Does Knowing Your Audience Result in Better Writing?

It’s an old adage for writers: know your audience. But what does that mean? How well must we know the audience? And does knowing the audience really lead to better writing?

Some writers insist that the best way to write is to just write for yourself. Sit down and let the words flow. It’s true that sometimes a freewheeling approach will result in some of your best work. And writing that way is immensely enjoyable. But there are times when a writer must take readers into consideration.

In business, academic, and other types of formal writing, the audience is a consideration from the very beginning. You wouldn’t write a business letter peppered with internet shorthand (LOLs and OMGs), and you shouldn’t use casual language in an academic paper. In instances like these, it’s easy to see why you must keep your reader in mind throughout the entire project, but what about poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction writing? Should the work be influenced by its intended readers? At what point does the audience begin to matter? And who is the audience, anyway?

Goals Matter

Some writers know they want to write children’s books, so they keep a young audience in mind. After all, it wouldn’t do to write a children’s book laden with adult language or love scenes. Other writers want to publish a memoir, hoping their own personal story will inspire others. And if you’re hoping to inspire people, you should have a good idea about which people you want to inspire — whether they’re spiritual, impoverished, or creative.

These types of writers have specific goals, and their writing must be aligned with those goals.

That’s why in some cases, it’s essential to know who your audience is before you begin writing. But there are other cases when the goals aren’t so clear, and therefore, neither is the audience. In cases like these, does a writer ever need to think about readers?

Goals Aren’t Always Necessary (and Neither is an Audience)

When you write for the sheer joy of writing or love of craft and you do so without any particular goal in mind, the creative magic can sweep you away. When I wrote my novel for NaNoWriMo in 2008, I started with nothing more than a few characters. My only goal was to write at least 50,000 words. I didn’t give a thought to the audience. And I’m certain that approaching the project this way, with an open mind and without any particular goal in terms of content, is what enabled me to actually complete the first draft of my first novel. It felt like quite an achievement.

When I finished my novel, I knew instantly who the audience was. I had written a young adult novel! If I ever decide to revise and polish that (very rough) first draft in hopes of getting it published, knowing that the book is geared toward young adults will be helpful and will inform the way I approach editing and proofreading. I’ll pay attention to the language to make sure it’s age-appropriate and I’ll also make sure the characters, themes, and everything else are suitable for the target age group.

Knowing the audience will also drive which agents and publishers I reach out to because agents and publishers often specialize in specific types of writing. They cater to clearly defined audiences. Therefore, as a writer, it helps to know who the audience will be when polishing and when looking for publication opportunities.

Benefits of Knowing Your Audience (and When It’s Absolutely Necessary)

If you write in a journal and nobody ever sees your work, then you don’t need to think about an audience. Readers come into play when you decide to share your work, to get it published. There’s a point when you decide that you want to cross over from writer to published writer, and it’s at that point that the audience starts to matter in a big way.

Agents and publishers can’t do much with your work if the audience is unclear. This is particularly relevant with fiction and nonfiction. There are dozens of poetry markets, so chances are, you can find your audience after the writing is done and polished. But other genres will need to be marketed to the right readers. This is also a factor in blogging and self-publishing.

Publication is the point where your art shifts into business mode. It’s the stage when you say, “I want to do this for a living and make money doing it.” That means you’re going to have to sell and anytime you’re selling anything, you need to know to whom you’re selling.

Better Writing and Readers

So, the answer isn’t all that clear. There are some writers who need to know their audience from a project’s conception. Others don’t need to consider an audience until they decide to try getting published. Poets can probably get away with not thinking about the audience until they start looking for publications where they can submit their work. But one thing’s certain: once you set your sights on publication, that means you’re looking for readers. And since readers are your audience, you’ll have to give them some consideration.

Do you think about your readers while you’re writing? Are you concerned about getting published? Do you believe that knowing your audience results in better writing?

Better Writing with Critiques and Feedback

Creative writing is not an easy pursuit. Like most skills that are worth mastering, it takes hard work, dedication, and attention to all the details of the craft.

Talent doesn’t hurt either.

The most committed writers constantly strive to produce better writing. Today’s poem has to be better than yesterday’s. Tomorrow’s short story must surpass today’s.

Writing daily is one way to improve your work. Proofreading is another surefire path to betterment. You should also collect writing resources and read regularly.

Another great way to grow as a writer is to get feedback from readers and from other writers. It’s one of the most difficult but valuable ways to achieve better writing.

The Lone Writer

Writing is often regarded as a solo activity. But most of us write for an audience. Once a piece of writing reaches its readers, it’s no longer a solo endeavor. It becomes interactive. It also becomes a prime target for scrutiny. That’s right, all the critics (and a whole bunch of people with big, huge opinions) will pull out their condemnation rifles and play target practice with your work.

