The Fact Check:
Truth Is a Powerful Writing Tool

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us. (2 Corinthians 3:6, NLT)

A Word For Writers

Investigative reporter Jason Grotto relies on a powerful writing tool: the fact check.

“We have to be sure the question we pursue can be answered with verifiable facts,” says Jason, who has written for the Chicago Tribune and The Miami Herald.

His exposes have uncovered fraud in poverty programs, crises in public school funding, and conflicts in Iraq war funding, and other complex issues with a myriad of players and moving parts. Jason bases his reporting on hundreds of facts in documents, data, and on-the-record sources … and keeps track of all of them.

Case in point: for his Pulitzer Prize-nominated 4,000-word article on tax assessment inconsistencies, Jason tracked and flagged 291 facts on a spreadsheet, recording the source and associated details for each one. 

That’s one fact check for every 14 words. And he re-checked each fact at least twice. 

A lot of work? Yes. 

But fact checking reveals my motives. When I confirm that the facts I use are reliable, then I can make an argument based on the truth. If I don’t check my facts, I can be in danger of leading my reader astray. 

I don’t want to do that. I want to write truth.

Even if it means a fact check for every 14 words.

A Wise Word

Truth is a powerful writing tool.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father,

Keep me from leading my reader astray. Let me take time to check the facts and write the truth.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

---

More Devotionals for Writers

The Checklist: It's a Tool of Diligence ...

The 6 Questions: Use Simple Research Skills Recommended by Solomon...

The Research: Why It’s Wise To Gather Extra Facts and Statistics ...

The Mission Statement: Paul Used Just Ten Words ...

The Objection: Why This Persuasive Writing Technique is So Powerful ...

The Image: One of the Best Tips for Writing Better Content ...

The Thesis Statement: Pick and Choose to Make Your Case ...

The Profile Article: A Feature Article with a Twist ...

The Question: Look Who Asked 307 of Them ...

The Yellow Pencil Chart: Translate Features Into Benefits ...

The Headline: Write the Little Things Well...

The Writing Formula: Use What Other Writers Have Learned ... 

The Book Manuscript: Write One Small Part at a Time ...

The Word Count: It's a Good Reason to Quit Babbling ...

More Devotionals for Writers on our Pinterest Board ...

Wise Words: Devotionals for Writers ...

Get more devotionals for writers delivered to your inbox each week.

Return from The Fact Check: A Powerful Writing Tool 
to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.