13 Principles of Effective Writing
- Identify the audience: effective writers identify their audience and address their interests and know (know who you are talking to)
- Know your goal: effective writers have a specific purpose and use it to shape their work
- Guide the reader through the text
- Pick the best format for you: effective writer picks the best format in which to write their essay
- Present yourself well: through writing you are presenting yourself so make sure you look your best
- Plan: effective writers know it takes time to write a good essay (good things take time)
- Revise, Revise, Revise: good writing emerges over multiple drafts
- Different disciplines use different conventions: not every profession utilizes the same writing style (auditors do not write like nurses)
- Communicate clearly: effective writers use simple language to make complex ideas more understandable
- Clean up after yourself: effective writer proofread
- Seek feedback: effective writers ask for advice (four eyes are better than two)
- Writing is a craft: effective writing takes practice
- Dare to speak up: good writing takes courage