Dumb Writing Mistake #1. Should You Write For Readers Or Yourself?

Anyone who tells you which is right? 😕 Is wrong! 😊

Here’s a thing writers love to argue about.

Should you write for your audience, or should you write for yourself?

Then they debate for hours.

Vehemently.

Some people will say you “have to” write for yourself. Or it’s all just fakey fake pandering and it’s not genuine. Blah, blah. Other people say if you’re not writing for your audience, it’s no wonder you’re struggling.

Shame, shame. Finger wagging and blame.

Blah, blah, blah.

It’s a wonderful distraction if you’re looking for one. You know, instead of putting your butt in the chair and getting the actual writing done.

But otherwise?

What a dumb discussion. Sorry. Truth.

I’m so done with bad advice for writers I’m writing a “dumb mistakes” series. If you want to read it, sign up to get my posts by email because you sure as heck can’t count on the feed to show what you want to see.

So. Dumb mistake #1.

Should you write for yourself or should you write for your audience?

Yes.

Let me tell you about my favorite restaurant, see if you’re as smart as I think you are.

I’ve been ordering takeout from this restaurant for years. When I call, they ask if I want Singapore Noodles. Yes. Yes, I do. I have had Singapore noodles in tons of restaurants. None like theirs.

Now, my kiddo is more likely to try something new every time. Because they have the part of the menu that doesn’t change, but they also add new stuff once in a while.

You know what’s never happened?

I’ve never once called only to be told they have Fettuccine al Pomodoro or Vermicelli with Sweet Chicken. Sorry, no Singapore noodles. But hey, they’re still noodles, right? No!

I can pretty much count on that restaurant to be what they are. An Asian food restaurant. Like, consistently. Every time I show up!

Can you guess where I’m going here?

Now let me tell you about the author who sold 25,000 books on Substack

You guys, it’s HARD to sell books. 85% of books never sell more than 250 copies. Under 5% of books sell 5000 copies. Half the books on Amazon sell zero copies on any given day.

Now? Let me tell you about Melinda Wenner Moyer.

She’s sold over 25K books so far.

Mostly because of Substack.

Her first book is called How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes

Her publication is called Is My Kid The Asshole?

It’s a parenting publication. She writes articles like like “How I Talked About Sex With My Kids,” “The Stranger Danger Myth” and “Is Homework Helpful or Harmful?”

When she learned about irritable male syndrome, she wrote one called “Why are the Dads so Grumpy?”

You can bet your sweet butt-cheeks she writes those articles for herself. Her experiences are all over them. It’s real clear she’s not pandering. She’s writing about stuff from her life and her heart.

But here’s what all her writing has in common.

The audience.

She knows here audience is made of people who created a little being. And now they have to figure out how to help them navigate this screwed up world.

It’s not that she only writes about “one” thing.

She doesn’t. Not one bit.

It’s not all just parenting tips. Oh hell, no. She’s written about Covid, and alcoholics, and warm winter soup and God knows what else. But it’s all written through the same filter.

You and me? We. Are. Parents.

You have to write from the heart. Have to!

Did you know 7.5 million new blog posts get published on the internet every day. You want to be seen, right? You and every other writer.

Trust me, it ain’t about whether you’re writing for yourself or somone else. That’s about one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Not the total dumbest. But it’s up there.

Look, if you aren’t writing from the heart, it’s going to suck.

But guess what?

That’s why Substack makes writers choose a “topic” for their publication first. It helps writers figure out who the heck their audience IS in the first place. Because if you say “everyone” you’re wrong.

• Stephen King’s audience isn’t everyone.
• Jane Austen’s audience wasn’t everyone.
• Margaret Atwood’s audience isn’t everyone
• Neil Gaiman’s audience isn’t everyone.

Name me a successful writer whose audience is everyone. You can’t. Because it doesn’t work that way. No one’s audience is everyone.

Why would you think yours is?

Trouble is, most writers never stop to think about who their audience IS in the first place. They just write and hope readers will figure it out. Except, if you haven’t figured that out, how are your readers supposed to?

If you’re just writing whatever comes to mind, you’re like a restaurant that changes the menu on a whim. Today you serve Singapore noodles. Tomorrow Fettuccine Alfredo. Which does not work for a restaurant, but would totally work for a food blogger, incidentally.

You have to know who you’re writing for.

Then you can write whatever you want. Through that filter.

Should you write for your audience or should you write for yourself? Yes.

If anyone tells you only one of those is the right answer? 😕

They’re wrong. 😊

Should you write for your audience or yourself?

Yes.

You need to do both.

1. Pick your audience first. Call it your “genre” if you will. It’s not really a genre. But maybe that will help a little. Know who your audience is.
2. Then when you write the stories? Go ahead, write for yourself. It’s what all the best writers do.

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