You Don’t Need to Grow Your Audience. You Need This Instead.

I meet people daily—teachers, lawyers, moms, college students, web developers—who want to be writers. They don’t want to quit what they’re doing, necessarily. They just feel in their gut they have something to say.

Usually, they’ll say something like, “I’ve always wanted to write a book someday… or everyone always tells me I should write down my story.”

My response is, “you should!”

That’s when the excuses start. “No, I could never… I don’t have the time… no one would ever read it… what makes my story unique?… there are a million people out there who are better writers than me…”

bigger

Here’s the funny part.

I also work with people on a daily basis who are writers. They’re usually teachers or lawyers or moms or college students too, but they’re also bloggers or aspiring authors or storytellers and they reach out to me because they need a writing coach.

“Okay,” they admit. “I want to be a writer. But I’m not sure how.”

I tell them that’s a great place to start.

But you know what really gets me about working with these writers?

They say the same things to me everyone else says. They say, “What if I spend all this time writing my story and no one ever reads it? Why should I do this when there are a million people out there who are better than me? What makes me unique?”

And you know what I tell them?

I say: great questions. Those questions are an excellent place to start. In fact, I suggest we actually answer those questions. Like, let’s put them down on paper and see if we can answer them for ourselves.

  • What is the point of writing when I’m not sure if anyone will read it?
  • Why should I do this when there are a million writers out there who are better than me?
  • What does make me unique?

And after years of making myself ask and answer these questions—and making hundreds of other writers do it, too—this is what I’ve come to.

The point of writing when I’m not sure anyone else will read it is that it changes me.

It really doesn’t matter if anyone else ever reads it, or if it becomes a New York Times Bestseller or if an agent picks me up or I get a publisher and make a million dollars and get to quit my job. I mean, sure, all of that would be nice, but it isn’t the purpose of writing.

It isn’t the reason we do it—is it?

And of course there are writers out there who are better at writing than I am.

That will always be true, no matter how talented I become. Can you imagine if I said, “I’m never going to play tennis again because Andre Agassi and Serena Williams will always have me beat? Or, what if I were to say, “you should never play tennis again, unless you can beat me.”

My guess is, you would say, “but what about the joy in playing tennis?”

“What about the exercise, the friendship, the fun?”

The same is true for writing. Writing doesn’t have to be about growing a following or building a platform or getting a million people to read your work. It doesn’t have to be about growing your career. It can be, and if it is, you have to start where everyone starts—right where you are. But it doesn’t have to be about any of that.

Writing can be about becoming yourself.

In fact, I’m finding, when I make it about this—about becoming myself, rather than becoming famous—I’m much happier and more productive in the end. And, as a happy benefit, when I write for the right reasons, the audience tends to to follow.

And finally—the answer to the third question.

What makes me unique is I am me.

No one else in the whole world is like me. No one else has my temperament, my intellect, my experiences. No one else talks exactly like me, or has my same quirks. No one else spaces their hangers perfectly apart in their closet or listens to the same song on repeat 100 times while working on a project (yes, I do that. Don’t judge).

I’m perfectly my own person, perfectly valuable, perfectly me.

Saying, “my voice doesn’t matter” is like saying, “I don’t matter,” and although I’m certain at times we each believe that is true, it feels like a tragedy.

But what if we changed our motives for writing?

What if it wasn’t about becoming famous or selling a bunch of copies? What if it was just about becoming ourselves?

If that were the case, I have a feeling our motivation would drive us to write—even on days when it didn’t feel like anyone was reading, or days we worried no one would ever read. I have a feeling it would help us trust the process and lean in and stay true to our voices and our message—no matter the audience.

When we can do this, it’s almost like magic.

Our writing improves. Our audience grows (slowly, but surely). We become more wholehearted, well-rounded people.

Our healing becomes healing for others.

If you’re interested in growing a huge audience or selling a bunch of copies or becoming famous, I’m not sure I can help you.

