The “Average Joe” Writer Syndrome

Summary

The "Average Joe" Writer Syndrome addresses the self-doubt of writers who feel their ordinary life experiences lack the exceptional drama or wisdom sought by readers, yet it asserts the profound value and relatability of such everyday narratives.

Abstract

The article titled "The 'Average Joe' Writer Syndrome" delves into the insecurities many writers face when they believe their life stories are too ordinary to captivate an audience. It challenges the notion that only extraordinary tales of adventure, hardship, or success are worthy of being shared. Instead, it emphasizes that the most mundane experiences—parenting, self-acceptance, financial struggles, and simple joys—resonate deeply with readers and can offer comfort, inspiration, and a sense of shared humanity. The piece encourages writers to embrace their 'average' stories, arguing that these narratives are not only valid but also possess the power to transform the reader's perspective on their own life, helping them to recognize the inherent value and beauty in their daily experiences.

Opinions

The writer initially feels inadequate due to a perceived lack of dramatic life events, such as a troubled childhood or exotic adventures.
There is an assumption that readers are primarily interested in stories that offer quick fixes to life's problems, wealth accumulation, or sensational experiences.
The article suggests that technology, social media, and other external factors are constantly changing, but the importance of personal, relatable stories remains timeless.
It posits that stories of common struggles, such as dealing with disappointment, self-acceptance, and financial hardship, are universally relevant and valuable.
The narrative emphasizes that the so-called 'average' life is rich with stories that are compelling and can profoundly impact readers.
The writer asserts that the pursuit of a 'big life' is often overrated and that true fulfillment can be found in the seemingly mundane aspects of everyday life.
The article concludes that 'Average Joe' writers are not ordinary; they are essential storytellers who can help readers appreciate the masterpiece of their own lives.

The “Average Joe” Writer Syndrome

Your life and advice are more than worthy of readers, and maybe your words are the most important ones of all

Sometimes, I blame my lack of success as a writer on the fact I feel I have nothing to say, or rather nothing I feel people would want to hear. I grew up happy, no abuse or dysfunctions that would make my childhood compelling to read. I’ve lived in a small town all my life, never going to places where I could tell you about one night stands with exotic men or life transforming hikes to the top of Mount Fuji.

It takes me ten minutes to type a two sentence text. I know nothing about new technologies changing the world, and I sure as hell can’t tell you ways to be wealthy, which as a teacher, is a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

And even though I’ve been teaching writing for the past twenty years, I still can’t give you advice on how to go viral or gain a following on Instagram.

So what good I am to the bevy of readers who want me to tell them how to fix their lives, invest in the stock market, or lose twenty pounds in a month?

And maybe you’re feeling the same. Maybe you’re just an average joe writer whose life experiences are, well, just average. Maybe you’re wondering what you have to offer those hungry readers hoping for the magic pill that will make their lives the fantasy they’ve imagined.

The answer?

Plenty. You have plenty to offer. Plenty of value as a writer. And here’s why.

Technology will change. So will social media and politics and data, but some stories always are worthy of being told, some which the average joe writer is just the one to tell.

Stories of hurt. Pain. Disappointment

Stories of the beauty and burdens of being a parent

Stories of the universal struggle to accept and love yourself in spite of your flaws

Stories of making mistakes and finding “I’m sorry” hard to say

Stories of dreaming of a life you’ll never have, or one you had and lost

Stories of how life can change in a moment or a diagnosis or a lesson gained from sitting in front of the stars rocking on your porch swing

Stories of the secret dreams of mothers or fathers who wonder what they might of been in another lifetime

Stories of heartbreak that come from a betrayal, a death, a life on a production line that leaves you wondering if there’s anything special about you at all

Stories of the creativity it takes to pay the bills or send a child to college when you live paycheck to paycheck

Stories of how cathartic it is to have your hands deep in the soil growing things or under a car making an impossible piece of metal purr

Stories of how wonderful it is to sit with your spouse in front of a television screen and know these are the perfect moments people long for, ones that will not be found at a fancy restaurant or looking at an amazing sunset on a luxury yacht

Stories of how there is still magic in the nine to five, in a home with two dogs and a white picket fence outside, and in a family whose life is filled with work and church and ballet recitals

And if your dreams revolve around million dollar marketing wins, lines of money making data laid out on a computer screen, and living the “big life” that so many dream of, the “big life” that is really a lie, the “big life” you fantasize about in those moments when you put on your construction cap or your scrubs or your teacher clothes like me, maybe you’re not seeing the truth.

You are not an average Joe. No one is. You are a story worth listening to. In many ways, you are the voice people seek, the voice they relate to, the voice that helps them see their average life is not average.

Maybe your words remind them their lives are masterpieces too. Maybe your stories help them realize them that rescuing puppies from the pound, building white picket fences, attending church dinners, making homemade meals, and fighting through loads of bills and little money make them heroes, not “nobodies.”

And boy, if you can do this for readers, you can not only keep them coming back for more, you can help them look back on their lives, smile, and and be extremely proud of the story they’ve created.

And that is an accomplishment very few writers (or humans) can brag about.