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Book Review & Contest Insights from Real Reviews and Submissions
What separates great books from the rest? Below are articles with insights from real reviews and contest submissions—what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve your book. You’ll also find a wide range of articles covering writing, publishing, marketing, and more. Each article has a Comments section so you can read advice from other authors and leave your own.
Why Some Books Win Awards (And Most Don’t) — Insights From Real Contest Submissions New!
What separates award-winning books from the rest? After evaluating contest submissions across a wide range of genres, certain patterns become clear. Some books consistently rise to the top. Others, even with strong ideas and clear effort behind them, fall short. The difference is rarely dramatic—it...
What We’ve Learned From Reviewing Hundreds of Thousands of Books (And Why Most Don’t Stand Out) New!
After reviewing and evaluating books across thousands of submissions over the past two decades, certain patterns become impossible to ignore. Some books immediately stand out to reviewers. Others—even well-intentioned ones—fade into the middle or fall short. The difference is rarely luck. It comes down to...
Incorporating Jargon in your Work Part 2
What if it is impossible to avoid technical terms? In such a case, the most important thing is to ensure that the words add value to the article or book. Some other tips are included below.
# Tip 1 - Know your Audience
Keep in mind the level of expertise that your audience possesses. Are they vastly knowledgeable or is their knowledge entry-level? This way you will be able to fashion your work to suit their needs. Also, consider why they want to read the article; is it for the purpose of entertainment or to gain knowledge? When writing for entertainment, keep your language light, almost completely free from jargon. If the article is written to educate, using jargon is permissible but only to the point of adding benefit to the piece.
#Tip 2 - Use Language Effectively
This tip brings us to the point of debunking a myth. Technical language does not necessarily make your work appear professional. Depending on how jargon is used, a reader who understands and has experience will be able to tell whether the language is used to conceal the lack of knowledge on the part of the writer. Words inappropriately used, regardless of how advanced they seem, make work appear sloppy and unprofessional. They show that the writer wants to appear more knowledgeable than they actually are.
Be sure of the meaning of the words that you use, otherwise thoroughly research their meaning before including them.
#Tip 3 - Keep your eye on the Prize - Communicate
Every piece of written work is written with an aim to communicate. It does matter to whom specifically but someone should be able to decode the meaning of your work and apply it in some way. The key is to always remember that the goal is communication. Anything or any word that gets in the way of this goal should be eliminated, despite the value it could add to your work.
While at it, remember that different words have a different impact on your work. This means that each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Take slang, for example. Slang in itself is a fun way of communicating but has a short life. Slang words used today may not be “in” tomorrow. If you are considering creating work that should last a couple of years or even decades, slowing down on the slang may be a great thing. What was considered as slang in the '80s is not what is considered as slang today and so does the principle apply to the future.
When well placed in an article, story or book, jargon can add an element of authoritative writing in your work. It shows that the writer has a great command of the language used in a specific field, which ultimately reflects on their experience regarding the matter at hand. It also shows that the writer’s work is authentic and they are not trying to copy someone else or appear knowledgeable. Jargon or no jargon, it is all up to the writer; the most important thing to remember is the reason behind the work.
Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Edith Wairimu