But if you’re interested in this—in learning what it looks like to see yourself, to listen to yourself, to know yourself and to show up on the page, I have really good news for you.

I created a course for you—and for anyone who wants to become a better writer.

I designed this course specifically to help you:

  • Gain confidence in your innate ability as a writer–to draw out the talent already inside you
  • Achieve clarity by pinpointing your message
  • Grow in your satisfaction by teaching you how to connect with an audience in an authentic way.
  • Improve your productivity by teaching you to generate and re-generate creative energy

Whether you’re a mom, a college student, a teacher or a lawyer who wants to write but has been too afraid to start, or you’re already writing but aren’t sure about your next step, I challenge you to join me in this four-week journey to discovering your unique voice.

You won’t regret it. I promise.

Get Started With Find Your Writing Voice Today

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

No, seriously, we can be friends...we can email back and forth and everything! :) 

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
Posted in
mm

Allison Fallon

I write books. I help people write books. I believe a regular practice of writing can change your life.

29 thoughts on “You Don’t Need to Grow Your Audience. You Need This Instead.”

  1. Thanks Jeff, I took a course that you offered for free about eight months ago. I love your style and you put your true heart into your work. I would love to take your class. You are an amazing writer. The tone of my writing needs to be adjusted for an audience that I serve! Thank You.
    Lori -http//Lorislittlelessons.com.

  2. Yay for writing for writing sake! I have no audience, no book deal, and no millions. But I’m writing every day because it makes me happy, it makes my life better and, gulp, it helps me “become myself” as you so wonderfully state.

    I’m writing and I’m happier, smarter, and a better writer. All just through writing. Imagine the possibilities! Oh wait, I’m already achieving them! Hmm, now what? Book deal, a following, millions? As you say, those aren’t bad, but I don’t need them. Maybe they’ll come, that would be nice.

    In the meantime, thanks for your post reassuring me that I’m “doing the right thing” by just writing. Every. Day.

      1. Don’t get me wrong, I started out shooting for millions (dollars, followers, etc.) but just stopped caring about “them” and started caring more about “me.” Then it all just flowed.

        My two young boys and I wrote a book together recently. It’s for sale on Amazon … but mostly because the boys thought it would be really cool to have a book for sale on Amazon. Do you see what I’m saying? For us, the act of writing the book was the fun part, finishing it was pretty hard and editing it was actual work. So before we even sell one, we’ve “succeeded.”

        BTW, in case you couldn’t tell, I’m your newest fan and love what you’re doing here!

  3. Thanks! That is encouraging!

    I recently started blogging more regularly and I find it rejuvenating. It pushes me to think about who I am, what I stand for and it even makes me think about my thinking 😉 For so long I kept myself so busy, I did not have time to explore my own ideas and issues. So I think the first one to benefit from my writing is me.

    J
    F

  4. Congratulations on starting your writing course, the puppy, and all the other amazing things happening for you!

    Brilliant post. I recently joined a writing group and never have I loved the gift of writing as much as I do. Being surrounded by like-minded people who simply delight in the joy of creating beautiful art is such a gift of grace. We’re not talking about building audiences and all that jazz. We’re discussing ways to be your best self through the craft. It’s refreshing.

    Also, I listen to songs on repeat obsessively. No judgement here!

  5. Bookmarking this post for every time I feel insecure about writing…Wish I could afford the time/money for your course right now. Your writing always seems to mold my mind and force me to see life and writing with a different perspective. It’s always good to be reminded that I’m worth something as a writer. We all have something to offer.

  6. Even for those of us who DO care a lot about being read widely and becoming “successful” in the worldly sense, NONE of that happens until you find and value your voice, and learn to enjoy writing as a personal growth experience. What you teach in your course is essential regardless of writer’s personal ambitions.

  7. Allison –

    I just discovered your blog today, through an RT of this post on Twitter (I’m sorry I can’t remember who retweeted you!). I love your writing, and I’ve subscribed to your feed.

