Pleasing Others With Your Writing

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks or says about me!” How often have we heard someone say that? How many times have we said it ourselves?

The truth is that most of us really do care what people think and say about us. I heard someone, a preacher I think, say that the opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. So unless you can be totally indifferent, you probably do care what others say and think.

The degree to which we let others’ opinions affect us will determine the negative effect it will have on us. Do we become people-pleasers? Been there, done that, and it’s a heavy load to carry because no matter how hard you try, you can’t please everyone. It's a no-win situation when our insecurities drive us to please people. We're happy when people are happy with us, which drives to please people more.  When people aren't pleased with us, it wounds us, so we strive to please people more. (I know, I've overused the words people and please, and the writer in me will be unhappy that people aren't pleased with that)

When it comes to writing, you will be faced with positive and negative voices speaking into your writing journey. You will have to come to the place where you decide whether to write what others want or what you want. Where is your passion, your desire, the driving force behind your writing?

Go with your heart, especially if you feel God-directed. The people who will be pleased or touched by your writing will be the ones God intended to be your audience. You can’t please everyone, so please God and yourself. All else will fall into place.