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Why most writers burn out
And how to ensure that doesn't happen to you
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Yesterday, we covered how to understand what your audience wants and needs.
Today, I want to discuss the opposite:
What YOU — the writer and creator — want and need.
The “sweet spot” is the balance between:
what your audience wants to read
what you want to write
It’s critical to have both. Here’s why:
If you focus 100% on what you want to write, your audience won’t care. They don’t owe you their time and attention. It’s about THEM.
Meanwhile, if you focus 100% on what your audience wants and 0% on what you want to create, it’s unlikely you will sustain the effort of creating over a long period of time.
You’ll start to lose interest in writing.
You’ll start to feel like it’s a chore.
You’ll stop enjoying the process.
And when that happens, you’re done.
This is why most writers burn out.
So, here’s how we make sure that doesn’t happen.
Let’s continue the example from yesterday’s issue.
Pretend you’re writing for busy professionals who want to be healthier.
We listed out a bunch of things this audience probably wants or needs.
Now, ask yourself these questions:
What feels fun to write about?
When do I feel energized when writing?
Where do I have the most insight to share?
What am I the most curious to learn more about?
Where do I have the most personal stories or lessons?
Questions like these uncover what you actually WANT to create, which is critical.
Continuing our hypothetical example, let’s say my answers to the above questions result in the following:
I love writing about healthy eating
I studied sports nutrition in college
I traveled 100+ days per year for work
I’m fascinated by the concepts of micro workouts
Now we go back to our list of audience wants and needs and find the overlap.
You’re not going to write about every want and need your audience has.
You’re going to write about their wants and needs that overlap with the things you want to write about.
And that’s your sweet spot.
That’s where you build an amazing community that you wake up and want to serve with your content.
That’s where you find your unique advantage and never burn out because you love the process of it.
Action Item
Run through this process for yourself.
Identify what YOU want to write about.
Then go back to yesterday’s exercise and see where it overlaps with your audience’s wants and needs.
Save those topics as a your Sweet Spot List.
Tomorrow, we’re going to cover how to turn that list into endless amounts of content.
See you then.
Work with Teddy
When you're ready, there are a couple ways I can support you:
Single-session 1:1 coaching: I offer a few single-session coaching slots for those who want help with writing, audience building or social media strategy. BOOK HERE.
Consulting + training: I consult leaders and companies on social media and content marketing. Please FILL OUT THIS FORM if you're interested in partnering.
Thanks for reading.