9 + 1 Things Every Reader Wants from a Writer

by Liz Strauss 
Where to Start

It can seem complicated to write for a readership that includes beginners to experts. I’ve done it for over two decades. It can seem like there’s too much to consider to meet them all at their own level.

Yet my experience is that beginners and experts are not that different when they read. They might choose to read different things, but we all do. Beyond that difference of content, beginners, experts and those of us in the middle — every reader — wants the same things from a writer.

9 +1 Things Every Reader Wants

Basically there are 9 things every reader wants, plus one for blog readers. Let’s imagine I’m one of those readers. Actually I am one. I’ll tell you the things readers want as they’ve been telling me for over 20 years.

1. Pick an idea that intrigues you. If it intrigues you, I’m likely to be intrigued by it too. At the very least, I’ll be curious about what it was about the idea that captured your interest and intrigued you.
2. Trace out a simple structure. Use the structure to cut a path through your idea. Then it’s easy for me to follow you.
3. Write for someone who’s like you, but doesn’t know what you know
   about the topic. Trying to write for everyone is like trying to talk
   penguins and parachutes at the same time.
4. Make clear decisions about what to include. Look things over and be
   lethal about taking out what doesn’t need to be there. Believe me, I’ll
   remember that you don’t waste words when I decide I want to return.

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This post was written one year ago and is so good it’s worth repeating: This week I’ve asked Liz Strauss of Successful Blog to guest author some posts about writing. Here it is her post about writing for a living:

The Problem with Writing . . . 25 Things to Know BEFORE You Write for a Living
by Liz Strauss, Successful Blog

Let’s Be Honest

Every morning I get up and write blog posts . Then I go do my other writing work. I’ve been writing for a living for very long time. So I feel qualified to write this post. It’s not a rant. It’s a list. It’s a set of things that folks who think they might want to write for a living ought to know before they blindly follow their dream.

The problem with writing is

• that, when you start, no one will believe you are a writer.
• that all writing jobs takes longer than folks think they will.
• that even talent needs ideas.
• that getting to a living wage takes time and boring work.
• that, when you write well, the finished product looks like it was easy.
• that no one cares how hard it was.
• that the lifestyle isn’t glamorous.
• that the pay can be less glamorous. 
• that you’re always interrupted in the middle of the perfect thought.
• that you’ll probably have to edit your own work.
• that, if you get noticed, your mistakes are very public.

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