Writing for self vs Writing for Market

Arka Das
Arka Das
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

First one is easy and always will be. It is spontaneous. You are never run out of ideas. The voice is unique and satisfyingly yours. The narrative, comfortably, straight off the bat.

Why so?

Because we know us. Writing for self needs a detachment from rest and a dive in our psyche and thought. Success and applause are the vanity metrics here as writing for self does not ask for any conversion. Though we can always flip the coin and count the likes ( now the claps) and upvotes and engage with the fans if we want. But, that’s not mandatory. Thank God, it’s not.

Confine your ideas or make them free over the blank canvas. Paint your pain and pleasure with words. Writing for self is comfortable if you know yourself.

Comfort of staying inside a cocoon takes a back seat while you start writing for the market. Market is formed with the people. Your words must have the power to connect with them. Sounds Herculean and it is. Because we don’t know the people. Those who know them are the king.

Go through the web pages, both successful and the mute ones. Run a riot with your keywords. And you will find that words and style come later. Much later. If you know the people, vaguely termed as the target audience- you can always write for the market and win it.

What if I wrap up myself with the vanity of a great writer, over-the-head concept and zero honesty to listen to my people and know them? I have been there and failed miserably as a writer for market.

The market does not want any Kafka or James Joyce, all so good and beautiful to unveil the hidden thoughts but extremely exclusive. They want Hameed, Sam or any Suzan who will know the people, understand them, entertain them and be one of them. Have a wish to go against the tide? Walk, run till you reach to the firing ground. Death. Aha!!! Thou a bliss.

These two forms of writing are not crossing dagger though. Possibly it’s all in my head. But, I have suffered and I don’t you to taste that old wine.

Writing for us is what we think and conceive. The latter one is complex because we want to get picked and loved by the people.

That’s the simple and hard earned truth I have learned from my past one and half year donning both the hats with miserable misses and handful hits. All the best if you are in identical plight.

)

Arka Das

Arka Das

Helping startups to build their products at DreamToIPO, http://www.dreamtoipo.com/

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