Write What You Care About (If You Want Us To Read It)
Your obsession is your unfair advantage
Don’t bother writing about something that bores you - the boredom will bleed into your work.
Remember those assigned school essays? The forced sentences. The chore-like process. The lifeless result.
Now compare that to describing something you love:
You can barely shut up, the words sing, you lose track of time, words appear effortlessly, and you lean toward superlatives
That’s the power of writing in alignment with your values.
Watch and learn when you can’t shut up
For example, I could talk about creativity, curiosity, art, writing, and expression till the cows plod back into the barn. When these topics come up in a group conversation, I’m quickly edging my way over to join in.
At a recent lunch party, my friend Anne started discussing her latest reads. She’s the one who encouraged me to visit the free Adelaide Writers’ Week (which I’ve obsessively attended ever since).
She asked, “Have you read Where the Birds Call Her Name and The Island of Missing Trees?” When I answer no, her face shows the bliss she felt reading it, along with the joy that I’m in for. Plus an ever so slight envy that the experience of discovering that book is now behind her.
I immediately put both books on hold at my library. And feel surprising urgency for the “Your book is available” message to arrive soon.
Yes, those conversation starters, “Have you seen the latest art exhibition at the state gallery?” or “How did you find the watercolour workshop?” or “Booked in for the National Theatre Live movie?” are the entry to my happy place.
Because when creativity comes up, I can’t help myself. Energy flows through me that won’t be tamed. My brain’s on fire, and I’m fuelled up to chat. When the conversation’s over, I’m energised, not drained. I feel plugged in.
This is why friends will say that I’m talkative (which surprises me because I consider myself quiet!) And why one friend caught my eye across the party room that day with that knowing smile. The one that says, There she goes again.
What’s the irresistible topic for you? Cricket, Persian food, skydiving, solo travel? And what genre fills your bookshelves or podcast feed?
Obsession drives success
If the topic you’re obsessed with matches your work, you’re in luck. You’ll be an asset at work or succeed wildly in your business as the founder. Because your heart, mind, and daily contribution are aligned.
I recognize this fire in other people immediately. Like when I recently signed up for online art classes.
The teacher, Gabbi, is warm, inclusive, encouraging, and talented. But what draws me in most is the curiosity in her voice as she explains why she’s adding this colour here, and now covering it up with this mark. She’s sharing her practice as she goes and is lost in a state of flow.
You see an inner voice guiding her, and her willingness to pivot. She fully trusts her intuition. Her assuredness, along with a delicious sense of freedom, encourages us to take chances, too. She gives us permission to be ourselves and find our way.
When she turns to the camera, her face is full of light and joy. It’s clear she loves what she does and wants to share the experience with us. She’s obsessed, in the healthiest way. And she’s honey to a bee, for her students.
My abstract painting above is what flowed out of me in her class.
Readers want to be warmed at your fire
You know that infectious energy you feel when an entrepreneur, actor, artist, or author describes their work and life sizzles through them?
That’s the magnetism we want in our words.
I felt it this morning when asked to journal my Song of the Self (inspired by Walt Whitman’s) in 10 minutes. Words poured out—the leaf I was looking at, the dust of India, the faces of friends—details from decades ago zoomed in.
When I read it aloud to the group, I felt right back in that time. And those listening went quiet afterwards. Then complimented me on the narrative, the rhythm, and found the writing “lovely, profound.”
What I loved was the bodily feeling of being true to myself. Sunk into the earth. Solid.
I knew again why Whitman’s words have survived for 170 years. They tap into his rapture of being alive and transmit it to us today.
He doesn’t write about well-being. His words take us there.
That’s what happens when you write from obsession instead of obligation. Readers don’t just understand your point - they feel your fire.
Like:
The karaoke singer who wins us over with their courage and chutzpah
The Christmas pageant kid who’s off-key but adorable
The old rockstar who keeps touring because he’s still got the spark
Your words connect you to your readers. And readers are listening to see if your values match theirs. They need to know you’re worth reading and someone they want to get to know.
So write what you care about and play that unfair advantage of being your one brilliant self.
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Passion makes writing come alive. You are so right
Self is a dangerous guy for me, so I write a lot about surrender, we are fighting battles we where never intended to fight.