Sure, you can wear a bulletproof vest, develop a thick skin, and let it all roll off your shoulder. However, that’s not going to do anything for book sales, blog subscriptions, or article submissions.

Do you think the Mars company just woke up one day and decided to add a bunch of new colors to the M&Ms bag? Nope. They did tests. They checked with a small pool of consumers to see how the new colors would be received and to make sure they tasted alright.

If all you do is write in your journal, this might not apply to you. You can eat your own candy and refuse to share it with the world. But if you want readers, real flesh and blood readers, to embrace your work, then you should get on with the taste tests. Immediately.

Don’t Hoard the Candy

First, you have to start showing your writing to other human beings. These human beings should not be your mother (yes, I know there are exceptions to the mother rule). Ideally, these people will be other writers and experienced readers. Don’t know any? Sign up for a creative writing class or join a writing group. Find a professional editor who offers critiques.

If you’re serious about your work, you’ll want to get opinions from people who understand the fine nuances of good writing before you wrap it up and send it off to publishers or agents.

A screenwriter once contacted me because he wanted his screenplay proofread. After going through the entire quoting process, he finally said something like, “Thanks, your prices are reasonable, but I’m just not comfortable letting anyone read this screenplay. I think it could be a blockbuster and I don’t want anyone to steal it.” I issued a polite and professional response, but what I was really thinking was, “Well if nobody sees the screenplay, then your screenplay will never see the big screen.”

Like I said, don’t hoard the candy, and if you’re paranoid about infringement and theft, register your work with the copyright office and get on with your writing life.

These Look Just Like Those Candies from the Movie E.T.

M&Ms look a lot like Reese’s Pieces but the similarities stop there. Likewise, a critique is different from proofreading. The purpose of proofreading is to fix mechanical errors with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. A critique should address strengths and weaknesses in a piece of writing.

Are the characters believable? Is the style consistent? Does the language compel? Is it clear and easy to understand? Does it flow smoothly? Are there holes in the plot? These are the questions that a comprehensive critique asks and answers. Sure, you can ask someone who’s giving a critique to keep an eye out for grammar mistakes, but don’t serve up a piece of writing that’s only half-baked.

Cookie Dough is Good but it’s Not Good for You

Raw cookie dough is pretty tasty. I know it puts a smile on my face. But it’s not wise to go around shoving raw material under everyone’s nose when you’re asking for a solid critique that will help you achieve better writing. Work hard on your piece and get it as polished as possible before you start asking people to take a bite.

When you’re asking someone to provide you with feedback, they’ll only be distracted if the piece is full of errors and grammatical mistakes. Remember that you’re asking them to take time out of their busy lives to do you a favor, so don’t waste that time by giving them work that is in the early draft stages. This conveys that either you want them to do the work for you or that you’re too lazy to clean up your piece before asking for feedback. Or, they’ll just assume you’re a crappy writer.

Also, the more errors there are in your piece, the more challenging it becomes to address bigger issues. If a reviewer is caught up on mistakes that you could have fixed yourself, he or she will be more likely to miss other, less noticeable mistakes and problems with your work.

So check and recheck your work, and put the cherry on top before you serve it to anyone (yes, even the taste testers).

Watch out for Do-gooders

Keep in mind that some people will only tell you what you want to hear. “Mmm, this is delicious,” is flattering but it’s not the feedback you’re looking for. Especially when they’re spitting out mouthfuls of the stuff behind your back. Look for people who can offer honest and straightforward critiques, people who are willing to tell you what works and what doesn’t.

This is why it’s generally not a good idea to ask your mother (and other loved ones) to be your critic. Mom probably thinks you’re the greatest (I know, I know, not all moms, but work with me here) so it’s unlikely she’ll tell you that your writing is broken. In fact, people like your mom may not even be able to see the flaws in your writing  – they are blinded by love. So, find someone who can be objective (and yes, for a few writers out there, that will be Mom).

Give a Lick

Always be gracious. I’ve been asked to proofread, edit, and offer critiques to countless individuals in my life: family, friends, co-workers, and mere acquaintances. If I give someone honest feedback and they try to argue with me or throw it back in my face because they can’t handle it, I will never, ever give them the courtesy of a critique again.

Do not critique the critic, people. Take their advice and move on. If you asked for a critique, then it’s your job to suck it up and deal with it.

Instead of lashing out at your critic…

Relax, Digest, then Make Better Writing

A lot of people have a knee-jerk reaction when they receive a critique. You’ve worked hard on a piece, editing and rewriting until you felt it was shiny, sparkling, and ready for the market. Then, someone comes along and says “This needs some work.” You’ve already done the work. You were hoping for a rave review, but now this person is telling you that you’ve missed the mark. And this makes you feel like the mark (which you are of course).

