A serious writer knows that to get in touch with his intended audience, he has to have a hook that gets the interest of readers without any trouble. But that's easier said than done; writing is an easy task, but the process is difficult, and not everybody knows how to grab their readers by the balls and keep them focused on what they're reading. It takes a knack for knowing what to write, how to write, and being confident in what you just finished writing.

Sounds simple? It should be. It's all just a matter of keeping yourself focused on the task at hand. But not everybody can keep their eye on the ball, not because they can't but because they don't know how to. But with a few pointers, you can become a strong and effective writer that can make the folks over at Newsweek look like pedestrians in your wake.

Step 1: Know What to Write

Are you a coffee afficionado? Or are you a frustrated stockbroker? Always make sure that you write about something that you're interested in. That way, it's easier for you to gather up your facts and set up your article's hook.

Look at it from this perspective: if you're going to make juice, you'll need a base, a container, and the juice / concentrate / powder. You may have the container and the base, but if you don't have the juice, you can't make the drink.

The same goes for writing. You can write, and you have a pad of paper, but if you don't know what you're writing about, it just won't add up. You'll end up frustrating yourself trying to come up with something you know nothing about.

Step 2: Know How to Write

Okay, before you roll your eyes at me with this point, why don't you stop and think about it for a moment. You know how to write in general, but will your unique style work for the topic you're going to write about?

Presentation in good, clear writing is where the money's at. If you know your subject, find a way of presenting it to your public that isn't boring or confusing. If you're writing about market research, keep it simple and don't write it the way a literary writer would.

Step 3: Be confident in your writing

A lot of people make the mistake of just writing without thinking about the voice their text exudes. Think of it this way: when you see a person smiling, you can tell he's happy. When you see him frowning, you know he's sad. The same thing goes for the written word. People can tell when this guy's shooting from the hip with an all-knowing smirk, or if they're trying to hide behind the bedcovers while pressing the publish button.

Seriously, if you know what it is you're talking about, you should never have to worry about what other folks will end up thinking. The more doubts you have while writing, the more inconsistent your text will be. Smile and think of something good while you're working on your text. When you're done writing, go over your work to make sure you don't leave anything out, see to it that folks won't find your logic problematic. Don't forget that you're only as good as your last bit of published work - so you have to make sure that each item you put up is oozing with self-confidence.

Now let me level with you. These three tips alone will not make you a rockstar writer. There are plenty of other elements that you have to learn in order to become a master of the written word.

But these are the most basic of all writing tips, and it has helped many a writer to keep these three things in mind. Because when you look past all the stylistics and strip an article down to the very basic, the way your content reads and sounds is what your readers will carry with them long after they stop reading your work.