The Three Essentials Every Good Writer Needs

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Have you ever read a book, essay, or article and thought, this writer is brilliant? The kind of writer who can take complex ideas and shape them into something easy to follow—writing that feels like it speaks for you, or even moves you with its story.

For me, one of those writers is Amy Tan. She is an American author of acclaimed novels, short stories, essays, and memoirs. The first time I read her essay Mother Tongue, I was struck by the way she wove together personal experience with her mother, who spoke ‘broken English’ into something larger about language, culture, and identity. That piece gave me a new perspective on Chinese immigrant families in America and moved me to start writing personal essays.

I do not think Amy Tan ever went around saying she was a good writer. That title does not come from the writer anyway. It comes from the readers. When a piece feels meaningful and powerful, readers see the writer as smart and competent, because clear writing comes from clear thinking.

To produce that kind of writing, a great writer does not come from talent or coincidence. It comes from deliberate choices—what to include, what to leave unsaid—so the reader feels exactly what the writer hoped for.

I believe anyone can learn to make those choices, including professionals who write as part of their daily work. Through The CommonGround Framework™ (or The CGF Model), B/NDL Studios helps you write with intention and become stronger communicators, grounded in clarity, structure, and articulation.

A framework for clear, compelling writing

Let’s look more closely at these three essentials.

First of all, clarity.

Think of how people sometimes speak without context. A friend says, “I am going to the mini market,” and you reply, “Okay… so?” You do not know what you are supposed to do with that information.

But if your friend adds, “Do you want me to pick something up for you?” or “If someone looks for me, tell them I will be back in five minutes,” suddenly the message is clear. You know what to do.

Writing works the same way. Without a clear intention, your words can leave readers confused or indifferent. With intention, writing shows why it matters, offers context, and guides readers toward a clear response.

Take an example. Imagine you are writing about a new technology that helps auditors detect fraud in tenders. If your purpose is to create urgency, you would explain why auditors need to adopt the technology quickly and what could happen if they do not. Without that purpose, the piece risks losing focus.

Then, structure.

Structure will help you connect ideas logically, supporting them with evidence, and leading readers step by step toward your point.

If you want auditors to adopt the technology quickly, you might begin with the context—the problems in the tender process. Then explain why that new technology is the solution, backed by studies, facts, or examples. Finally, close with a call to action or a clear takeaway.

And lastly, articulation.

Articulation is the craft of tone, rhythm, vocabulary, and style that makes your writing readable, engaging, and fit for your audience. If you want to create urgency, for example, you can use direct and concise language to convey importance and immediacy.

These three elements work together. Purpose without structure becomes scattered. Structure without style feels lifeless. And style without purpose is just decoration.

Learn to apply the framework

In the end, it is your reader who decides whether your writing makes sense and holds their attention. That is the true test of good writing.

And it is no different in the workplace. Your colleagues, clients, or supervisors decide the impact of your reports, proposals, or emails. When your writing is clear, structured, and well-articulated, you win their trust and move them to action.

Success with this framework goes beyond the workplace—it applies wherever clarity and influence matter. Whether in business, public service, or diplomacy, the ability to write with structure and precision builds trust and creates impact.

“This approach is especially valuable, as writing is a critical part of our diplomatic work,” emphasized Fira, one of our former clients from an embassy in Jakarta.

She also highlighted its broader importance: “Stakeholder engagement requires strong writing capabilities, so I would highlight this area as a priority [for my team’s future communication and development].”

At B/NDL Studios, we designed The CommonGround Framework™ (or The CGF Model) to make that possible. It is a practical way to sharpen clarity, structure, and articulation—so that whatever you write, your readers will see it as thoughtful, competent, and worth their attention.

If you would like to strengthen these skills for your team, we would be glad to help. Get in touch with us to learn how we can work together.

www.bndlstudios.co

Letter from Our Co-Founder | B/NDL Studios

The CGF Model was born from years of practice – in journalism, in business strategy, in training – and from a belief that communication is never a soft skill.

Nia Janiar

She is the Lead Writer at B/NDL Studios, bringing versatility to her craft—whether it’s social posts, articles, or reports.