After receiving a critique, give yourself time to absorb the feedback. Sometimes you just need to let it soak in overnight. Other times, it might take a few days before you’re cooled off and ready to revisit the project with a fresh perspective. Then, sit down and sift through the critique. Decide what advice you want to take and what you want to toss (that is your right as a writer). Edit, revise, repeat. Keep at it. If writing is truly your passion, let it become a lifelong pursuit and enjoy the journey of evolving as a writer. Just take your time and don’t give up.

Don’t Ever, Ever Give Up

If writing is your passion, then never give up on it. Write, polish, and ask for feedback. Read a lot. Proofread everything. Build a library of writing resources and collect writing tips. Write some more. Read again. Come up with a few new creative writing ideas. Write again. Keep going round and round.

And always strive to be the best writer you can possibly be.

Do you have any tips to share for better writing? Do you work with a writing group or have a reliable person who can give you offer constructive criticism? Has feedback helped you improve your writing? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June, 2008 but has been updated with new insight and updated information for your reading pleasure and writing benefit.

Better Writing Through Revision

Some writers love the revision process; others think it’s a drag. Regardless of how you feel about revising your work, one thing is certain: if you want to produce better writing (and become a better writer), then revision is absolutely essential.

Revise What?

We use the terms “first draft” or “rough draft” when we are composing a piece of writing because almost every single project is going to have to go through a revision (or two, or three, four, or more). But what does that mean? How is it done? And what are the benefits?

We’ve already discussed the difference between proofreading and editing. Where does revision fit into all of that?

To revise means to change or alter. In the world of writing, to revise means “to alter something already written or printed, in order to make corrections, improve, or update: to revise a manuscript.” (dictionary.com).

Generally speaking, revision involves making substantial changes to make the writing better. In fiction, this could involve changing characters’ names, realigning the plot, or re-sequencing the scenes. In other types of writing, revision might involve major structural changes (moving chapters around) or a content overhaul (adding, removing, or changing information). Sometimes, revision means rewriting a project entirely.

Editing and proofreading are part of the revision process. They are the polishing steps that you take to give your writing that extra shine.

Revision Matters

When I first started writing poetry, I believed that each poem was sacred in its original state. It seemed blasphemous to change a poem once I’d captured it and scrawled it into my notebook. Then, one day I was flipping through my poems and it became clear to me that they could be a lot better if I made a few minor changes.

I’m not sure why, but it felt all wrong at the time. I remember keeping the originals as well as every revision that I made. It seems ridiculous now to shy away from improving something that I created. Luckily, my desire to produce better writing was stronger than my silly, emotional attachment to my rough drafts.

I found that as I rewrote my poems, I noticed lots of little things that I could change to improve them. I tightened the rhyme scheme, sharpened the images, and chose more colorful language. I wasn’t always happy with the end result, but I did consistently improve each and every poem. And I learned something else — my first drafts were getting better too.

Better Writing

As you revise, you catch all the things in your writing that don’t work. We all have bad habits, and as you go through multiple revisions, you’ll start to notice negative patterns in your own writing. Maybe you have a tendency to leave words out. Perhaps you use too many words (or too few). Maybe you repeat words too often or use obscure language that readers won’t comprehend. You could have grammar weaknesses, holes in your syntax, gaps in continuity, and a host of other problems that occur in writing.

Over time, revision teaches you what your weaknesses are. Early on, I realized that I had a problem with word repetition. I would notice a word used several times in a single poem. It didn’t sound right, so I fixed it. Then I saw the same problem in another poem, then another, and another. Eventually, I started catching myself not during the revision process, but during the initial writing.

And I realized that revising what I’d already written improved what I had yet to write.

Change is Good

We all want to achieve better writing, and there are many ways to do that. You can read books (and blogs) on writing (or just read — anything). You can study grammar, collect writing tips, and write every single day. All of these things (and many more) will make your writing better and will make you a better writer. But revision is where you truly polish your writing into something dazzling.

So keep on writing, and don’t forget to revise, revise, revise!

12 Better Writing Habits

Great writing requires an extensive skill set. You have to understand language, syntax, and context. A firm grasp on grammar is essential. The content you write must be organized so it reads smoothly. A vast vocabulary, a talent for puns, and a knack for storytelling are all skills that will benefit any writer.

Sure, some people are born with a talent for word craft. But nobody’s born knowing how to write. We all have to work at building and growing our writing skills, and this is especially true for anyone who wants to have a career in writing.

Better writing is not something that happens overnight. It’s a long-term commitment but the payoff is great. If you make a choice every day to improve your writing, then your work will get stronger, become more compelling, and you’ll drastically increase your chances of getting published.

