As writers, we have the opportunity to open up Pandora’s box to either help people escape a world that they need to or even to enhance the world they live in. This is a craft that even the most experienced writers need to step back and assess what they truly are writing about. And even when you begin to write, the idea that you are talking to an audience that isn’t in your brain, is hard to get onto paper. But with writing comes a power that sometimes can lead us down some dark waters of self-indulgent writing. You start writing to ‘me’, for ‘me’ because this is about ‘me’
So firstly, you need to leave the ‘me’ behind.
What Is Self-Indulgent Writing?
Let’s review the definition of “self-indulgence” from Merriam-Webster:
“Excessive or unrestrained gratification of one’s own appetites, desires, or whims.”
We often live in a world of being opinionated more than a person who lives in a world of acceptance. Writers are often taught that you should be writing to yourself as your ideal reader. Write what you know, the characters you like, big words you understand, and the narrative you like to read, rather than trying to understand your target market as a crowd of blank-faced readers.
i.e. a mum isn’t going to have the time to read a lengthy explanation, but more to the point is needed.
However, you as a writer or a personal preference, like to explain the details and the research and the why and how. Already you have lost your target audience to the fact that you are only thinking about yourself.
This is a major problem with writers and this mindset. Writers sometimes forget they’re supposed to be writing to themselves as readers (smart, critical, objective, well-read readers), and instead end up writing for themselves as writers. And this is where the art of it comes in, because as readers, you are not the same person as a writer.
Major Problems with Self-Indulgent Writing
Self-indulgent writing is really poor editing.
As writers, we are naturally self-indulgent as we wouldn’t be writing about a topic unless we were passionate enough about it. We aren’t there to please everyone, but really only to please ourselves on the humor, the love and the ethical resources that only ‘we’ love to write about.
But remember the old-fashioned bit of advice:
The first draft is for the writer. The second draft is for the reader.
The only way to suppress this self-indulgent impulse is to write it and then get someone else to proofread it. Be open, be expectant, and love the process of change.
If you don’t let go of your heart, then two things will happen to your writing, your story won’t live up to its potential and you’ll be disrespectful to your readers.
The reality is your goal of your masterpiece needs to create something that is solid and meaningful with your target audience and that you are respecting them enough to have a relationship with your copy or your story.
Tips for personal writing that’s not self-indulgent
Now read over your old blogs, social posts or stories, and find the moments where you became self-indulgent. As you begin the process of recognising the copy you will discover how to fix it.
Here are some tips to keep self-indulgence out of your copy and content:
1. Who is your Target Audience and let them guide you.
You should have already set this up from the beginning. The idea is that you are always writing to them, but in your words. Select what stories they like to hear, what makes them tick and why they would bother reading. When you have answered all of that, then you are ready to begin. Make sure that you read and understand your target audience every day before you start writing.
2. Your journey makes it special.
Readers love personal stories; they love realism and love when you reveal personal information about yourselves.
Bios and stories are often how people connect to you the most. When you see an author you like, they still have a bio on their website, this tactic will always remain in the world of writing. Even influencers you follow or personal blog pages, if there aren’t personal stories about them, then you will lose the connection.
This is very important when it comes to your brand, you can’t sell your products, unless you are willing to expose a piece of yourself first.
3. Stop rambling and get to the point.
It’s easy when you are explaining facts or stories, that you keep writing about nothing, and you think you are making a point. But in reality, your writing has turned into gossip or mumbles about points that didn’t need to be made over and over again.
My point before about mums, you can’t write to them with too much information, because the time spent in searching what they need, you only have a short window to make them remember. Even writing this blog, I have moments where I could write more about a subject, but in the end, I really wouldn’t get my point across.
It should always be about making a point in every remark or statement that you write. Or even making sure that you got their attention to make that point short and cohesive.
Just think, what am I trying to get across – and then write it in one sentence. Ok done, let’s move on.
4. Stop Gossiping or you will become too opinionated.
This is a hard one, as most blogs and copy you write you are making an opinion about something that you know.
But authenticity isn’t about spilling your guts out or making them believe your theories, it is more about telling a story that they can relate to, and forming their own opinions or using their imagination to form opinions.
Most times you are ok, but there are times you need to ask yourself:
Do I need to say that?
Does this accurately reflect who I am?
Just always read and check your writing and get feedback from other people too.
5. Avoid unnecessary admiration or bad-mouthing
Our love and hate opinions are a form of self-indulgent writing and it also doesn’t help with making your point.
I could have easily started this article and said that people or experts often say that self-indulgence is the best approach and I don’t agree. But in reality, you couldn’t care about my opinion and you would have already established a negative tone from that sentence.
Even though people relate to love and hate emotions, validating it with your personal opinions and not using it via a story that you know or a moment that they can relate to, is already irrelevant to your copy.
You aren’t there to fuel their thankfulness or annoyances; you are there to educate and make sure that they make their own opinions of the topics.
To finish……
Avoiding self-indulgent writing comes down to practicing some common writing habits and some common sense.
If you are reading your copy and have become too self-indulgent then I suggest that you seek out professional copywriters or even coaching courses to help you. Because sometimes you won’t be able to recognize it unless someone lets you know.
Just remember, know your target audience, know your vision, and restrain yourself from moving away from them.
If you want to talk to Creative Little Soul about getting someone to write copy for you or to edit your writing on a regular basis, then get in touch with Chrissy at chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au for more information or assistance