Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!)

Putting pen to paper - people do it every day for different reasons; to remember something, to write something personal, to tell something to a loved one, or perhaps to communicate to a wider audience. Whatever the reason, writing is an important way to communicate, but in order to effectively send a message there are a few things a writer should consider before putting pen to paper.

Whether you are writing a professional letter, a story, or even a shopping list (maybe...), writing can help you to achieve anything you like if you do it well. Get that job, influence your readers... and don't forget the bread!

Writing is a complex process, and - aside from in a literary, grammatical sense - there is no right to wrong way to do it, it just depends on what you are trying to achieve. To write well you must first consider your readership; who are you writing for? Perhaps you are writing for yourself, in which case your writing style will probably come pretty naturally, because you can read your own mind. Maybe you're writing an academic essay, in which case a more formal approach to writing is probably most appropriate. Or you could be trying to entertain a wider audience; of course a formal writing style wouldn't work here, your language will be more light hearted and easy to digest.

Besides audience, the purpose of writing should also be considered before putting pen to paper. Unless you're writing for yourself, your audience isn't going to understand what your talking about unless you are clear about what your message or purpose is. Think thoroughly about what it is you are trying to communicate with your writing and make sure that comes across in your final product. Being clear are concise about your message make a much more digestible, helpful piece of writing.

According to Paul V. Anderson in Technical Writing: a reader centered approach there are three things to consider when writing:

1. Readability (how easy to read is your communication?)
2. Usability (how useful is it for readers?)
3. Reader-centeredness (have you considered your audience?)

These three considerations are perhaps the best three starting points for an effective piece of writing. Remember these three things before putting pen to paper and you are on your way to writing well and communicating effectively. But most importantly, just write! Write for yourself, for others, any opportunity you have to write is an opportunity to improve your skill!