How I Write 420-720 Word Article

And why it’s the better content length for new writers

This article was inspired by Gayatri singh’s viral article.

Image Created by Microsoft AI Image Generator (Copilot)

She likes to keep her article around 400- 600 Words for best performance.

I have to agree that the ideal length is right around 600 words, or feels like a 3-minute read.

I should try it someday, as I would only edit my article once and would look at the word count whenever I stop at a major break in the article.

For Medium purposes, I try to maximize the word count, but if you are starting out, it is not necessary. (for Substack I haven’t been testing the length and minute count, but I’m assuming it’s about the same)

These are the most common formats I use

One main image with:

• 470s words is about 2 minutes

• 720s words is about 3 minutes

Two images with:

• 420s words is about 2 minutes

Each image takes up about 50 words (the length of the image does matter)

The overall word count does have a direct impact on how the reader engages. And formatting matters more when you try to write an article like this.

That’s the why part, and here’s how I would normally write it.

2 things to keep in mind.

---

1 — The opening that said it all

I call it the first 4 lines or section that gives the reader an idea of what this article is about.

Screenshot of the 4 parts that I normally use.

These not only help me give a visual effect, but also help me have an idea of what I am writing about. If these 4 parts do not attract me, I would normally reject the article and not going to write further.

I can do it with 1 paragraph as a summary, but it could turn them off, as no one really wants to read the recap at the beginning. And very often, you do not see any final words or conclusion in my article.

The opening story.

Next is the first couple of small paragraphs of further explain why a reader should keep reading. As Gayatri and many others suggested, opening with a short story here is almost the best choice unless there are other facts that are more compelling.

Your own story on the topic or a related story fits well in this scenario. Since we are talking about how to write an article, it is best to give our own experience as an example.

2 — The impact of formatting and a good reminder

It reminds me to edit whenever I see something I want to make more readable. When I write a longer paragraph, many times, most of the words can be removed.

With articles that are under 3 minutes, there aren’t going to be any 3 or 5 major steps or tips, as it would be too short to include.

Most of the time, an article with fewer than 470 words has only room for a couple of bullet points and a quick tip as a reminder.

However, when writing, it is not the best idea to focus on word count during your writing session.

I only do it towards the end or when I’m about done writing. You will find your ideal length, as it shows up quite often after you have been writing for a while.

---

Final words are great, but I always forgot to use them

Maybe I already said too much, so I don’t want to repeat it once more.

Usually, some inspirational lines start to pop up after writing so many words.

When you read up to hear, you should feel relief or motivated to craft your next article with these concepts in mind.

I personally suggest starting with 2-minute articles (about 400–470 words) for a new writer, as these do get more traction.

If it doesn’t work the first couple of tries, don’t give up, take in feedback, and adjust over time.

You’ll find one that works well for you.

Thanks for Reading

Gumroad | Substack

This story was originally published on [Medium] and is cross-posted here for a wider audience.

Supporting me can change your life because you are changing mine.

Feel free to support me with a like.

All paid subscribers will enjoy the same access to all my paid content from every publication on Substack.

Your support is always appreciated.