Feb 6, 2014 / Beginner

Who Is Your Reader?

Who do you write for? Who do you think of when drafting a post?

Many of us write for ourselves — we scribble our innermost thoughts in journals. We draft private blog posts. Or we write personal musings but don’t mind if our readers’ eyes fall upon them. But really, if you’re here on WordPress.com, you likely want to be part of something bigger: to make your voice heard and contribute to the conversation.

I recently wrote about my own struggle with blogging:

When I write with the intent to publish, when I write with the internet in mind — which is really all the time — the process is something else entirely. Something so different from the years I used to write in my journal, where I cleared the cobwebs and allowed my thoughts to stir in the same private space, over and over.

As bloggers, we set our words free with just the click of the Publish button, and oftentimes I think we conflate writing with publishing. When I’m drafting a post, it’s hard not to think about my readers — thousands of avatars amid a sea of pixels. Is this relevant and timely and now? Will this resonate? And then I freeze. Sometimes I delete the draft. Most of the time, I tell myself I’ll come back to it, and it ends up sitting in my dashboard. Forever.

In a post on the intrinsic value of blogging, WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg talks about how blogging is harder than it used to be — that amidst obsessing over stats, counting Likes, and waiting for comments, we forget about what really counts, like genuine engagement, thoughtful interaction, and focusing on what you truly want to say.

Matt suggests simple, practical advice: write for two people. Write for yourself, and for one other person you have in mind, as if writing them a letter:

. . . when I get caught up in that the randomness of what becomes popular or generates commentary and what doesn’t it invariably leads me to write less. So blog just for two people.

On Twitter, I asked: When you draft a post, do you write with someone specific in mind? Who is your reader? Or do you just write? A few responses suggest many of you just write (and we love this hands-off approach):

https://twitter.com/RobsSurfReport/status/430437003369250816

But how can we make Matt’s advice work for us? What can we do? Andrea Badgley commented that when she feels stuck, she thinks about Amy, her friend of more than 25 years:

I write a letter to her in my journal. I write to two people — myself and Amy — and the freedom in that loosens the words.

Dorry-kun also suggests evolving from this and shaping The Reader in your head:

I was always writing to my girlfriend. Every single published word was aimed at her, because I thought she would be the only one to listen. It really helped me a lot.

I feel I have grown since then — I no longer write just for her. Nowadays I kind of switch between her and The Reader, an imaginary reader. I have no idea who he is. I just know he is male and reads my literary concoctions.

So, next time you sit down to write a post, ask yourself: who is your reader? Then, write your post with this person in mind. When you think about this specific individual as you write, you might find your focus is sharper, your voice stronger, and your writer self more confident.

I’d love to hear about your own muses: who do you write for? 

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  3. nice post! it helped me as i am a new user/blogger here in WordPress. I also write for two people for myself and for others who can relate to what i write. thanks for this info! 😉

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  4. I write for myself first, but I also write for my people, who are in the same boat as I am. I admit, when it comes to social networking sites, I usually end up being seduced by the “URGENT NEED” to be seen, heard and “Liked.” But when I came here to WordPress…it was more on a lowkey tip…a more quiet, reflective point of view. So the need for likes, attention, etc. just isn’t quite there as much as if I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Here, I am gathering my thoughts and expressing them, along with maintaining my separate, private written journal.

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  8. I only recently started my blog and I find that I am writing to express my true self. To write about my fears, my hurt, my pain. What it was like growing up in my shoes throughout my childhood to today.
    I have had the Black Dog (depression) by my side for over a decade now and I find that expressing myself via a blog has been the most help so far.

    If other decide to read my blog, that’s great.
    I appreciate any comments they make regardless of if they are for or against me. I welcome them to explain their side of the story so I can see where they’re coming from.

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  9. I write for me. I write and challenged myself to write at least once a week. Initially writing was just a part of my ‘100 things to do before I die’, but as time goes by, I enjoy it. It’s like expressing yourself to a virtual best friend. When you express yourself, it does wonderful things to you.

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    1. I’m actually writing for a school project. I had no knowledge on blogging so it is a struggle for me currently. I see now how important it is in many peoples lives. It’s very inspirational.