How to Build Better Writing Skills

This list could keep you busy for years. There’s an endless supply of tools and resources to help writers build skills. Below, you’ll find the core activities that lead to consistently better writing over the long term.

1. Read. Listening to audio books and surfing around the Internet do not count as reading. Curl up with a well written novel, brush up on your nonfiction reading, flip through some poetry collections. Reading is the single best way to naturally acquire writing skills.
2. Write every day. My music teacher says that it’s better to practice for fifteen minutes every day than to practice for two hours three times a week. I think the same is true for writing. Even if you can only dedicate a few minutes to writing every day, it will become an ingrained habit. Writing will become an integral part of your life.
3. Proofread, edit, and revise. It’s blatantly obvious when a piece of writing has not been properly proofread. Typos, grammatical errors, and other crimes against language will assault anyone who attempts to read your work. So fix it.
4. Know your strengths and accept your weaknesses. You will come to learn that some aspects of writing come easily to you (maybe you’re great at dialogue) but other aspects are a challenge (your plots are full of holes). Once you accept your weaknesses, you can work on eliminating them through practice and study.
5. Brush up on grammar. It’s rare for a piece of writing to be so amazing that readers are willing to ignore bad grammar. Many writers are lazy in this area because learning grammar is a lot of work and it’s academic work rather than creative work. The good news is that once you learn the rules, they will be with you forever.
6. Get to know the style guides. Style is all about consistency with writing issues that aren’t addressed by grammar rules. Make sure you know which style guides are pertinent to your chosen field of writing and make sure you include them in your own collection of writing resources.
7. Experiment with different forms. Every fiction writer can learn a thing or two from reading and writing a little poetry and vice versa. Nobody’s asking you to start rooting for a different team; just dip your toes in different waters so you know you’re swimming in the right body of water.
8. Share your work and invite feedback. One of the quickest ways to improve your writing is through feedback. Get a real, live, well-read person to review your work. Embrace the feedback, even if it hurts, and then put it to work for you by ironing out all the wrinkles that your friendly reader found.
9. Offer to give feedback on others’ work. When you edit or critique another writer’s work, you’ll see a piece of writing from the editor’s angle as well as the reader’s. This will give you a better perspective on your own work.
10. Conduct thoughtful research. If you work in the nonfiction arena, then make sure you’ve got your facts straight. Even in fiction, there has to be some alignment with reality for a story to be believable. Resources are abundant. Use them (and be sure to check their credentials).
11. Cultivate creativity. Have fun with your writing. Fill it will color or scale it back to a minimalist style. Try new words and off-the-wall images. Creative writing keeps readers interested!
12. Make a conscious commitment to strive for better writing every day.

Better Writing Isn’t For Everyone

Improving your writing is hard work. If you love to write, then the work will be fun at times. Other times, you’re just going to have to grin and bear it, knowing full well that the ends make the means completely worthwhile. Some people love to write every day. For others, it’s a drag and they’d really prefer to just write when the mood strikes.

What separates a hobby from a lifestyle or a career is that we take it seriously and we have made a serious commitment to follow our passion, even if there’s a lot of hard work involved.

Some people are perfectly content with being mediocre, and that’s fine too. But if you want to shine, to be the best writer you can possibly be, then make that commitment and keep on writing.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? What have you done to improve your own writing? Do you strive to produce better writing? Share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences by leaving a comment.

Good Grammar Equals Better Writing

Have you ever read a piece of professionally published writing and found a grammatical mistake? I’ve seen it in novels, magazine articles, even in textbooks, and (especially) on blogs.

Now, a lot of these errors are typos. It’s not that the writers or editors didn’t know their way around the English language — they just let one (or two) mistakes slip past.

I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but when mistakes appear to be more than mere typos and instead seem to be a deficiency in good grammar, then I find myself questioning the quality of the work.

There are many things that lead to better writing, and there are a few things that raise the red flag to signal poor writing. Bad grammar is one of those things.

Good Grammar and Professionalism

We’ve all heard about how diligently a resume should be proofread. This is basic advice you get in any book, article, or course that teaches you how to land a job. It makes sense, too. If the hiring manager finds mistakes in your application, that reflects poorly on you as a potential employee. It could indicate laziness, poor attention to detail, weak written communication skills, and a generally irresponsible attitude. After all, if you really wanted the job, you would have found a way to ensure your resume (and cover letter) were absolutely spotless.

I remember receiving this advice in high school. Years later, when I was a hiring manager at a video store, I put it into practice. My thinking was that if a college student couldn’t spell “Work Experience” or “Education,” then that student might not be a good worker. Grammar certainly isn’t a rod by which we should measure intelligence or ability to perform basic job duties, but I was doing the hiring, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. Why not hire someone whose application reflects positive qualities and solid skills?

