We’ve all had that moment in the middle of writing something — the one where we stop and think, “Is anyone actually going to want to read this?”
The truth is, someone probably is. But the more passionate about your work you are, the more you’ll end up drawing a faithful audience to your storytelling.
What’s Popular Isn’t Always What’s Interesting
I used to be a trending news writer. I’d pump out multiple articles every morning at my job about what was trending on the internet. Sometimes it was fun. So often, I found myself questioning why it mattered. Something can be popular — for a moment — and also kind of boring. This is why I advise writers to never base their work solely off of what they perceive others will like.
There’s writing what you think people want to read about, and there’s writing about what YOU would want to read about. Readers can pick up when you’re only writing something because you think they’ll be interested in it, versus when you’re writing something that truly aligns with where your heart and soul thrive.
Your Stories Should Speak to the Human Experience
What makes a captivating story isn’t shock value or trending ideas or the thing everyone online seems to be talking about — not all on its own. What makes a story worth reading is its human element. The characters at the center of it, and also how reading that story makes a person feel.
And to create something someone else is going to feel deeply, you too have to feel it when you’re writing it. If you’re completely detached from it, your readers will feel that. Sometimes when you’re telling a story, you have to be a little bit vulnerable. Most of the time, it’s worth the risk.
You Have to Follow Your Muse
You can’t follow what others are talking or writing about and always expect to create something magical out of it. As a writer, we all have to learn to trust our instincts when it comes to which stories we’re going to tell and when. If your heart is truly set on writing about something — even if it doesn’t seem “trendy” or like something a lot of other people might want to read — you should write it anyway.
In fact, I usually take this as a sign, for myself, that this is the right thing to write about. If it matters to me, it will matter to someone else. Touching one person’s soul with your writing counts. Make THAT your ultimate goal.