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  10. Well, I’ve just started but I think I write keeping my readers in mind. I think it’s important that people who read blogs are different to you me traditional internet junkie, so there really isn’t that much need to ‘laymanise’ your language.

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  11. I am just starting out. My blog will be published in the next few weeks and I will write posts to my mother. She is my best friend and biggest supporter.

    Thanks for the guidance.

    Dionne

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  13. I write about my life and what I am thankful for in each post – hopefully to inspire and encourage people who feels down or hopeless. My intentions are to point them to a limitless source of hope, and that is in God.

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  14. I write for people to read but I initially write for me. I personally think that bloggers need to remember that we don’t need to change our point of views or ideas about something to make a reader happy, we need to write what we truly think and share our ideas with the rest of the World 🙂

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    2. This is really true. I tend to find it quite difficult to write for ‘me’ though. Because I hear the voices saying “I don’t agree, that’s not right, no way, what!” But I guess it’s about getting past it and just going for it because it’s your own thoughts and not theirs. Thanks for sharing 🙂 g x

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    3. I too write for me, if reader find it interesting they will read it, but actually its my space to vent my thoughts

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  16. I am realizing as I delve further into this blogging abyss, I am writing to share my insight. I write because we live in a Universe that is so interconnected, it’s truly overwhelming. We can take our experiences from one realm–say professional as an example, and share our thoughts for those writing in another category. If we consider that inspiration is something that has no boundaries, then we should share those insights.

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  17. I started blogging to write for myself and if readers happen to fall upon it that’s life, many people in this world focus about what can this do for me and forget the fun in life, the creativity the will to want to do something not because your popular or make money off of it s because you love it. My mind is always racing with ideals or thoughts, So I feel as if I can finally keep track of what I’m thinking in words and that feeling is amazing. What a great read for the day thank you for posting 🙂 keep it up!

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  19. I definitely write for someone random, someone who knows nothing about me. I feel more confident sharing my deepest thoughts and cares with a stranger than with a close friend. I’m writing for that person who will stumble upon my blog and hopefully find something they want to read.

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  21. I am definitely new to this blogging idea. But I want to try and write about relevant things that people do, like DIYs, and crafts, recipes. If anyone has any tips I would gladly appreciate it. 🙂

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  22. I do write for myself a lot, but I also do notice that I’ve been writing for a man that I feel I can’t have right now, and yes it does produce some decent posts, but I think I’d rather write for the man I want instead.

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  24. I recently started blogging and to be honest I have no idea what I’m doing but I know there are things that I would like to share with some like-minded people out there. I live in an urban environment and blogging helps me see the beauty in small things again, because writing these down makes me realise and experience things differently. In some ways then I guess I write for myself.

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  25. I’ve just started my blog so I have this struggle too. Thanks for sharing this because I find it hard too. Do I laugh where I would normally laugh, do I use the words I normally use, do I make myself sound more intellectual, the list goes on. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one! g x

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  26. Some of us don’t obsess over stats, count Likes, or lurk in wait for comments. Some of us truly are *not* ambitious for a wide audience. I started my blog in response to requests from two friends (real friends, not cyber). I could end the conversation today.

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  27. I’m defining my audience, but what I know is that I want to address my words to speakers of other languages as well. Nothing is more pleasant and trust-building than carrying out the dialogue with your reader in his/her mother tongue.

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  28. My blog is about my art; I see it as sort of a virtual studio, so I decided that in order to make it interesting I needed to address people as if they were visiting my studio. When I have an actual open studio, I show off both my finished art and art-in-progress, and talk a lot about technique. So my voice when I’m writing is pretty much talking to my imaginary studio visitors, who are people who can be interested in art in many different ways. Some are other artists, some are people who would like to try their hand at art, and some are just curious. I also do a “technique of the week” post, in which I imagine my readers are some of my students who would like to know a bit more about a particular subject.

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  30. Although I am not experienced with blogging yet, I believe I am writing just to put out a different perspective and voice. I really don’t care who my readers are, but as long as they can understand me, there is no problem. I believe my readers are the public…..

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