Writing is like high school

 

                 When I was in elementary school I began my political career (I also ended it). I still remember how I put together a detailed speech of the changes I was going to make to the school. I addressed issues of concern to my constituency and presented real answers. I thought it out and walked up to read my speech.

                And I went down in flames.

                What I didn’t realize then is that it didn’t matter how eloquent I was or how well I understood the needs of my target [the entire student body], I wasn’t popular. I wasn’t known. I wasn’t liked. I wasn’t elected.

                The same is true for writers and the sooner we quit fussing about it the better off we’ll be. Success is a popularity contest at the beginning. Once you realize that the only way to develop a writing career is to get more and more people to like your work, the sooner you will free yourself to writing the kind of work people want to read.

                Don’t build the wall of protection that says, “I’m brilliant and my writing is great. Everyone I know says so.” It doesn’t matter what our closest friends say [unless your writing is only for them]. If you want to become a published writer in book length, article length, or blog length fiction or non-fiction we need to meet a need. We need to speak in a way that connects with others.

For more information on these topics you might enjoy:

It's a matter of simply doing it.

How readers decide what to read.

People will tell you that you can’t, but don’t listen.