Writing an Article
Articles are the parts of the Neopian Times which resemble real-life newspaper features and news. While some of them cover events, plots or factoids on Neopets, many more also reflect writers' opinions and perspectives, and still others are guides. A good number of articles are fundamentally fiction, told from the point of view of an original or existing site character. They are at least 1,000 words in length.
An article can be serious or comedic, or a mix of both. It can serve to inform, entertain, or convey an opinion (or a hot take). There are countless kinds of articles in the Neopian Times but the most common types will be discussed here.
This isn't even all of them!
Guides
Experience in a game or a certain feature of the site (e.g. customisation or guild maintenance) can easily translate into an article that can provide helpful advice on the subject. Keep it short and simple so anyone can understand it; any terms, slang or acronyms not frequently used across the site will require some explanation or definition. A guide may be humorous or serious, or even written completely for laughs like a satire or a how-not-to article.
With how long Neopets has been around, however, many games and features around the site already have guides published in the Neopian Times. But that shouldn't be a problem. Read up on other articles to look for points for elaboration or items that were not covered, or approach the topic in a different way. Or, write the guide anyway because it's useful and important to encounter other points of view on the same topic and stay abreast of any changes made on it over the years.
Speaking of other articles, if you want to mention or cite someone's article, you may do so with permission from the author, or mention them in your author's notes.
Interviews
Feeling creative but not up to a story or a comic? Write an interview with an existing character. Neopia has an extensive cast of characters, and not all of them are as well-known as, say, Queen Fyora or Jeran. Try to use characters who don't get as much love and think of how they live, what they like to do, and why readers should find out more about them. If you'd rather interview a more commonly featured character, find an interesting angle or theme to make the article stand out from others that have been done before.
If I had a destructive ray gun for every interview I give you puny Neopians...
Make sure to research first on a character's background especially when they are featured in a significant amount of material and make their personality consistent all throughout the article. But feel free to get creative when there's little to no information about them, and do not be limited to the question and answer format of an interview. This is Neopia; anything can happen in the middle of an interview.
News articles
There's always something going on in Neopia. New plots begin, new species of Neopets and petpets pop out of nowhere, and all sorts of site features are introduced, revamped and deleted every now and then. And many times, New Features just does not cut it when it comes to the finer details.
While it goes without saying that extensive research may be required depending on the coverage of the article, consider which details are better left out of the article to create a more engaging and less tedious read. With the Neopian Times allowing the use of images, graphs and tables may be used where needed - or where they can condense large amounts of data.
Now, where did I bookmark that Neopedia article I need...
Take full advantage of the fact that news articles in the Neopian Times are not as strictly edited or monitored compared to real-life news outlets. Don a reporter persona, create the setting where the news story takes place, or write a satire or parody article.
List articles
Not even the Neopian Times is safe from list articles: the top 10, best 10, worst 10, coolest items, most useless junk, etc. They may be written for laughs, or for more serious purposes. They may be backed by gathered data, or completely made up. Considering that there is a minimum word count for articles, consider expounding or elaborating on these rankings. Readers will definitely want to know the reasons behind these lists.
List articles are also fairly common, so do not be afraid to explore different angles or bases for the lists.
What about "List of Reasons Why Imperial Exam is the Best Game of All Time"?
Opinion Articles
Channel particularly strong or fervent feelings about features or things on Neopets through an opinion article. Write about hot takes, controversial or not so controversial points of view, take a side in an overarching Neopian debate, or simply extol the virtues of cheese rolling. Present your chosen topic clearly, and go to town - within reason, as always. Those intense feelings must stay within the bounds of the rules.
Or, present the most ridiculous take on your subject if writing only for laughs.
Final Words and Last-Minute Tips
No matter what kind of Neopian Times article you're hoping to write, remember the general guidelines of any and every submission, such as proper spelling and grammar, and sticking to the submission rules. And most of all, be creative! Have fun, and watch in awe as you get to hone your writing skills as a bonus!
This page was written by Kat and last updated on April 28, 2025.
