What is probably the single most important principle of effective writing?

Answer 1

WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ABOUT? Clarify your topic by asking yourself some questions. A character, and why he or she makes particular choices or commits to certain actions, and how he or she and deals with the consequences? A theme--the larger idea that underlies the story? The use of a specific kind of language--formal words and sentence construction, the way you'd talk to someone in a position of authority? Slang and conversational speech--the way you talk to friends? Are you writing about a story/book's theme, the underlying idea or combination of ideas conveyed through the way characters react to their surroundings or make decisions and the consequences of thier choices? The foundation for writing a paper or answering an essay question is knowing what you want to say before you start to write.

Answer 2

Always put yourself in the place of your reader, evaluating what you've written on that basis.