Recently I had a client tell me she was “offended” because I made the remark that as her ghostwriter, I was “writing for the reader.” She thought I should have said I was writing for her, not the reader.

She was wrong. I was not writing “for” her – I was writing “as” her. That’s what a ghostwriter does. The author – and therefore the ghostwriter – should always be writing “for” the reader.

This may seem really basic, but I am always amazed at how many writers forget about the reader, and only write “for themselves.” “I write for myself,” they state, as if they are proud of it, as if this means they are a “real” writer, in touch with their muse.

But books, blogs, and articles are all about communication. All effective communication is 2-way. The written word is no exception.

You have to know what is important to your reader. Otherwise, he or she will not read your writing. People have a choice to read your article/book/blog, or not to read it. It’s as simple as that.

Not only your topic must interest them, but how you present your topic must be done in a way that they will understand or be entertained by. Some people think that “slanting” your writing to what your reader cares about is selling out/ betraying the “muse,” or pandering and manipulation.
Wrong. Slanting your writing so that your reader can “hear” you is simply good communication. It shows respect for your reader. You are paying attention to who they are, and what they care about.

Tailoring your writing to your reader’s “care abouts” allows you to elicit emotional responses from them. Emotional responses are what leads to action or change, and that’s ultimately what you’re trying to get from your reader – you want them to do something, or learn something.

Remember that a writer is just the vehicle or conduit for ideas or art. For your ideas or art to fulfill their function, they must be heard, seen, felt, and understood by others. Your writing is not for you – it’s for them.