The Writer’s Toolkit - Essential Habits for Effective Communication

A few months ago I found some of my old class notes from when I taught English for two universities. Here is some of what I used to share with students when we discussed habits for being an effective writer/communicator:

* Write. Becoming a good writer takes plenty of practice. And that practice can be anything - writing in your journal, composing an email to a friend or family member, etc. Just put pen to paper (or fingers to your keyboard).

* Make your point. For me, nothing is worse than reading something that doesn't make a point or takes forever to get there. I always remember a note Professor Nelson wrote on a story I submitted while in journalism school: "If you can say something in five words, don't say it in 10."

* Always consider your audience. The people you are writing to will help you determine what words to use, what words not to use, and how to organize your message.

* Have another set of eyes review your work. Sometimes writers spend so much time working on a piece that they can't see even the most obvious errors. Having a professional editor review your work is ideal, but even if one is unavailable, having someone who can provide honest feedback on what you've written can be extremely helpful.

What are some other habits for being an effective writer/communicator?