When you can't read..

Outline it.

Break the article into more chucks.

Read it aloud.

Errr. Proofread:

Break the article into more chunks.

I find it helps to start by writing the goal first. What do you want to accomplish with the article? Keep this in front of you and use it as your "golden thread," that is woven throughout the article. I have a tendency to ramble and this forces me to stay on topic.

Then I list five or six bullet points that are my strategies/tips and they all relate to that single goal/main topic. After that, I go back and fill in the points.

Then (very important), read over the rough draft and cut out anything that is in the slightest way off-topic.

When looking at flow, it can help to read the draft aloud. You'll really notice the places where you stumble. Remove adjectives where you can...most of them just weaken your piece. Use active verbs. And cut, cut, cut.

I recently wrote a blog post on copywriting that you might find helpful: A Copywriter's Rant: Marketing with Cheesy Clichés and Lazy Words.

Progress is good!

Actually, you referred to one of my most favorite writing quotes.

Mark Twain is said to have told a friend,

"I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time."

It is so true.

Sometimes when your article is too long, it can be that your topic is too huge. I've done that a few times. If you have a topic like time management, that's way too big. If you narrow the focus to 6 Tips for Managing the Time You Spend Reading E-mails, that's a little easier to get a handle on.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your article!