How to Write an Article
By Ed Katuska
from Wet Pet Gazette, Norwalk Aquarium Society
Aquarticles
Writing articles for your club publication is easier than you may think. Most people
who write articles on a regular basis do it to share their experiences with others so they
also can be successful. Where would this hobby be right now if the pioneers had not shared
their aquarium knowledge? For some, putting thoughts into print is an easy task.
Unfortunately this is not the case for everyone.
There are a few misconceptions about article writing. The main one being that an
article does not have to be multiple pages in length. You are writing an article not a
book. Most club publications are not of size to handle very long articles without breaking
them up into monthly segments. A lot of good information can be written from one to two
pages. Second, It does not have to be written in scientific format. Unless you are writing
a college thesis keep it simple. Most of your readers are going to be fellow hobbyists,
some being beginners. Third, do not worry about spelling, or mistakes with grammar. A good
editor should proof read your material and make the proper corrections.
When I wrote my first few articles it took me forever. I was concerned about all the
things mentioned above. After you write a few you'll be surprised how easy it becomes. I
find that making a few notes before I begin is a great help. The hardest part seems to be
where to start. I usually break the article up into small parts and then paste it all
together when it seems all the bases have been covered. With the help of modern day
computers and word processing software this is a very easy task. There are many different
topics to write about, but most of the articles that I see in our publication talk about
recent spawning success so we'll use this as our example. Using a step by step formula
like the one below can make anyone a successful author. Let's begin here:
1: The Fish
You should list both the common and Latin name of the fish if applicable. Tell how you
came across this specie, what family of fishes it derives from, or any other information
you may have, such as how long it has been in the hobby, who discovered it and when, etc.
This information is available on most species that have been in the hobby for a while.
2: Description
What does the fish look like? Note shape, finnage type, coloration(s) and size it
obtains. List any noticeable differences between the sexes. It is also good to describe
the temperament and deportment. Are they aggressive or community fish? Are they shy or not
so skittish? Are they bottom dwellers or mid-water swimmers? These are just a few
examples.
3: Natural Habitat
Where are the fish found in nature? What country? What part of that country? Are they
river fish or lake fish? Do you know anything about their natural diet, natural enemies?
Is the climate seasonal or tropical? Are there flood seasons?, and so on. This is one of
the harder paragraphs in most articles because most of the information requires research.
I find it interested to look up this sort of information so I usually include it in my
writings.
4: Diet
List the foods that you are feeding. Tell how many times a day you are feeding. Are
they specialty feeders? Are there any type of food(s) you would advise the reader not to
feed this fish and why? Did a certain food promote color or maybe a growth spurt?
5: The Tank
What is the size of the tank that houses these fish? What are the parameters of the
water? List all other tank inhabitants. Tell what percentage and how often water changes
are made. Give a good description of the tank interior. For example, heavily planted, lots
of rockwork and caves, etc. How is the tank being filtered? What type of lighting system
is in use and how long is the environment being illuminated each day? What is the normal
temperature of the tank?
6: Spawning Tank and Conditioning
Tell if the fish spawned in their regular tank or if a separate spawning tank was used.
If the latter applies list the size, water quality, lighting and filtration type of the
tank. List all conditioning foods. Let us know if the male and female were separated for a
while and then joined for breeding purposes. If a breeding group was used list the ratios
of the sexes.
7: The Spawn
Note the coloration of the fish during spawning, did they intensify in color? What was
used as a spawning site? Did breeding take place in the morning or evening? If they were
egg layers were they open spawners, cave dwellers, mouth brooders, or were the eggs
scattered? Approximately how many eggs were produced? How about size and color?
8: Rearing the Fry
How many days did it take for the eggs to hatch? When did they become free swimming?
Was there parental care, by one parent or both? How long after the free-swimming stage
were the parents with the fry? List their first food, amount and frequency of water
changes and ratio of fry survival.
9: Conclusion
Note any recommendations you may have about your adventure. Were they difficult or a
good beginners' fish? Are there any unusual characteristics or behavioral patters that you
noticed? Was your experience here a good one or are your ready to find a tall bridge?
As you can see, breaking down the article in this format allowed us to cover all the
necessary information about the fish and the spawn. Using this formula would give you nine
or ten paragraphs (1 to 2 pages) of good informative writing to share with others. Just
place the different paragraphs in order and presto, instant article. If you go down the
list you will notice that most of the information needed for a successful spawning article
is already in your head since you are the one that raised and spawned the fish. It is just
a matter of organizing your thoughts on paper. When your article is complete, check for
spelling and grammar errors. I find it is a good idea to put the article aside for a week
or so before handing it in for print and read it over one more time. There may be a
thought or two that will come to mind, which you may like to add. Give it a try.
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