Writing

Do You Know What You Are Writing For?

Writing is not a task that is easy to define the purpose for. For example, tying your shoelaces is an easy thing to justify. If they came undone, it makes every sense to tie them back up again. And before leaving the house, it makes sense to ensure you are all tied up.

However, writing is not like tying your shoelaces. People create music, write articles and cook for all types of reasons. And although there may be similarities of experience between two people, their purpose can be different.

I know many people who find writing relaxing and a way to escape reality for a short while. However, all of these individuals have different reasons for writing every day. When trying to understand your purpose for writing, you are primarily concerned with your motivation.

We all have different motivations, and some of ours change over time. However, it is essential to understand why you are writing right now. Without knowing your purpose for writing, you can lose sight of your initial goal and potentially fall out of the love you once had for it.

An example of this is people who start writing as a hobby and then seek to make it a side hustle. Although these are both done in your spare time, they are not the same. A side hustle puts more pressure on each article you write and adds a business element.

If you seek to avoid falling out of love with your writing, I advise finding your reason for doing it. However, there are also benefits to knowing why you write. So, here is why knowing your reason for writing will give you a better chance of becoming a successful one.

You Know What Results to Focus On

We underestimate our ability to define success for ourselves. The first reason is that we risk getting success wrong. Maybe what I believe would be successful for myself is wrong, which only leads to my unhappiness.

The second is because many of us are influenced by what others deem as success. It can be easy to get sucked into what others see as a success because it all seems so appealing. Also, our version of success may be looked down on or misunderstood by others, so we try to fit in.

However, it is essential to have your own identity. And part of finding that identity is defining what success means to you. If it is earning $100 a month from your writing to pay some bills, then stick to it. If it is creating a following of millions then do it.

The main thing is, once you have defined what success means, your interpretation of your results will be unique to you. For someone who wants millions of followers, having 0 after a week is upsetting. However, this result may not mean that much to someone writing a personal journal as a hobby.

Defining why you are writing gives you a picture of the results you would like to see. This not only increases your chances of writing success but also streamlines your writing process. Knowing what you are looking for is always a good place to start when beginning a new venture.

So, by understanding why you are writing, you know what success looks like for you. And in doing so, you can increase your focus on the results that matter and increase your chances of success.

You Can Build a Loyal Readership

It is easier to commit to people who know what they are doing. We never want to be led by someone who is constantly changing their mind.

The same goes for writing. Your readers are paying attention to the work you are putting out. And your readership does not want to be left confused on what value you add to their views.

In the broad sense, that means not writing about any and everything for long periods of time. If your goal is to build a readership, you need to focus on the type of person you want your reader to be. And this is all comes from why you are writing in the first place.

However, on a micro-level, this means thinking about each article you write. The messages we often tell our readers in each article highlight the underlying reason as to why we write. The content we produce regularly is a signalling tool. We are trying to let our readers know why we write and why they should pay attention.

Having a clear message never hurt anyone. It is often the clearest of messages that end up travelling through the realms of time. Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech comes to mind.

So, how does your dream for writing show itself in the reason for why you write? And how do you convey this to your readers? The answer to these questions leads you to the motivation you have for writing. It also gives you a clear message to go into the world with.

As a writer, you share messages with your readership. So, knowing your message only puts you in a better place to successfully do that.

Closing Thoughts

At the start of my writing journey, I chased other people’s versions of writing success. I first thought I was here to make money from my writing. Then I thought I was here to make an impact in others’ lives.

Both of these would be nice to have’s, but they are not the motivation behind why I write. I write as an expression of my freedom of thought. It is the only way I can get all of these big ideas in my head down on a page. Of course, in doing so, I hope to impact others and earn an income.

However, knowing my reason for writing has left me at peace with myself. I no longer seek fame or wealth. And the good part is, I do not feel upset when I do not have those things. After all, my reason for writing is not connected to any of those things. I know I will never stop writing because I must entertain my intellectual mind.

For you, it may be different. But own your reason for writing, whatever that may be. It is your path to success and happiness through the means of writing.

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