Write Things: On writing to please your audience

Hello Writers,

I just wrapped up my Writer's Detox Retreat this past weekend in Carman, Manitoba.

We worked on living more authentically so that we can write more authentically.

Today's newsletter is inspired by one of the topics that came up.

Idea: On People-Pleasing in Writing

When we write to please others, it seems like a great strategy—if people enjoy what we write, we’ll feel validated, right?

But here’s the problem: It’s impossible to please everyone. Tastes change. Audiences vary. No matter how hard we try, someone won’t like what we’ve written. This creates stress and anxiety because, at any given moment, you could feel like a failure as a writer.

And if you’re writing solely to cater to others, you’re not actually creating—you’re advertising. Nothing’s wrong with trying to appeal to an audience, but by focusing on what you think they want, you’re stifling your own creativity. You miss out on the freedom and personal growth that comes from true self-expression.

Finally, you’ll struggle to experience true self-trust and confidence as a writer. If you're crafting stories to make others happy, you won’t feel proud of your own original ideas because, deep down, you know you haven’t shared them. You’re not revealing your true abilities, and as a result, you won’t feel seen for who you are as a writer. Doubt will creep in, and self-trust won’t have a chance to develop. Writing authentically is what leads to deep, personal fulfillment—and without it, you’ll constantly question your abilities.

Inspiration: "What Whispers Inside"

Set a timer for four minutes and begin writing on the prompt above. It may be personal, fictional, or somewhere in between.

You can choose to focus on a piece you're currently working on or something new.

As always, I’d love to hear what you wrote! Reply to this email or send it to [email protected]. I personally reply to each one received before next Thursday.

Invitation: To Be Authentic

Stop! If you haven’t done it yet, let’s do that quick-write prompt.

When you read the prompt, what was the first thing that came to mind? Was it a thought? A scene? An image? That’s what I want you to write about!

It might be muddy, disjointed, or nonsensical—that’s okay! Just go with it. Your goal is to keep your pen moving. We’re just throwing paint against a wall here, seeing what sticks, what forms.

If no inspiration came up when you read the prompt, write about that: “Whispers bring nothing to mind; I don’t often think about whispers. I haven’t whispered since I was a kid...”

The objective is to listen and write whatever comes up. Approach it with playfulness, curiosity, or excitement—whatever feels right.

Just write what you feel in the way you want to.

See you all next week.

Trevor