Writing to Connect

Should you write for yourself or for others? There are two schools of thought on this issue. Those who say you should always write with others in mind are speaking to the age-old advice to know your audience and then tailor your writing to that audience. Those who say you should always write to please yourself are speaking to the equally timeless advice to write with an authentic voice. There is merit in both perspectives. When writing to please yourself, readers may be unable to connect with your writing and it may be ineffective and confusing. On the other hand, if you're writing only what you think others want to read and not what you really want to write, your writing will likely come off as ineffective and lifeless. There is a way to write what you want and still have it be alive and meaningful for others. Write about what you care about and write with passion. Readers will pick up on that intensity. But also remember the critical eye that you must apply to your writing to determine if your passion is communicating clearly to readers. Will readers find your ideas and enthusiasm valuable? Or have you written something so self-involved that no one else can relate to it? There is a middle ground, a sweet spot, in writing where you can bring your heart to your work in a way that is profoundly personal, yet universally true . Search for that spot and your writing will be unforgettable.