These ten tips are a must for successful news writing whether it is traditional news paper stories or blogging on internet news web sites. Following these 10 tips will insure a creative and interesting story.

1. Research, Research, Research: Carefully research the subject. A detailed investigation into what has already been written on the subject can make the difference between a unique story and a rehash of old information. Don’t be afraid to research any related issues or information during the process; this will provide a unique angle or another story idea!

2. Take out Your Protractor: Find an interesting angle or point of view for your story. This will often require a large amount of pre-thought and creative planning. Make sure you can summarize this ingenious angle in one sentence such as: “Top Ten Stock Picks from My Four-year-Old Out-Perform All Other Analyst Picks.”

3. Ummm…so….you….like….stuff?: Make sure to prepare and write down interview questions so you don’t waste the interview. Having more questions than needed may result in an interesting sub-topic or great sound byte.

4. Bug the Room: During interviews, record video, audio, take pictures and notes. Make sure to get permission first. This is vital to producing a final product and a great photo or video (even by an amature) can greatly lend to the quality of your story.

5. Interview George Bush: If you can, great; if not, make sure to always find the source of your story or the best possible person to interview. Don’t settle for the easy interview and you can be surprised who will agree to an interview if just ask and don’t give up.

6. Follow Britney and K-Fed: Try to entertain your reader. Under no circumstances should you be boring….unless you WANT THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND SUNS TO RAIN DOWN UPON YOU!

7. Headline: Reporter Becomes Millionaire: Write articles that will help others with important or interesting information, not to make money or with dollar signs flashing.

8. “Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.”~Edward H. Harriman: Hard work and persistence can be the difference between success and failure, or the reason failure after failure eventually turned into success.

9. Make the story personal: Before my grandmother died, she told me to embrace the good and bad of life and focus on the important aspects. Life is too short to not express yourself and including some emotion or personal involvement will make the story more interesting for you and your readers.

10. I not only wrote the story, I interviewed myself: Becoming an expert on the topic will quickly shine through your writing as will being completely ignorant of the topic.