Writing a history listicle (an article written as a list) is not difficult. All you need to do is chose a definitive niche and keep your research focused.
In this article, I am going to share with you the method I use for writing history listicles that I have published on StrangeAgo, Listverse, and TopTenz.
Choose a Topic and Narrow It Down
The first step in writing a history article as a list is to choose a part of history that is interesting and then narrow it down.
For example, let’s say that you want to write about ancient Egypt. Writing a listicle about 10 Surprising Facts About Ancient Egypt would put you in direct competition with at least the hundred other articles with a similar title. The subject has been done numerous times.
Instead, you want to pluck out one interesting facet from ancient Egypt and turn it into a list. An example of this would be animal gods of ancient Egypt or facts about married life in ancient Egypt.
Research and Write Subheadings at the Same Time
Unless you know absolutely all there is to know about the subject you are writing, you will probably find yourself writing your subheadings as you do your research.
When I wrote 10 Heartbreaking Facts About the Collinwood School Fire, I had no idea what my subheadings were going to be.
I had to pull up multiple articles from the newspaper archives about the event, read through them, and create subheadings covering ten main facts.
Take Notes
As you create your subheadings, you will also be jotting down notes/facts for each subheading.
At this point, do not worry about writing complete sentences.
Begin Writing Body of Listicle
With your subheadings picked out and your notes in front of you, you can begin writing your listicle. If you took in-depth notes, this will probably be the easiest part of the writing process.
Write Intro
Write your introduction last.
After you have written the body of your listicle, you should now know how to introduce your article to your audience.
Proofread
Finally, proofread.
Listicles remain popular online because they are generally quick and easy to read, giving readers all the information they want without having to dig too deep into a subject.
