Let's say you're writing an article on antique clocks, although the topic could just as easily be bird watching, moon exploration or accountancy. You spend an hour researching the subject, write 1,000 words, send your article off and accept payment. Sounds good, especially if you get paid a comfortable amount for the article.
But the research you did can be put to work and all sorts of articles could come out of it. Let's make a quick list of the first five ideas that spring to mind.
1. Famous Clock Manufacturers
2. Alarm Clocks – Where Did They Come From?
3. What To Look For When Buying A Clock
4. Collecting Antique Clocks
5. Finding A Reputable Antique Clock Dealer
The list could, of course, continue but the point I'm trying to make is that no matter what the topic of your original article was, there are more articles to be worked from the research. Sure, you may have to do some added research, but compared with what you'd need to do if you started on a completely new subject, it'll probably be negligible.
Even the original article can be re-worked to suit a different market. I've absolutely no doubt that the way you'd word your article aimed at the women's weeklies would be very different to the way the same article would be written if your chosen market was a trade magazine. It's just a matter of getting the most out of the words you have, making each and every one of them as valuable as possible.
Just as writers are told to make every word work hard for its living, subjects should also flex their muscles. Look at your topic from every angle and tease as many articles as possible out of every one of them. There are plenty in there if you just know where to look.
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