Writing That Connects

The essence of good writing is connecting well with readers. Communication is everything to writers because without it they have no power. If you want to connect in meaningful ways with your readers, there are some questions to consider prior to completing a writing project. First, ask yourself what the point of your research or thinking on your subject is. In other words, what is the main message you want to convey? Second, ask yourself what you want your writing to accomplish. In other words, do you want to enlighten readers, entertain them, or perhaps persuade them to adopt a particular point of view on your subject? Your answer to this question will drive everything, dictating your language and style. Third, ask yourself if you can add anything new to the thinking that has already been published about your subject. Will you just be rehashing old knowledge or surprising readers with a fresh, new perspective? Hopefully, it will be the latter. Fourth, if you have presented an issue or a problem for readers to ponder, ask yourself if you also have a solution to offer or if you are just creating awareness in readers. These kinds of questions will help you focus your writing to a particular audience for a particular purpose, and in doing so, will help you write in a way that connects well with readers. Taking the time to understand what you're doing before doing it can make the difference between acceptable writing and exceptional writing.