My 'Write for Your Reader' Predicament
I can't write for my reader because that's not what I'm here for
I am having trouble getting on board with this idea of ‘writing for my reader’. I see a lot of that going around in an effort to give people who want to monetize their Substack helpful advice.
In the same breath, I see the advice: “Just be yourself”…
I write for my readers as a professional copywriter. It’s what I am trained to do to get them to buy something. I am very good at that.
My main source of income is my freelance copywriting business, and it has been sustainable and lucrative. But I don’t know if it’s what I prefer to do. I prefer to write for my publication on topics I feel most passionate about.
Sometimes, it strikes me as surprising when I don’t see the same results I get for my clients on all of my personal publication’s posts.
But the reason there is such a varying outcome (and income) is that I didn’t start The Unfurling Rose publication to write for my readers.
I started it so I could be me.
To be the writer who likes to write for herself, too. Not for other people.
To be the mom and the wife who studies Ayurveda and Kundalini Yoga and who enthusiastically loves to share it with people.
To be the dreamer and the visionary I am, who embraces her Divine Feminine and loves to show others how to embody the principles into their own living.
The girl who has so much to share, so many questions and so many stories that have shaped her.
I started The Unfurling Rose so I could use my style of writing, edit how I want to edit, use the format I want to use, and write in my VOICE.
I can assure you that when you read my writing here on Substack, you are reading my voice.
I spent so much time writing for others that I was becoming preoccupied with their business, their brand story, and their voice… not mine. Even though their business is my business, I am still a human with hobbies, dreams, passions…
and a story to tell.
I could feel all the creativity that wanted to pour out begin to bubble in my belly like a fire. I want to express myself in my unique language.
Not in someone’s brand voice or tone.
Not to persuade them to buy anything (although, I have many programs to offer).
Not to put on another hat and be a beauty writer, coffee writer, digital media writer or industrial drilling writer…
To be me.
Do you feel conflicted when you see this ‘write for your reader’ advice floating around the digital space?
For me, it feels great when others like my reading, share it and subscribe. It feels absolutely amazing when someone upgrades to a paid subscription.
The paid subscriptions may come in slowly and scarce right now, but when they do, the time I pour into my own writing feels that much more rewarding.
It’s like a personal project, book report or biography about… me.
It’s fun.
It’s therapeutic.
And it touches other hearts, not their wallets.
When someone wants to support my work simply because they appreciate it, that feels so much better than knowing they dug into their wallet because I used sly marketing tactics and makreting psychology.
This is why I started The Unfurling Rose.
So I could keep me on the surface of my heart, rather than buried underneath the various brands and hats I’m asked to wear all day long in my copywriting gig.
Thanks for listening!
Thanks for reading The Unfurling Rose: stories about how moments in life can become a meditation, and how being human is a spiritual revolution.
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Authenticity matters more. Keep writing for you. Those who need your words will find them - as I did. ✨💫
Hi Stephanie, it's a really interesting question and it's been great reading your post and the comments it's generated.
I think when you're clear about why you're here on Substack, it makes it easier to understand what you should do.
If you're here to write what you want, above attracting an audience and getting paid, then that's fine. You don't need to feel conflicted, you can literally do what you feel, and see which way the wind blows you.
But if you have ambitions to grow a following and develop your writing into a business, then I think those writers absolutely have to look at the intersection of what they want to write about and what their readers are interested in. That should be the core offering.
I know this is why I'm here, and I'm feeling around, trying to find that intersection. I can still be authentic, I'm just meeting readers where they are.
To write about whatever I like and expecting people to pay to support that in numbers feels like too much of a hit and hope. I'm not prepared to leave that to chance when I have an opportunity to shape my future.