In other words, I can tell you from personal experience that good grammar matters and it can affect your career. Not that working at a video store is your life’s dream or anything. But we’re all writers here. So think about this: if I didn’t hire applicants to work at a video store due to poor grammar, then how do you think literary agents and editors respond to faulty grammar?

That’s right, they reject it and move on in search of better writing.

Better Writing

Of course there are exceptions. Some people are born poets or born storytellers and their ideas are so mesmerizing that nobody cares about a few grammar infractions. But most of us need all the help we can get to get our work noticed and (hopefully) published, and that means strong, comprehensive writing.

Learning the rules of grammar might be a drag (I happen to find grammar fun and interesting), but it’s a worthwhile pursuit if you want to get your work published and find a reading audience for your writing. Take a little time each week to study grammar and in no time, you’ll be writing better.

The best part is that once you master good grammar, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. It becomes a natural part of your writing process. Proofreading and editing become less of a chore, and your writing process will feel less stressful.

Acquiring Better Grammar Skills

To improve your grammar, you have to know where to look so you can get answers to all your nagging grammar questions. Sometimes you’ll find answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. Here are a few resources I recommend for learning grammar:

• Subscribe to Grammar Girl’s podcast and listen to a few quick and dirty grammar tips each week.
• Read the grammar section here at Writing Forward (all articles are carefully researched).
• Pick up a grammar handbook and a style guide so your work is correct and consistent.

But don’t get too uptight about the rules of grammar. Remember this: rules are made to be broken, and some old grammar rules just don’t fit modern language. As you study and expand your grammar skills, you’ll develop a knack for knowing when bending the rules is sensible and when it makes you look senseless.

Do you think good grammar leads to better writing? Do you have any grammar resources to add to this list? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

How More Reading Leads to Better Writing

If you want to develop better writing habits, you’ll have to do more than just write.

There are lots of things you can do to improve your writing. You can join a writing community, work on your grammar skills, and you can collect writing resources and useful writing tips and ideas.

Put all these things in your writer’s toolbox and you’ll be in good shape. But it will all be for naught if you don’t ever take the time to read.

Reading is the single most important activity that leads to better writing. In fact, it’s just as crucial as actually writing. So, let’s talk about why it’s essential for writers to read as much as possible.

More Reading

I have to wear glasses when I’m reading or working at the computer. My eyes are shot and the reason for that is because I’ve worn them out on books. That’s right, I read so much that I actually damaged my eyes. As a child, I used to read by poor light if necessary. I was supposed to be sleeping, but as a lifelong insomniac, I opted to read by a dull night light instead of heading off to dreamland.

A friend of mine recently told me that she believes adult writers who were childhood readers have acquired a natural talent for word craft. She went on to explain that she didn’t read much as a kid; her love of writing drove her to read more as an adult and she feels she has to work harder at writing than her writer friends who grew up with their noses buried in books. Makes sense to me, but then again, I was one of those reading kids.

The human brain is like a sponge. We soak up everything that we observe and experience throughout our lives, and each thing we are exposed to becomes part of the very fiber of our beings. What we read is no exception. You may not be able to recite the Mother Goose nursery rhymes you read as a child, but they’re still somewhere in that head of yours. When a little voice whispers jack be nimble, jack be quick, there’s a good chance you’ll recall that jack jumped over a candlestick. It’s embedded in your brain.

Better Writing

By reading a lot, you will develop a familiarity with language. Your vocabulary will expand and turns of phrase will wedge themselves into your memory. Even grammar sinks in. Forget memorizing all the rules, just read writers who are grammatically adept. Eventually, it all will become part of your mental makeup.

If you know exactly what kind of writer you want to be, you’re in luck. Your best bet is to read a lot within your favorite genre. Find authors that resonate with your sensibility and read all their books. Notice that each writer has a distinct voice, one that makes their work recognizable. If you read enough of one author’s work, you’ll probably be able to pick them out of a quotation lineup (I had to take that test in college).

At the same time, you don’t want to rope yourself off from experiencing a wide range of styles. You might like high literature and want to pen the next Pulitzer-Prize-winning work of fiction. You should read the classics, of course, but don’t completely avoid the bestsellers. There’s a mentality among some writers that you should only read that which you want to write. It’s hogwash. Reading outside your chosen area of specialty will diversify and expand your skills, and you’ll be equipped to bring new techniques and methods into your craft. If you so choose, you’ll even be able to walk, or perhaps cross, genre lines.

Read and Write, Read and Write, Repeat

I think all writers benefit from reading (and writing) poetry. It is one sure way to develop a killer vocabulary, the ability to formulate vivid imagery, and infuse other types of writing with creativity. I know, some writers don’t love poetry, but I have to pitch my passion, right?

