Know Your Message
Don’t: Include everything you know about your topic
A common mistake in nonfiction writing is to confuse topic and message. Your topic is the general subject matter that your writing discusses. Your message (or thesis) is the claim that your writing attempts to explain (expository writing) or validate (persuasive writing). For example, the topic of this website is nonfiction writing. The message is that certain mistakes can hinder your nonfiction writing from effectively communicating with your readers.
Confusing topic and message often results in needless info dumps. This notorious fiction faux pas also applies to nonfiction.1 Info dumps detract from your message by focusing instead on irrelevant background information, usually about your topic. They’re more likely to bore your readers than inform them because they actually prevent readers from engaging with your message.
Do: Focus your writing around a specific, concise message
Every piece of writing needs a clearly defined message, and that message—not the topic—should determine what information you include, what you leave out, and what order you put it in. Most nonfiction writing is information based, making info dumps particularly tempting because leaving out vital information can confuse your readers.
What constitutes “vital” information, however, depends on both your message and your ideal reader. If your ideal reader would understand your message without a given piece of information, leave it out. The best authors (and editors) know how to trim the fat to get to the meat.
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- For good advice on avoiding info dumps in fiction, see Helping Writers Become Authors, “Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 50: Info Dumps,” by K. M. Weiland, April 3, 2016, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/common-writing-mistakes-pt-50. Much of that advice also applies to nonfiction.