A Quick Self-Test to Make Sure Your Writing is Worth Reading

Writers buy the reader’s time — let’s ensure we’re selling something worthy

Books are relatively inexpensive compared to other products. Their worth is in the content, not the paper. When we sell our writing, we’re not selling the words — we’re buying the reader’s time.

The best give we can give our reader is to provide writing worth reading.

We all face self-doubt and Impostor Syndrome. Even the most-senior writer must start from a blank page to begin each new story. That self-doubt is a good indicator we’re on the right track.

But, what if we’re unsure still unsure of our work? How can we tell if we’ve got a story worth reading before we send it off to the world? Well, there’s a quick self-test and it’s helped me for years.

When I’ve avoided the test my work was lackluster. When I paid attention, the stories were taken well.

The simple test

This is gut-check time. Even if you haven’t finished the piece — maybe you haven’t started and you’d like a quality barometer — the simple test works whether you’ve finished the story or not.

I step back from the piece and allow myself to give a first impression. This is a quick, rolling list of internal questions you ask yourself before you continue.

• Do I care enough about the subject to engage my reader?
• Do I feel as though I’m being self-serving or self-less?
• Do I know how the story ends, or is the project too loose an idea?
• Does my gut say I’ve got something or am I going through the motions?

Our gut-check uses the stronger side of our brain — the subconscious. You can’t actually call-up your subconscious — this would be your conscious mind. But we can listen to the signals.

We know how good writing reads. We know how good writing feels. We know how good writing ends. When we give our work a quick gut-check we give ourselves a chance to be brutally-honest with the writing.

We know what we’re supposed to do-as with saving money, losing weight, or doing the work required to grow our publishing business. Sometimes we sabotage ourselves and take the easy way out. Sometimes we take the road required.

The gut-check helps if we reach a fork in our writing.

Too simple to work?

Maybe. But it works for me. I know when I write on a surface-level my work doesn’t engage with readers much. I don’t do this deliberately, of course. Maybe my mind was elsewhere. Maybe the idea seemed like a good one a month ago, but I forgot the main theme that inspired me.

When I lean back from the desk, cross my arms, and allow myself to take a first-impression without thinking too much, this is the moment my gut speaks.

If I listen to my gut I prevent myself from writing the wrong story.

If I listen to my gut I follow a story that lights a fire inside me — transferring that enthusiasm to the reader. I get an idea. I write a few sentences. I let the idea percolate a minute.

If my gut’s not excited about the story I pick a different story. I have zero attention span. If I can’t keep myself interested in a topic, I don’t expect my reader will either.

We need your best work.

We need you to follow your gut.

We’re waiting for you.