Coming up with an idea for an article is the easy part. But turning that spark into an article that cuts through the noise? That's not so simple. Crafting content that resonates, engages and garners attention takes planning, confidence and promotion.
Stephen King, the horror fanatic and bestselling author, shares his writing wisdom in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft — a book that's part memoir, part writing guide. While King's insights fuel aspiring authors, they also hold secrets for PR pros and publicists looking to amplify their articles and drive engagement.
Be Prolific, In a Good Way
Stephen King's prolific output is well-regarded — and publicists can take a page from his book. By aiming for consistent, quality articles, you can build momentum and visibility. Think of it as King's daily writing habit: set a rhythm for churning out valuable content, and stick to it.
Whether it's weekly blog posts or monthly thought leadership pieces, consistency is key to getting noticed. The goal isn't to flood the zone with mediocre content, but to show up regularly with insights that matter. Plan a content calendar, batch your writing, and — like King — just keep putting work out there. That's how you build an audience.
"Kill Your Darlings": Tighten Up Your Writing
King's brutal editing mantra — "kill your darlings" — applies just as much to PR articles as it does to novels. Got a sentence that sounds clever but doesn't add value? Kill it. A paragraph that's unnecessary fluff? Cut it.
King says to, "murder your darlings" to strengthen your writing, and publicists can do the same. Tight, focused writing grabs attention — and gets read. Review your articles: what's essential? Cut the rest. Your readers (and editors) will thank you.
A killer title + solid structure = article success. King hooks readers with titles like Full Dark, No Stars, and Pet Cemetary — publicists can do the same. Garnering interest is vital. Craft a title that grabs, leads with a strong angle and structure the article to flow. King's storytelling mastery applies: start strong, build interest, deliver payoff. Nail the title and structure, and your article's halfway home.
King-Size Promotion: Own Your Space
King doesn't apologize for his work — and you shouldn't either. Own the value of your articles. When you're confident in your story, it shows. That confidence translates to better traction, more engagement and ultimately, more results. So stand behind your work like King stands behind his books, and people will take notice.
King doesn't just write books — he promotes them like crazy. PR pros can take a cue: once your article's live, share it. Leverage social media, email newsletters and every network at your disposal. Don't be shy — share snippets, engage with readers and make some noise. The more visibility, the bigger the impact, and the stronger your PR footprint becomes.
At the end of the day, promoting your article is like Stephen King pushing his latest bestseller — it takes confidence, strategy and a whole lot of noise. Own your work, get it out there and watch your PR efforts translate into real results.
Did you enjoy this article? Let us know in the comments section below.
*Image courtesy of Canva