Reading also makes for invigorating conversation. You can join a book club or visit Booking Through Thursday, a website where you share your reading adventures with other passionate book lovers.

Do you ever read for the sole purpose of improving your writing? I usually just poke around for reading material that interests me. I try to read a little bit of everything from fiction to nonfiction to poetry. I like to open my mind and let it all sink in.

What are you reading these days?

Do you have any writing tips that have helped you in your pursuit of better writing? Any stories to tell about how reading has improved your writing? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April, 2008 but has been updated with new information and insights, and therefore republished for your reading pleasure. Keep on (reading and) writing!

Better Writing Resources

If you want to improve your writing, you’re going to have to work at it, because let’s face it, nobody gets by on sheer talent. You’re going to need to acquire some solid writing skills and better writing habits.

The best way to consistently improve your writing is through daily writing. When writing becomes part of the natural rhythm of your life, your work will improve in leaps and bounds.

Some actions you take to make your writing better may not involve writing at all. For example, you should become an avid reader so you can absorb language, turns of phrase, imagery, and story elements that were crafted by those writers who have gone before you.

Another non-writing activity that leads to better writing is collecting and using plenty of writing resources.

Writing Resources

Where would we writers be without our resources? Fat, hardbound reference books and web-based databases packed to the hilt with facts and information are both bane and boon for us. Love them or hate them, one thing is certain – if you’re a writer, you need them.

1. Dictionary

There are some resources that we all use — the dictionary, for example. What writer doesn’t have that bible of the language sitting within reach on a nearby bookshelf or conveniently bookmarked in a web browser?

If you’ve ever caught yourself using a word only to realize that you’re not sure whether or you’re using it correctly, you know what a lifesaver the dictionary can be. In a situation like that, you have three choices – use another word, look up the word to verify its meaning, or take your chances and pray for the best.

Every time you open the dictionary, you’re adding something to your vocabulary. You might be learning a brand new word, verifying what you thought you knew, or simply gaining greater understanding of a word’s meaning. You’ll also build your vocabulary by making good use of the dictionary’s close cousin – the thesaurus.

2. Thesaurus

When you’re proofreading and realize that you’ve repeated one word three times in a single paragraph, there’s no need to break your brain trying to come up with synonyms. Just take a peek inside any thesaurus to find alternatives that will keep your writing fresh.

Writing resources like dictionaries and thesauri help speed up the writing process, and using them will expand your vocabulary.

The result? Better writing.

3. Style Guides

I’ve sung the praises of style guides more than once on this blog. Style guides exist to help you craft material that is consistent in terms of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

As comprehensive as the English language might be, there are plenty of holes where the rules are unclear or don’t exist at all. Style guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style set forth standards that you can adhere to and also address many grammatical issues and rules.

There are a host of style guides available and depending on what you write, you might want to start collecting them immediately. Chicago is for authors and general usage; I use it in my freelance work and on this blog. There are other guides that are geared specifically toward journalism, academic writing, and many large companies and organizations have their own style guidelines. For more information and a detailed description of style guides, check out this post on style guides.

Better Writing Resources

As you build a collection of writing resources, much credence will be given to books that are packed with facts and information. These writing resources are the foundation and structure of your reference base, and they will all lead to better writing, but what about the fun the stuff, the writing resources that are a delight to peruse and a joy to use?

Writing exercises will stretch your limitations and give you fresh writing ideas. Lots of novice writers forgo these types of writing resources in favor of writing what they want, but the gains to be made by working through writing exercises and other creative challenges are immense and will surely pave the way toward better writing.

In fact, for those of us who aspire to becoming published poets and fiction writers, these creative writing resources may become the most powerful weapons in our arsenal. Make it a point to start building your own pile of such books.

Writing Resources are a Treat

If you’re truly passionate about writing, then you’ve probably already starting building your own library of writing resources. When you see a book on writing from one of your favorite authors, you snatch it and can’t wait to start reading. In the bookstore, you always make check to see what’s new in the section where they stock writing resources, and every time you pull your dictionary off the shelf, your heart does a little leap for joy.

Writing isn’t easy. It takes a lot of self-discipline. Plus, it’s competitive in the world of writing. You can position yourself to put out better writing by educating yourself with a collection of writing resources like those we’ve discussed here, plus plenty of others that deal with specialized fields (technical writing, copywriting, fiction writing, poetry, screenwriting, etc.) and reference books that provide hard facts so your work is well researched and accurate.

Have a little fun with your writing resources, and treat yourself to one or two new ones each month until you have a fully-stocked library of such works, which will all contribute to improving your writing. Looking for recommendations? Visit the Writing Forward writing resources page, where you’ll find a list of excellent resources, including written reviews (yes, I’ve personally read and recommend all of them).

