Be careful about expressing an opinion when you're writing an article (unless it's an opinion piece!) Let your interviewees speak for themselves - the reader doesn't need to know what YOU think.

We've got the first big storm of the season in the UK, and some homes are without power. It's a timely warning to be prepared - don't leave sending your copy until the last minute in case the internet goes down/ you get a power cut etc. bbc.co.uk/news/live/cm87zg08…

First impressions count. A pitch that is addressed to the right person, is clearly written and accurate in terms of spelling, punctuation and grammar will be looked on more favourably than a messy one!

Why would someone want to read about this now? It's a question you need to ask yourself whenever you come up with an idea. It's much easier to sell a feature that feels up-to-date and topical than one that could have been written 2 years ago.

Always reply to commissioning editors' emails as soon as you can. If you've written a feature, they'll almost certain have some follow-up questions on your copy. If you can't answer them straight away, acknowledge the email and tell them when you can send them the extra info.

Be careful with acronyms when you're writing - only use them if you can be sure your readership will understand them. If you're not sure explain it by writing it out the first time, or don't use it!

Don't assume you can resell an article once it's been published. Most publications will demand "all rights" - which means they own it and can sell it themselves, put it online or reuse it in a different way. Check your agreement!

How was your weekend? Did you do any work, or do you fiercely protect your weekends? I don't usually work, but I tend to spend an hour on Sunday evenings to plan for the week. It means I'm much more effective on Monday mornings.

If you want to write about a personal experience, do bear in mind that you may have to include more detail than you may be comfortable with. Your first draft will be a starting point and editors will ask follow up questions. So think hard before proposing it.

Joining journalists' social media groups can help you feel part of a community. It's a good place to get advice too - many senior journalists are happy to help younger ones.

What's your approach to writing? Do you plan your feature all out before you begin, or just gather your quotes and info and then start writing?

Your headline, standfirst and first paragraph need to work together to draw the reader in. They should complement each other - so avoid repetition! A standfirst, also called the sell, is the short section after the headline that often contains the writer's byline.

If you're struggling with motivation this Friday, set yourself a series of small goals. For instance, you could write a pitch and research three potential publications to send it to, follow a new editor on Instagram, and look for some shout-outs on LinkedIn.

Be very careful about offering an interviewee copy approval. They may well want to go back and change what they said.

If you need quotes from an expert, talk to them yourself! As well as getting better, more natural quotes, you can ensure they are a real person, which is important in this AI world! cybernews.com/ai-news/fake-a…

When you're offered a commission, politely ask the payment terms. Is it payment on publication? If so, is it immediately on publication or xx days afterwards? Do you need a PO number? It's much easier to budget if you know when you will be paid.

Reading articles by journalists can really spark off similar ideas. So read broadly! In particular, look for ideas at certain times e.g. Christmas and summer. Could you offer something along the same lines for a different title next year?

Carrying on with this week's ideas theme, keep a note of ideas you haven't been able to sell, and go back to them a year or two later. Has something new happened that will make the story topical again, or has it moved on/ developed in some way?

You can get lots of ideas from what's happening in celebrities' lives. If there's story about a star marrying for the 5th time/ talking about their kids moving to uni/ having an unusual illness, it becomes topical. Find some people going through the same thing "in real life"

This week, we're going to be looking at coming up with ideas. They're everywhere! Look in your local area for new classes - could there be a new yoga trend for example? Look at the shops - are there any unusual new products?