    Writers write. Period. We don’t write for recognition, or money, or even to be read. Those are great goals, but they’re not enough to keep our butts in our chairs and our fingers on the keys day after day when they’re not coming. We write because we have to, because the words are there and they need somewhere to go. And because, as you said, the act of writing fulfills us. The work itself is the reward.

    I post a link on my blog every Wednesday. If you don’t mind, I’d like to link this post for the 24th of September. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    Scott

  8. If you are having trouble creating your CCTV camera
    you can very easily call CCTV42 in addition to their technical support team will happily talk you through setting
    up your CCTV camera. CCTV over IP will offer a host
    of advantages compared to standard analogue CCTV. Get cctv
    dvr Incase, the first file is damaged or lost, the new Security CCTV
    4CH H.

    If that is possible then get your multi-room DVR from your operator for cash.
    Further you should think the huge benefits and disadvantages of every of them and
    if you feel that CCTV is the most appropriate answer,
    the things they say buy it.

  9. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your
    favorite justification appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of.

    I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don’t know about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the
    whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
    Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  10. I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.

    I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger
    if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  11. Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs?

    I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and
    would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would appreciate your work.
    If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.

  12. Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear
    concept

  13. Heya! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4!

    Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and
    look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!

  14. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things
    to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use
    a few of your ideas!!

  15. DR EMU WHO HELP PEOPLE IN ANY TYPE OF LOTTERY NUMBERS
    It is a very hard situation when playing the lottery and never won, or keep winning low fund not up to 100 bucks, i have been a victim of such a tough life, the biggest fund i have ever won was 100 bucks, and i have been playing lottery for almost 12 years now, things suddenly change the moment i came across a secret online, a testimony of a spell caster called dr emu, who help people in any type of lottery numbers, i was not easily convinced, but i decided to give try, now i am a proud lottery winner with the help of dr emu, i won $1,000.0000.00 and i am making this known to every one out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery.

    Contact him on email Emutemple@gmail.com
    What’s app +2347012841542

  16. I suffered from what they called peripheral artery disease (PAD). I have been suffering for years, Me and my wife searched for a medical cure, and then we came across a testimony of a man who suffered the same and was cured by Dr Chief Lucky. So my wife and I contacted Dr Chief Lucky via an email and thank God he replied. I explained what was wrong and he sent me herbal medicines that helped heal me completely. I am happy to say that herbal medicine is the ultimate and Dr Chief Lucky I am grateful. You can contact him on his email: chiefdrlucky@gmail.com or whatsapp: +2348132777335, Facebook page http://facebook.com/chiefdrlucky website https://chiefdrlucky.com/. He said that he also specializes in the following diseases: ALS, CANCER, HPV, HERPES, DIABETES, HEPATITIS B, HIV, And more.

  17. EFFECTIVE LOVE SPELL TO GET EX HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND OR EX WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND CURE HERPES AND INFERTILITY THAT WORKS WITHIN 24 HOURS. WIN LOTTERY POWERBALL/MEGAMILLIONS 100% GUARANTEED

    Contact Dr. Odunga at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com OR Whats App/CALL +2348167159012

    I got my ex husband back to me and also got fertile and gave birth to twin girls after 12 years of marriage.
    When I came online last year, I saw a testimony about Doctor ODUNGA and how he has been helping people with marriage issues and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and later he gave me his WhatsApp number which is +2348167159012. He assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. Doctor Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contact. The third day, I received natural herbs for fertility and after using it, I became fertile and conceived. I and my husband reconnected, had sex and I was pregnant. Presently I am happy to say I am the mother of twin girls and this is ALL THANKS TO DOCTOR ODUNGA. I came online to say this If you need help, I believe you are saved with this man.

    Contact his email at odungaspelltemple@gmail.com

    OR Whats App/Call +2348167159012 and you too will give a testimony too to help others

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

eleven + 4 =

Scroll to Top

My new book is available for pre-order!

Discover the power of (finally) getting unstuck, claiming your clarity, and becoming the person whose life you want to live—all through a simple self-care practice you can build into your daily routine.