Why Do You Write?
Technical Writer HQ is onto several powerful insights, here. Number one is that successful writers (and businesses) pay attention to their audience.
To extend the metaphor, I'd say the question is not so much whether a chef knows how to cook; it's whether they know why they cook. Probably for the love of it, yes. More crucially: are they doing it for the love of the diners? Kitchen skills alone will not fill a restaurant. The good chef asks what the people want to (or need to, or are able to) eat. If they do not, they may be looking forward to a lonely feast of self-satisfaction.
The effective author (or business), the one who wishes to truly resonate and connect with others, has the wisdom, at the right point, to set down the storytelling spatula. They begin to listen: to beta readers, then to a seasoned editor (a business might conduct a customer survey, consult a copywriter, or enlist a UX expert). They ponder what ingredients must come out of the skillet, and which ones ought to be added, in order to cook up a story whose fragrance will entice readers to come, sit at the table, and eat.
If you are a writer or communicator of any stripe and this sounds like compromise; if you get the impression that your words and maybe even your objectives might look a little different after the tables are set and the doors open for dinner than they did this morning when you first sat down to draft a rough menu, then good! You hear what I'm trying to say. I'm curious: how does it taste?
Your answer will indicate how ready you are to go on a journey of growth as a successful communicator. To be clear: this is not a pilgrimage to forsake your personality and passions. Instead, it's an adventure of learning how to adapt in order to convey yourself into shared spaces, and how to conduct yourself within them.
Whether or not you realized it, these were the terms when you set out to put your words into the world. If you're still struggling to digest this, I'll lean once more on Technical Writer HQ's comparison (truly a gift that keeps on giving). Consider that a common feature of people dining together is conversation. Something else folks often do over a meal? Negotiate.
Your book, your manuscript, your blog, your newsletter, your website...this is the restaurant you are building. You do want people to fill it, yes? Your beta readers and editor are your planning and negotiating team. Use them!
As your editor (or as your copywriter, which is another service I provide), I labor on your behalf to understand you, your potential audience, and your words. I work to discern how the ingredients will interact with one another during the future meeting of the minds which you desire. I provide key technical and intuitive insights to aim you toward the probable ideal recipe for your words.
This is my how. My why is to empower you and your audience to enjoy an enriching experience of human connection.
#whybeforewhat #copyediting