Do you have any favorite writing resources? How have they helped you produce better writing? Share your favorites and your experiences by leaving a comment.

How to Use Research for Better Writing (and Credibility)

Almost all writers rely on research for facts and information. Even fiction writers and memoir authors, whose work is either made up from imagination or based on personal experience, will turn to research to fill in holes and answer questions.

We use writing resources like dictionaries and style guides. We use encyclopedias and reference books, articles from scholarly journals, and we rely on historical facts and data collected by researchers so we can write truthfully and honestly. We also use Google (and some of us use Wikipedia), and we use blogs and other material found online. All of this research is supposed strengthen our work and lead to more credible, better writing.

We absorb this information and then spit it back out in the words we write. Then people come along and read our words. Maybe they go off and repeat what they’ve read. Maybe they rehash our material in a blog post of their own. Maybe they use it in an academic paper or perhaps it inspires a poem or a short story. The information itself is constantly making rounds, getting processed, filtered, and regurgitated. How are we to sift through it all to find reliable facts? How do we tell the truth from the lies?

The Information Age

We are currently bombarded with information. It’s more accessible than ever before in history — millions of facts can be yours with a few keystrokes and the click of a button. Yet oddly, misinformation seems to be spreading more rampantly than ever. It’s becoming less and less common for sources to be cited, and Darren Rowse of Problogger recently noticed that external links (which are a form of citation) are an endangered species.

I find the spread of misinformation grossly irresponsible (it’s one of my pet peeves). We are so connected and there are so many ways to get the facts straight, there is really no excuse for it. I’m not talking about misunderstanding or making a mistake — I’m talking about either knowingly repeating things that are untrue or failing to get facts straight before reporting or repeating them.

But what does this have to do with you, as a writer? How does responsible research (or lack thereof) reflect on a writer’s credibility, and how does solid research and the use of legitimate citations lead to better writing?

Solid Research — The Path to Better Writing

It can be difficult to know when research is required to back up the facts. There are some things that we know from life experience or from working in a particular field over a long period of time. Other things are simply common knowledge. And much writing today involves doling out advice (tips) based on personal experience (that’s pretty much the entirety of the blog you’re reading right now).

But when you’re presenting any historical data, including statistics, or quoting sources, you have a responsibility to get the facts straight and to cite them.

Citations are important for a few reasons. First, a citation gives your readers an opportunity to look further into the topic. Second, you are giving credit where credit is due — to whoever compiled the facts for your use. Third, by citing your sources, you are showing your own work to be responsibly researched and therefore credible and accurate.

Online Research and Citation

I want to take a minute here to address research and citation on the Internet, where these practices are sorely lacking (particularly on blogs). Online, there is an added component of citation, which is to include a link back to your source. Even if your research comes from a book or magazine, you could link to the author’s website or to a store (such as Amazon) so readers can take a look.

We can get into a whole discussion about how links are internet currency and it’s considered polite or ethical to link to your sources. There are a boatload of benefits that come from using external links. Among these, building relationships with other writers or bloggers, but perhaps more importantly, making it easy for your readers to follow the information trail.

In any case, we all need to be conscious of link inclusion. After all, hyperlinks are what makes the Web go round. I know that I get frustrated when online writers discuss articles or books they’ve read and don’t bother to include titles, links, or any kind of reference. It’s something we should all keep in mind and practice more often.

Let’s Get Curious

Back to research and citations. How do you know when research (and therefore a citation) is required or warranted? Use some common sense and foster a little curiosity. Start by asking questions:

• Did this really happen? Is it true?
• How can I be sure?
• Who compiled this research and are they credible? What are their qualifications?
• Are there any potential conflicts of interest in the reporting?
• Is there any corresponding research to back this up?
• Is there any conflicting research that can provide contrast?

If you start firing off questions (yes, be a cynic), you’ll eventually stumble across the answers you’re looking for. Remind yourself daily: question everything.

Here’s What Writers Can Do

1. Make a commitment to being a responsible and therefore credible writer.
2. Check your work for claims or statements that are debatable or that warrant proof. Are you quoting a person or a text? Are you citing statistics? Are you making a claim?
3. Be smart about the research you conduct. Establish credibility of all your sources.
4. Double check your facts (and their sources) to see if claims have been countered. Try not to be one-sided.
5. Cite your sources in the text, in footnotes, or with a bibliography (for books). On a blog or website, you can include a list of sources at the bottom of your article.

What Readers Can Do

Misinformation is not only the fault of writers and reporters acting irresponsibly. If the audience blindly soaks up information without questioning it, they too bear the burden of responsibility. We all need to be more aware of fact versus fiction.

