Write What You Know

I can always tell when I come across an article I've written that was about a topic about which I knew little or nothing. The words and phrases read more formally; there is a air of dryness and detachment to the material. I do have the benefit of knowing this was a foreign topic to me, but it wouldn't be surprising if readers felt the material was bordering on clinical.

The web lends itself to getting information across in a succinct fashion for the casual reader. Web readers, for the most part, are looking for reading material a little more interesting than an encyclopedic-type style. This is where having a passion for your topic comes into play. There's a likelihood that your enthusiasm for the topic is going to spill onto the pages of your article which, in turn, is transmitted to the reader.

An enthusiastic writer will grab my interest every time, even if it isn't a topic about which I am normally interested. That's what you're aiming for with your writing.

The writing process seems nearly effortless when you are putting into type information you wish to share with others. The flow of the article comes naturally; words and phrases are less stilted and reader-friendly.

In writing about a topic you know well, you are able to share some tidbits of information that add to the quality of the article--and likely wouldn't be found in traditional sources. Even when there is a passion for a topic, there is likely much information available that you don't already know. This provides an opportunity for you to learn more.

Writers will always have to accept assignments about unfamiliar topics--at least if they want to keep the electricity running to power the computer. When opportunity rears its inspiring head and you are able to choose your topic, you will never fail with writing about what you know.