Amateur Writers All Make This 1 Mistake

Nicolas Cole Twitter

Here is a summary of a writer’s journey:

• Beginner writers think they are the main character of the story. It’s all about them. They’re the writer, they’re the one in the spotlight, and everything they have to say is important. Readers should feel lucky to be in the presence of such greatness.
• Advanced writers learn it’s really about the reader. After several months or years (or decades) of falling on deaf earns, these writers come to the realization that in order to be successful, they need to speak to the wants and needs of the reader. But to compensate for their years of selfishness, they usually end up over-tilting in this new direction.
• Expert writers master the art of doing both. These writers have internalized the fact that the reader is the main character of the story (not them), and learn how to use personal stories, perspectives, and insights in service of the wants and needs of the reader. The mastery they have over their craft is seen in their ability to balance these two opposing forces: what the writer wants to write about, and what the reader wants to read about.

In order to become a successful writer, you must put the reader first.

You are not the main character.