Do You Include this Essential Step in Your Research?
To convey a message with fairness and accuracy, set aside what you believe is true and explore wider points of view. Not that what you believe is false. It’s just a good idea to be open to possibilities. This is hardest when you’re facing a deadline. Writers sometimes take shortcuts by making assumptions. They turn in their work on time, but—by relying too much on what they know—they unwittingly write a biased story. This is forgivable because setting aside your beliefs is unnatural. To prove it, name any subject. I bet you already have a view about it. Don’t worry. We all do this. And it’s tough to add an extra step when you’re in a hurry. So why is it necessary? As a writer, part of your challenge is to look at your subject with fresh eyes. You can do this by unraveling yourself from your beliefs—from what you expect is true. Fortunately, differences don’t indicate right or wrong. Instead, differences give us a wider view of reality. If you set aside what you know when you do your research, your writing will be richer and more meaningful. You’ll come up with more angles for balanced content. And you’ll enjoy the insights you gain about your subject.