How do you write what people actually want to read?
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This can actually be a complicated question.
The first question is who is it for? Because it depends on who the audience is. Writing for a niche market is a lot different from writing for the general public.
Niche markets are easy because you already have a captive audience; whether it be a specific professional group like medical and law professionals or a blog for the local garden club. People in a niche market are more likely to read what you have to say, especially if you are also interested in the same subject. Readers will want to know what you have to say.
But, writing for the general public is a whole other story… It comes in a lot of different forms – hard news, features, sports, special interest lay groups (non-professionals), and even young readers. And on top of that, each of those forms have categories of their own.
One of the biggest ways to ensure someone will be interested in what you have to say is KNOW YOUR SUBJECT!
One of the first things you hear in a writing class is to write what you know; but that does not mean you have to be the pre-emanate authority in the matter; but you do need to have some knowledge of the subject. For instance, I can write a general news article about say a hockey game using the stats an so forth from the game itself; but if you want an in-depth article on the game??? I am the last person to call. I enjoy watching the game – especially sled hockey – but I am clueless when it comes the the rules and nuansces of the game.
Want an article on music??? I got that covered! 🙂
When it comes to general articles and news…I avoid “hard news” – breaking news stories and the like because the attitude there is get it out fast and worry about the facts later. I’m a get it right the first time kind of girl. I have built my reputation on getting it right. I will take on an obituary, but that’s a bit different.
As for the actual writing of say sporting events, features – music, musical events, profiles, etc.; it all boils down to what the reader is interested in. Is it a person they like or is it ‘trending” or a “hot” topic – those can too be tricky?
When I begin working on an article, I first look for things that interest me. It is much easier to write on something you also have an interest in reading. I sometimes shy away from the really popular stuff because there are already dozens of articles on the subject and nearly all of them say the exact same thing. If I don’t have something new to contribute, there is no reason to pile on with the same of thing.
For example, social media is inundated with stuff on Macklemore and Ed Sheeran. I have weighed in on the topic but have not written any major articles. Why? Everybody and his brother already has an opinion – and a lot of that is on erroneous information. There is little I can add that will make my work stand out in the crowd…and let’s face it, that’s why we all do it.
I know a lot of musicians and one of them told me a number of years ago that she was leaving the music business full time – she still does some pit work for musicals – because these days “every chic with a guitar can make a record”; all you need is a laptop and a microphone.
In many ways it is the same thing for journalists with the internet filled with “citizen journalists” whom as my mother would say know just enough to be dangerous (just look at social media and the “law experts” over the most recent White House fiasco).
It is much more difficult in today’s world to create work that can rise above the rubble.
These days it’s like – write what you know in the best you can do, post it, and pray it finds its way to someone who is interested.