Listicles are not only great staples for seasoned freelancers, but are also a good way for new writers to break into print. I have been writing these bite-sized, easily digestible articles for years. Listicles used to be called refrigerator articles, because folks would cut these short informational pieces out of the newspaper and hang them on the fridge for easy reference.

These can be written on any theme: humor, fun facts, pop culture, or “how-to” service pieces, and simply, they have two main parts: an introduction and the list. Look through your social media feed or the covers of magazines at the grocery store for examples of published listicles.

Here are three I saw today: Shape magazine: “16 Foods for Peak Energy,” Yoga magazine: “13 Ways to Break Out of a Rut,” and In Style magazine: “Four Rules for Matching Prints.” Once you start looking, you see them everywhere! Want to try your hand at writing a listicle?

Just follow the steps outlined below.

Brainstorm Ideas and Themes

The best articles are about your experiences, or a subject you found interest in. Have you figured out fun ways to get your kids to eat their veggies? Or do you have the lowdown on the best hiking trails for families in your locality? Grab a notebook, pick a theme, and see if you can scribble down five to ten ideas that could become bullet points for a list. Don’t worry if you don’t have many items; you can add more by doing what writers do best—research!

The Introduction

Your intro should explain to readers what your listicle is about and why this information will be useful. In other words, why should they read this list?

Make Your List

Next, each item should have a bullet point that states the item or idea in bold, followed by a comment, short explanation, or even hyperlink to a product, if applicable. Feel free to add humor or personal anecdotes for flavor. Conclusion Not all listicles require a conclusion, as they are supposed to be short, sweet, and to the point. I add a conclusion when I have more information or ideas to convey that didn’t fit the list format.

Length

The length of your finished article depends on both your theme and the publication. Most list articles are 700 words or less.

Edit

Once you’ve drafted your article, it’s time to edit. Take a deeper look while considering the following:

• Does the introduction clearly explain the what and why?
• Is your article written in a warm, inviting, conversational tone? •   Does your list include snappy, short explanations of each item?
• Did you include personal experience or anecdotes?
• For service articles, are your words inspirational with a “you can do it” vibe instead of a judgmental “you should do this” tone?
• Is the article easy to scan quickly and digest the basic ideas?
• Did you have a third party read it for understanding?
• Did you catch typos and grammar issues?

Sell It!

Once titled and polished, start querying publications. For parenting, home economics, thrift, and family life listicles, check your local newspaper, parenting publications, and women’s magazines. And don’t forget to pitch to a publication’s blog as well, always a good opportunity to gain access.

Not only are listicles fun to write, they can sharpen your writing skills and help you get that first— or one-hundredth—clip. Here are a few bigger markets to aim for:

Listverse: https://listverse.com/write-get-paid/

Cracked: https://www.cracked.com/write-for-cracked/

Mental Floss:  https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66292/freelance-help-wanted

Bio: Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is a writing instructor who loves writing listicles. She is also an award-winning freelance writer and her articles and essays have been featured in two Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, the Christian Science Monitor, Brain, Child, Grown and Flown, This Land Press, and over 80 regional parenting publications. www.TDGuerzon.com