those years I worked part-time while studying and preparing for graduate school, working and rushing without rest, while peers constantly bought the newest iPhones and iPads. Maybe from inferiority, I envied and resented them, so I wrote this with resentment.
Yet this classic phrase, eight years later, still tells a compelling story and offers real value. Even now, my articles and speeches use it. That's **"conversational language's" charm—it represents your personality, views, and thinking. It becomes an article's essence. For readers, it's endlessly thought-provoking, applicable at different life stages with different meanings. Master this technique, and you'll eventually create your own classic phrases, gradually refining your personal positioning.
（4）Use Contrast to Create Conflict
This is a screenwriting technique, but applied well to regular articles, it also creates strong impressions. But what is contrast? Stereotypically, opposites are antonyms—big/small, bright/dark, jealous/fond—but the contrast here isn't about word opposition; it's about two completely different states making readers reflect: "How is that possible?" or "That can't really happen!" Creating conflict while ensuring this surprise and unpredictability is for readers, not the writer.
For example, in an article I mentioned the viewpoint "convince yourself you're in the 'worst state'"—this statement itself contains contradictory conflict! You'd wonder: doesn't everyone want things better? Why would someone settle for the worst state? What happened? So you keep reading. Then I explained my viewpoint in detail, with the full statement expressing "unrealistic behavior."
Secondly, in "Is Your First Job Really Important?" The Answer is Yes, I mentioned that my first job let me "face reality"—I think this statement itself is contrast.
Why? If it feels obvious, you've been working long enough. But my readers lean toward recent graduates or current students expecting "hope," "ideals," "fantasies" from first jobs. So "face reality" has conflict and fearfulness.
This article ranks among my most popular, shared between students, and I've heard managers share it with new employees asking them to read it first to adjust their mindset (seriously!).
Using contrast to create conflict isn't just about situation contrast; it must be audience-oriented, letting your readers feel your intended contradiction and surprise. Of course, you could simply share life experience without overthinking, but then ask yourself: why make it public?
（5）Don't "Show Off Knowledge"; Everyone is Ordinary
This often happens with highly professional people (I won't call it a problem since everyone has their style). Professional experts easily think their terminology and word choices are universally understood. But it's the social media era—anyone can see your article. Excessive professional jargon makes readers leave to search meanings, causing fatigue.
Using journalism terminology to describe a work experience:
4G package hell—no footage, no bites to cue, plus calculating TC and requesting signal reception, editing to cut rolls before connecting.
This is full of industry jargon, but insiders know it means a certain on-location linking method. The actual meaning is:
Without an SNG truck on-site, carrying only a 4G package that can transmit signal. Yet management hopes you'll connect live from the location. Since you can't pre-arrange interview bites, if you need interviewee bites (Cue Bite), you must calculate start and end times (Time Code), call headquarters to receive footage, then ask editing to cut usable rolls before connecting live.
Even after explaining, some won't understand. Doesn't that make it difficult for readers? This is why you shouldn't show off expertise—don't use industry jargon. When discussing AI applications, don't use technical details. Since you want understanding and more readers, use practical examples.
For instance, I once wrote about 5G launching in 2020. If I focused on 5G technology, equipment, bandwidth, etc., it'd be hard attracting general audiences. People don't know how 5G differs from 4G, just thinking "3G just became obsolete, 4G is 80% widespread—why keep changing?" So I explained:
Currently, VR industry development bottleneck: users wearing VR headsets easily experience dizziness because perspective switching generates massive data flow. Current 4G can't support this transmission speed. However, once 5G launches, it can handle the volume. Future VR users will see clear 3D images, bringing virtual closer to reality.
Through language and experiences general audiences understand and possibly experienced personally, guide them to comprehend why something matters. That's why you shouldn't "show off knowledge." When your article aims for general understanding, it must be conversational and relatable—even become their friend and confidant. Of course, in professional seminars or for specific audiences, you can absolutely show off expertise tastefully.
Additionally, here's an extra personal technique: while I write "theory" knowledge-sharing, I never write like a textbook. I split theory into "practical aspects" and "actual aspects."
➡Practical aspects: pure theory, showing how I understand knowledge and skills
➡Actual aspects: real application scenarios—what people call "dry goods." I think actuality is a lifestyle; lifestyle is daily routine.
More concretely, practical is maybe your first day at a new company, when management tells you how to conduct events: writing proposals, pitching, setting dates, times, locations—basic required content, sounds simple, right?
But actual implementation? Just writing the proposal involves format, theme-setting, direction, structure, and countless other questions. Even if everyone follows the same process, thousands of different results emerge. That's what I consider the actual aspect. Understanding reality lets you imagine the complete picture and avoid cognitive errors. That's why this article, despite explaining only three points, includes endless examples!
Practical aspect: arrange time based on your assessed work hours and state
Actual aspect: everything after the example segment—I genuinely love this approach.
Three. Titles: Conversational Language × Numbers = Perfect Finishing Touch
Actually, titling uses the same concept as the content section, but differently: you can elaborate in content; titles have only a few words to express everything, so you must capture the most critical points!
But how do you distinguish which content and sentences are most critical? As I mentioned initially, many writers have too many points and want to say everything. When finally titling, they can't decide, or the title becomes "universal truth anyone can state," or it becomes preachy and hollow—not compelling! So first get the bones and meat right; then titles shine!
What's preachy titling? Examples:
"How Rich People Sleep and Earn," "How Writers Write Articles," "Workplace Secrets You Should Know Before 20"—I'm just offering random examples, but when you want personal writing style or articles with ideas and viewpoints, anyone can write like this. So even if readers click and read, they won't remember the author—like typical "evergreen posts."
But using conversational language and numbers in titles lets readers know from the title what they'll get:
➡ Number Enumeration: Directly write how many key points the article has in the title!
➡Number Expression: Put eye-catching "numbers" from articles in titles—dates, frequencies, salaries, etc.
➡ Conversational Language: Choosing conversational language is very subjective. I select sentences I find most memorable after writing or hearing them. Test-drive them—tell others and see if they find them surprising, thought-provoking. In interviews especially, if subjects say something classically memorable, definitely use it in the title!
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Remember This When Lost: Life Has No Standard Answer—Your Choice IS the Answer
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Intelligent Yet Abandoned Kindness! Only Wanting to Climb Over Others—Beware of Crashing and Burning
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"Don't Leave Leverage Against Yourself"—Whatever Phrasing, Seniors Always Drilled This In
This is my complete sharing. I've covered the most accessible techniques and used my work as practical templates. Of course, I'm not the best, but after three-four years writing nearly five thousand long and short pieces and books, this is the essence of that experience. For any questions, feel free to private message or email me for discussion.
