Katie Coen

Whenever I sit down to write, I feel like the words just flow as my fingers clack against the keys of my laptop. I sit and wonder if anyone has any interest in these words that come so easily to me. Does anyone care what I have to say?

Whether anyone cares or not, I have always tried to write what I want rather than what the audience will expect. I like to keep them on their toes wondering what is still ahead. Whether it is an academic paper or fictional story for my own portfolio, I try to twist my style and structure to make the writing more interesting. Although I do this for myself, I also do it to keep the reader around. I want them to finish my writing rather than getting distracted by their own thoughts. 

In “On Writing Well,” Zinsser stressed that people should write for themselves rather than the readers, but he also noted that the reader must be kept engaged. He said these are two different issues, craft and attitude. If your writing is done well and with passion, it will be more appealing to a reader. When it is concise and interesting, the reader should continue to read no matter what the topic of the text is. 

“You are writing for yourself. Don’t try to visualize the great mass audience. There is no such audience — every reader is a different person”

Zinsser, page 24

I agree that writers should use a self-centered approach as they reflect on the words inside them. They should write what they want rather than thinking about what a reader would expect. It is still important to appeal to the reader and keep them engaged, but that can be done with skillful writing. Once a writer has practiced and learned what works for them, their work will be more compelling. As Zinsser said, good writing will keep anyone engaged, no matter the topic or the concept.

Source

Zinsser, William. On Writing Well. Harper Perennial, 1976.