A writer friend confided something in recently.
He said he grappled with the ability to step outside him self when writing. As a result, his creations at times were a bit foggy. Although they were clear to him, they were confusing to others.
I completely understand what he means.
Sometimes I’m up late at night after a day of writing and my writing brain is exhausted. But I push on. As the words flow through me, I get lost in a cloud of my own creation. I’m immersed in a jungle of ideas and steeped in the visualization of my writing world.
It’s a forest thick and confusing. But like a dream, the understanding and clarity rest solely in the hands of a dreamer.
Here’s the thing though.
If you’re writing for yourself, it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. But if you want to get published one day, you need to learn to step outside of yourself and look at the bigger picture.
The one thing that has helped me get published and to get clear is this: Write with a specific audience in mind.
If you are writing for yourself, then you’ll write like it. It’ll show and your readers will know.
However, if you write for your mother, your friend who’s having trouble with her boyfriend or your customer who has issues with getting organized, then you’ll be able to focus on creating a story that makes perfect sense to the reader. And isn’t that who you want to impress anyway?
A great story is wonderful to have. But how much better would it be if you could share it with the world?
When I wrote a poem for my mother about a decade ago, I was thinking purely about her-what she gave to me and what I appreciated most about her growing up. I never dreamed of it getting published. But it did. My sincerity in the poem came through and it was noticed.
It’s how I tackle any assignment. I imagine who I’m writing for, what their needs are and what their expecting to get from my writing. My main goal is to come as close as I can to fulfilling this need.
Based on my experience getting published, I truly believe that writing with a person in mind, can be the difference between seeing your work in print and seeing it locked in a drawer somewhere or abandoned on your computer.
Have a secret to getting published? Tried my secret before? Would love to hear from you!
This is so true Brandi! I can remember the times I have missed the mark and the one’s where I have completly nailed it! It’s all part of the learning curve. Thanks for this post!
Cory Clay recently posted..When God When
Thanks Cory! It is part of the learning process and something I still have to continually remind myself as I am writing. I appreciate you always stopping by and thanks for your comment!