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Where are we as writers in relationship to what readers expect?
As a way to begin exploring this question, we might turn our attention to the subject of fashion for a moment.
Let's imagine that three webmasters are going to an internet marketing convention. What should they wear?
- The first webmaster wears a casual business suit.
- The second webmaster wears a casual business suit, with a loud tie.
- The third webmaster wears a clown costume.
Each webmaster has positioned themselves at a different place in regards to the fashion group consensus.
The webmaster wearing the casual business suit looks professional. They've played it safe. Their attire won't get them in trouble, but it won't get them noticed either.
The webmaster with the loud tie has taken a little step away from the fashion group consensus. The loud tie probably won't get them in trouble, but will it get them noticed? Maybe.
The webmaster in the clown costume is going for broke. Every time there is a round of applause this webmaster stands up and honks the clown horn that is part of his outfit. HONK, HONK!
Attendees may question the sanity of this webmaster, but this is the one webmaster they are sure to remember.
So let's leave the world of fashion now, and return to writing.
Where are we as writers in relationship to what readers expect?
If we give readers what they are used to, what they expect to see, in the way they expect to see it, nobody is going to laugh at us. Phew!
But, now we look just like millions of other web writers, so rising above the endless ocean of web content to be noticed and remembered becomes quite challenging, perhaps impossible.
If we instead challenge the group consensus, and say things readers don't expect to see, and say it in a way they aren't used to, our chances of being noticed and remembered go way up.
But now some of our readers are mad at us, some think we're an idiot, and some have no idea what the devil we're talking about. The rest of the readers may become big fans.
Where is our writing in relationship to the group consensus of our market?
We might propose that...
- Like most other mediums, the web is basically show business and...
- If we don't put on some kind of show, we won't get noticed and...
- If we don't get noticed, it doesn't matter that much what we're saying because...
- Few people are actually listening.
What say you fellow web writers?
As a way to begin exploring this question, we might turn our attention to the subject of fashion for a moment.
Let's imagine that three webmasters are going to an internet marketing convention. What should they wear?
- The first webmaster wears a casual business suit.
- The second webmaster wears a casual business suit, with a loud tie.
- The third webmaster wears a clown costume.
Each webmaster has positioned themselves at a different place in regards to the fashion group consensus.
The webmaster wearing the casual business suit looks professional. They've played it safe. Their attire won't get them in trouble, but it won't get them noticed either.
The webmaster with the loud tie has taken a little step away from the fashion group consensus. The loud tie probably won't get them in trouble, but will it get them noticed? Maybe.
The webmaster in the clown costume is going for broke. Every time there is a round of applause this webmaster stands up and honks the clown horn that is part of his outfit. HONK, HONK!
Attendees may question the sanity of this webmaster, but this is the one webmaster they are sure to remember.
So let's leave the world of fashion now, and return to writing.
Where are we as writers in relationship to what readers expect?
If we give readers what they are used to, what they expect to see, in the way they expect to see it, nobody is going to laugh at us. Phew!
But, now we look just like millions of other web writers, so rising above the endless ocean of web content to be noticed and remembered becomes quite challenging, perhaps impossible.
If we instead challenge the group consensus, and say things readers don't expect to see, and say it in a way they aren't used to, our chances of being noticed and remembered go way up.
But now some of our readers are mad at us, some think we're an idiot, and some have no idea what the devil we're talking about. The rest of the readers may become big fans.
Where is our writing in relationship to the group consensus of our market?
We might propose that...
- Like most other mediums, the web is basically show business and...
- If we don't put on some kind of show, we won't get noticed and...
- If we don't get noticed, it doesn't matter that much what we're saying because...
- Few people are actually listening.
What say you fellow web writers?