The Importance of Authoritative Writing: Tips for Writers

Authoritative writing in non-fiction is at the heart of a writer's potential for success.

When a writer's pieces are authoritative, readers will trust the information, and continue to return to that writer as a valid source of information.

Each time someone reads an article, they are subconsciously evaluating it for its authority. The same happens to web sites. If you come across a web site that is full of spelling errors on the first page, or has too many broken links, how likely will it be that you won't just click away? How likely will you to be return to that site?

The web site author undermined his or her own authority, because it did not meet basic standards.

The Personal Origins of Authority in Writing

Writers also need to establish authority in their writing. Before that can happen, some writers need to acknowledge their authority.

This authority could have been birthed out of a passion or a subject, or an interest in an activity, on informal or formal education, on work experience, from people they know, or through any other daily or interpersonal experiences. Some, academics, or professional journalists, can base their authority on research.

Each of these types of experiences are valid. They call feed into our authority. When a writer questions their own authority to write on a subject, they are questioning their own abilities. This will leave the writer with a blank page, not a finished piece.

Accept that your experiences are valid, and how you acquired your authority is also valid.

Fear of Establishing Authoritative Writing

Establishing authority as a writer can cause an uncomfortable feeling for some. More than one writer has written to me worried about "coming off as a know-it-all" in their articles.

Some writers may be worried about coming off a as a "know-it-all," or as thinking they are smarter than everyone else. In order to sit down and write what you know, writers need to accept that they do have some authority on certain subjects.

If you are afraid that someone will think you have no authority on the subject, and you know that your experience is valid, dismiss that fear.