As an avid writer and a reader, I read lots of books to my kids. My kindergartner brings home a new library book once a week. This one we were reading was really long and about a dog that liked to take taxi rides. Anyway, on one of his adventures, he became “disconsolate.” What?? Who would use that word in a children’s book? It’s hard enough for an adult to give a definition of that, let alone a 5 year old.
What’s my point in this post? Keep your readers in mind when you write anything. Ask yourself who your target audience is. Will they understand your terminology or vocabulary? Will you alienate them with your choice of words?
Oh, and speaking of alienating your readers, don’t use “I” when you’re writing an article. You’ll turn your readers off. I have been doing a lot of ghostediting lately and I’m constantly editing out “I.” People really don’t care when you write about what you did or what you think. They care how what you say will impact them. Write from their point of view.