HOW TO CHOOSE A TOPIC

Stephanie M. Tenazas

So you’ve been asked to write an article, but you have no idea what to write about. Or perhaps you’re discombobulated because you have a thousand topics on your mind but you just don’t know which one to single out. Well, here are some tips to help you in choosing a perfect topic:

• Get to know your readers. If you don’t know what to write about, the first thing you need to do is to analyze your readers. What demographic do they fall under? Do they belong to the 9-12 age group, or perhaps the 16-20? Should you consider economic status as a criterion? These questions will help you find out who will most probably be reading your write-up, and then you’ll find out what they want to read about. Once you’ve determined the kind of readers you’re aiming for, you can now proceed to the next tip.
• It pays to know what’s hot.  Remember that no matter how significantly enthralling your subject might seem for YOU, what’s most important is how much it appeals to OTHERS. There is absolutely no point in writing about your favorite rock band when most people don’t even know they exist, or much less how to correctly pronounce their name! Ask around, do a quick survey of your own, and bear in mind that being up-to-date with the current trends always works to your advantage.
• Choose topics you’re comfortable with. When brainstorming on different topics, prioritize the ones you’re most familiar and comfortable with – topics which are, well, let’s say- ”closer to your heart.” This way, you’ll find that writing about a familiar topic will come at ease given you have enough background to start with. Remember that knowing the basics is always a bonus.
• Narrow down the subject. Before things start to get messy, or before you start baffling yourself with questions like, “Should I include this?” or “ Maybe I should write about his family background too”, take a deep breath and chill! Don’t complicate things by snarling up all your ideas. Always narrow down your topic so as to avoid confusing yourself with your numerous thoughts. Simplicity is the key.
• Find out who your sources are and check accessibility. Before you finally decide on a topic to write about, learn to preempt your sources, because these people are the gateways to completing your article! Find out if they’re in town or if they’re too hard-pressed at work that it might be impossible to catch a quick interview. Just do your research.
• Google your topic and check for past issues. It’s always a bummer when you find out that you’re topic has already been written about – same source, same angle, same story! Don’t you agree? So before you even finalize on a topic to write about, check the web and see if it had already been written about before. If so, don’t stress yet! You can always find a fresh and more exciting angle, look for new sources, hence, a new and totally different story! This way, you have the power to create a story that’s even more captivating than the past issue, that your readers might even forget that the story had already come out before!
• Sometimes unusual means interesting. That’s right, sometimes what’s unorthodox may be what some people really want to learn more about. Sometimes it’s nice to be bold and daring when it comes to choosing a topic. And your readers will either hate it or love it. Make sure that no matter how unconventional you want your article to be, it has to be of benefit to others, in one way or another. Give it a good cause, and you’re sure to win the hearts of your readers.
• Attend forums. When you find yourself at a loss and just can’t think of the right topic to write about, why don’t you attend that forum you’re classmates have been talking about all week? You’ll learn new things and might even find that topic you’ve been looking for! You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.