You’re Writing, But Are You Really Connecting?

Connecting more deeply with readers through understanding and compassion

Photo by Marco Lastella on Unsplash

A while back, I was thinking about writing a piece about failure.

I thought the piece wasn’t bad; the sentences had a nice flow, the structure made sense, and length-wise, it met the guidelines.

But it felt incomplete. It didn’t resonate with me, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t connect with anyone else, either.

So I stopped and thought about a time when I actually failed.

I remembered the feelings in my body – the weight of failure in my chest, the embarrassment, the silence after it happened.

Instead of simply explaining what “failure” means, I pushed myself to write this piece from that place.

When I read the draft after making that small shift, it felt different. It was not perfect, but it was authentic. Most people are connected with it.

That moment helped me realize: empathy changes everything.

Writing is not just about “putting words on paper”. It’s about understanding people and what they feel, what they hope for, and what they fear.

When your writing comes from a place of empathy, it feels less like information…