Just the Facts

All writing, even the most fanciful, employs at least some use of factual information.  The extent to which factual research infiltrates writing can either weaken or strengthen it.  It's important to know how to effectively use research to enhance your writing, not detract from it.  There are several ways to manage factual information to accomplish this:

• Make your research non-intrusive.  Factual information needs to be woven into the fabric of your writing so that it's noted by readers but not noticed to the point of distraction.  It should be presented subtly so that it appears as a natural progression of thought rather than something that is inserted intrusively into your writing.  Otherwise, it's just a list of facts and figures that does nothing to move your story or your thesis along.  Ask yourself if the factual information you've included helps make sense of your story or ideas and adds clarity for readers.  If it doesn't, it's an intrusion.

• Use facts to inspire, not dominate.  Factual information should not bore nor lecture readers.  It should inspire them through information and insight.  Burdening readers with a plethora of factual information that they have to wade through and decipher is not an effective way to communicate.  Keep your facts short, relevant and interesting.  Make your research an inspiration and enlightenment that enhances your writing rather than a boring, preachy presentation of facts and figures that drags your writing down.  Ask yourself if the factual information you've included lifts the tempo of your writing and inspires readers.  If it doesn't, it's dominating your writing.

• Use facts to emphasize, not bury your message.  Sometimes writers get so excited about presenting the exhaustive research they've done that they forget about their message.  Yes, you've gone to a lot of work to develop your research; and yes, it's necessary to understand your story or thesis.  But be clear that it's important for you as the writer to understand all of your research, not the reader.  Your job as a writer is to condense, interpret and apply your research so that readers understand it.  It's not the reader's job to wade through your vast research and figure out what it means.  Presenting research to the reader in this way buries your message.  Readers don't need to know everything you know, but they do need to know what your message is.  So use your research to bring that message out in the clearest, most interesting way possible.  Ask yourself if the factual information you've included highlights your message.  If it doesn't, it's burying it.

• Use realistic, credible detail.  You will gather more information in your research than you can use in your writing.  So select what you will use carefully.  Make sure that the details you weave into your writing are realistic.  If not, your story or essay won't be believable and readers will dismiss your message.  Likewise, make sure your facts are credible.  Check your sources.  Use only the best information.  Readers will notice this and your credibility as a writer will increase.  You must be believable and credible to have any impact on readers, so ask yourself if the detail you've included is both.  If it isn't, your message is lost. 

Factual information is a fact of writing.  Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, good writing requires good research to get your message across effectively.  Weaving your research into the fabric of your writing, using facts to inspire readers and emphasize your message, and providing only the best detail that is both realistic and credible will make your writing sing and make readers sing your praises.  So it's much more than "just the facts."  It's making facts work for you and your readers.