Do you write for yourself or for your readers?
Now, since we are writing on a public medium, and not in our personal diaries, I am guessing some amount of pandering can be expected.
But, will you shy away from writing something which may be close to your heart, but threatens to cost you a few eyes.
She had plenty to say
but shied away
for her reluctance to offend
caused her words to bend.
Personally, I choose to write about things I am most passionate about and I am sure along the way that will make me lose a few readers, but that’s a price, at least, for right now I am OK with paying.
Tomorrow..? Who knows..?
Thoughts?
Great question. I definitely write a little for both. There are a couple of deeper things I fear sharing- either because I don’t feel they appeal to my “target audience”, or because it’s something private that is not mine to share- but I try to be as honest and as real as I can. If you have any tips on how you do that I’d love to hear 🙂 Thanks for the food for thought!
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Thanks Jenny for your thoughts.
I like your approach. I can totally understand how you would want to mostly cater to your target audience. I very much liked your About Me page. It’s very clear in telling the readers what to look for. I think as a blogger it’s our duty too to give a reader what we promised to them. So I absolutely like your approach of sticking to the message.
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That’s very true. Thanks so much!
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Follow your heart…always.
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Shows in your writings. 💕
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Great post, and a very good question. I do both. Some things are too personal to share. Some might cost viewers. I wrote about this very struggle in my post, The Politics of Blogging.
It must be a question that is on a lot of people’s minds’ because even though I only wrote about it a few weeks ago, it has become one of my most viewed posts.
The group consensus seemed to be that we should write for ourselves and not worry about likes and views.
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Thank you for your answer. I will have to check out that post of yours. Thanks for mentioning it.
It’s a delicate balance. Something I am sure each blogger deals with.
Thinking more about it this is what I feel..so if you have a niche and have disclosed it well to your viewers, it’s your responsibility to stick to the theme. That being said, if you only think about your viewers and overlook your needs, your writings will start communicating the absence of your soul.
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Btw I like your name and your description! 👍😃
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I like your blog too. I checked out a few posts this afternoon.
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I believe I blog for myself with hopes that if a reader has experienced similar things, they have a source to gain a positive perspective and possibly help them overcome.
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That’s how I source my writings too. It’s a hope and sometimes it pans out well and sometimes it doesn’t 😃 but we keep trying!
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Well….something I have definitely pondered , my intent is to write what’s on my mind to….but do I ‘pander’….i don’t believe I do….but will keep an eye out in the future.
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Well I think whatever you are doing is working well. As a reader, I love reading your stuff and if it’s whats feeding your heart too, then I will say it’s a win-win.
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Thank you.
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I write for myself. I figure people who like my writing will continue to read and they are the people who will form my audience and community. I’m know I’ve list subscribers when I’ve posted about difficult to read topics and that’s ok.
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A price you are Ok paying for! 🙏😊 more powers.
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Yes, quite right with this. I’m always pounding for an opportunity for a crowd puller😊
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#lost not list – oops
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Some things I write here are very personal and others not so, as I use this site only for my poetry then my thoughts of course by the nature of the form are subject to certain editorial aspects, that said I hope (and strive) to be as true and honest as I can.
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As writers and poets, we are at the mercy of our thoughts and moods. Sometimes somethings want to come out and be said and other times they don’t. So I totally agree with you on that. Different ways and means but hopefully the journey is rewarding.
Thank you for commenting. Always nice to learn more about people, with whom I am sharing so much. 😊
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The answer is both. I write for myself and my readers. But I’ll be honest and say that if I write mostly for my readers I would have quit by now. When I first started blogging a few months ago, traction was moving very slow and I would think what’s the point, if no one is reading. I’m sharing my heart and making myself vulnerable with the hope of it touching someone else’s life. That’s what keeps me going on the hard days, when I just worked really hard on writing my content and only five people bother to read it or comment.
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I totally understand that feelings. My experience has been stick with your style, readers will come. 😊
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Agreed!
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