1. Be cynical. Ask questions like: where is the proof?
2. Evaluate the sources, if they are provided.
3. Do a little googling of your own to see what other facts or opinions are out there.

Credibility Matters

It’s important for writers to work responsibly. If you’re writing in the nonfiction genre, it pays to get your facts straight. In recent years, some memoir authors have come under heavy fire for changing the details of their own personal experiences in an effort to make their material more enticing. Readers didn’t like that at all and careers were damaged (we’re not going to name any names!).

There will always be irresponsible people and audiences who are willing to hang onto every untrue word they utter or write. You can be one of them if you choose, or you can opt for the ethical route — and be a credible, trusted writer. The choice is yours.

Does credibility matter to you, as a reader and as a writer? Does careful research lead to better writing or is it irrelevant? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment and let’s discuss!

Daily Writing Produces Better Writing

Recently, we talked about developing better writing habits and I shared five writing tips to help you improve your writing over time.

Today, I want to talk about why the number one tip on that list was write every single day, and I’ll explain why it’s the best path to better writing.

Writing on a Whim

I started out writing poetry just before I hit my teens. Writing was a sacred outlet, and I poured my dreams, frustrations, and desires onto the pages of my notebook.

During those years, I developed a very unhealthy attitude about writing, one that I believe many young or new writers cling to — that talent is all that matters. You had it or you didn’t, and it never occurred me that something that required talent would also benefit from hard work. So, I wrote, but only when I felt like it. Weeks would go by and I wouldn’t write a word, and then in just a few days, I’d half fill a notebook with my amateur poetry and angst-ridden tween rants.

By the time high school was over, my belief in talent and the habit I’d developed for writing only on a whim or whenever the fancy struck me were embedded into my thinking and my behavior. Later, my whole perception of writing would be shaken.

Daily Writing

Eventually, I entered the creative writing program at university. For the first time in my life, writing was more than a casual fling; it started to become challenging. Surrounded by peers of equal or even greater talent, I started pushing myself. I suddenly realized that I wanted to produce better writing — I wanted to be a talented writer, yes, but also a developed one. My coursework required that I write constantly. In one semester I would have anywhere from two to four writing classes, with lots of homework and plenty of projects, which kept me busy writing — every single day.

Immediately, I began to see a change in my own work, an improvement. The poetry I wrote was consistently better than what I’d written the day before. My short stories, once flat and lifeless, started to take on some energy, and my essays, which had always been strong, reached new heights.

There were many reasons for this rapid growth. I learned the value of editing, of being a choosy reader, of using resources, like books that were packed with writing exercises designed to improve different aspects of my writing or help me discover new terrain in my work.

The feedback from peer reviews and critiques were invaluable. But these practices ebbed and flowed. One course would be laden with critiques, and other courses wouldn’t involve them at all. Some instructors liked to see the raw footage, the unedited stuff; others made you proofread and revise incessantly before turning anything in. One thing, however, was completely consistent: daily writing had become an ingrained habit for me.

Better Writing Happens When You Do it Every Day

It was making a habit out of writing daily, making it a priority in my life, that had the greatest impact on improving my writing.

There are thousands of tips out there for how to be a better writer. You’ve all read the books or at least heard of them. There are articles and lists, websites (yes, like this one), and short courses that say do this, do that, write sideways or upside down. Write in a park, or try a cafe, use a thesaurus, burn the thesaurus…

All of that advice does have value. Sometimes you’ll find a golden writing tip that works perfectly for you, but it’s rare for those tips to prove helpful for everyone. Only a very few bits of advice are truly applicable for every writer across the board, and writing daily is first and foremost among them.

What are You Waiting For?

It almost seems obvious if you think about it. You want to be a writer, so uh — yeah — you should write. A lot. Yet many don’t.

Daily writing is by far the best way to become better. Writing regularly will even increase your creativity. Some people worry that if they write too often, they’ll run out of ideas. But the truth is that the more you create, the more creative you become. Writing daily will only give you more writing ideas than ever before.

Are there a few extra specially talented writers out there who can just produce mind-boggling work without practicing regularly? Of course, they’re prodigies. Should you let a day go by without writing a single word? Yes, occasionally, that’s probably a good thing to do. A little break now and then can give you some perspective.

If your goal is better writing, then commit to writing every single day. Whether you write for five minutes or an hour, doing it daily ingrains writing as a regular part of your life. Stick with it and eventually, you’ll master it.

So, keep on writing (every single day)!

Do you write every day? Occasionally? Only when you feel like it? How has your writing frequency improved or affected the quality of your writing? Do you have any tips to share that will help others produce better writing? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March, 2008. It has been updated and revised, and therefore republished.