Years ago I read somewhere that to be successful at writing (or acting, or whatever your craft may be) you should think of your audience as you work. Without your audience, “they” said, you would be less able to fully engage yourself.
Originally, this blog was supposed to be a spin off of my childbirth education website. But if you were to go back and read those first posts (and believe me, I’m not encouraging you to do that) you would see how dry and bo-ring they were. I hardly ever posted back then, because even I didn’t have any interest in reading something so… stiff.
But then I decided to find my audience. Who could I write to, and feel completely at home with myself? That answer was easy: my best friend of 17 years, Rachel. Not only has she encouraged me to continue writing in many ways over time, but I also know that no matter what I say, she’s not going to laugh at me. Well, she might, but it’s in a totally nice, non-judgmental way.
Whenever I sit down here to write a post, I pretend like I’m writing to Rachel. She gets my sense of humor, and she loves me despite my quirks. I can just be. It’s incredibly liberating. Rachel is my audience of one – and the reason I’m able to get over my self-doubt enough to write things for all the world to see.
The difference between the dull posts of my first 5 or so months here, and everything after that, is plain to see: Rachel helps me to be a better me.
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Do you have an audience, or are you able to hone your skills for yourself alone?
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6 replies on “Audience of One”
I made the mistake of telling my parents about my blog. So now, although there are a lot of things I would like to say, I can’t, because mostly, I write for my parents…
Why no link to your childbirth site from this one?
Ummm, that would be because I don’t know anything about setting up a website. So I got frustrated after creating the first page and then went to work on the blog. If I were still actively teaching, I’d probably be more concerned about getting it finished. But, with everything else going on, it’s on the back burner.
And my parents are the opposite – I’ve given them my blog address half a dozen times, but neither one of them has ever read it. At least I don’t have that pressure!
That’s so great! And now think of all the other yahoos out there like me who love to read your site. Keep doing it!
P.S. I totally don’t like NASCAR. I just was trying to think of something ultra manly on TV, and after Cops and Married With Children I was all tapped out!
The parents and parents-in-law as audience members problem always cracks me up. Both sides read my blog. I spend a lot of time trying to forget that they are in my audience so that I can actually write what I want!
Bossy knows that good friends are hard to come by. Hold tight!
I definitely get excited to write when I picture my readers– comments are wonderful and definitely fuel me for future posts. It’s the most wonderful benefit of blogging, and I’m so glad I started.