Reader’s existing knowledge

As writers, we apply the lenses of our experiences: what we think, what we believe, and what we’ve learned. And we apply those filters to what we express about the world around us. But as Adam Grant wrote, “The worst advice when starting a tweet, blog, or book is ‘Write for yourself.’ That’s journaling. If you choose to share, it’s more than self-expression—it becomes an act of communication. Think of your words as a gift to readers. What do you want them to see, know, or feel”?

Our writing becomes more easily consumable when we take into consideration what the reader already knows about this world that we’re writing about. Do they share similar experiences, thoughts, beliefs? We want to make sure that the reader can read the text and comprehend it easily.

We write for our reader. Therefore, we want to take their current level of knowledge about the topic into account. We want to use language that our reader understands and feels comfortable with. For instance, an attorney writes for other legal professionals and a management consultant writes for business clients.

So, as you sit down to revise your work, consider the reader first. Instead of asking yourself, what do I want to say? Ask yourself, what does my reader need to know?