Writing About What Matters

And remembering that most things don't

I don’t know about you, but I’m (almost) in agreement with Arthur Balfour, who reportedly once said:

“Nothing matters very much and most things don’t matter at all.”

Most things don’t matter, but a few really do. (I’ve written about this before – here are my thoughts on it.)

Today, I had to write about some stuff that doesn’t matter.

I rarely have to do that these days, because I’ve designed a simple content writing strategy, across just three platforms, that pays (most of) my bills.

Most of, but not all. That’s why I still have to take on client work, and one of my clients is a content marketing agency that sends me a pretty wide range of work, for a diverse portfolio of clients.

Some of it is work that matters: content that helps people and encourages them to live their best lives. Some of it isn’t. It’s work that sells a product. And the product doesn’t really change lives, as many products don’t.

I’d rather not have to take on this type of work, but I haven’t got to the stage (yet) that I can afford to give up my agency work, and I can’t control the work they give me. But I’m working on it.

Here’s where I’d like to be:

Focusing on my own work – writing articles, essays and books that impact people’s lives for the better.

Pitching publications I really want to write for with ideas that could change the world by changing my readers’ lives, thoughts, or perspectives.

Writing for a few select clients: the type that have a positive impact on the world and a positive message that I get to help spread.

Your action tip for today:

Make your own ‘dream writing life’ list like the one above, so you know what you’re aiming for. Take a small step – today and every day – in the right direction.

For me that means doing something, every day, that’s moving me towards those dreams. It might be building my community of readers so my own work is better able to support me long-term, or pitching one of those dream publications.

Bonus actions (when you get the chance):

List what matters to you (spend some time on this one - and remember there are no wrong answers).

Write about that as often as you can (in your own work, and when writing for clients if the brief allows).

Some thoughts from others I’ve been enjoying this week

• Creating a Writing Routine That Works for You by

  Susie Winfield

• Discover How Regular Newsletter Updates Can Boost Your Audience Engagement by BadRedheadMedia, LLC

• 10 reasons why in ten years you will be glad you wrote consistently online by Alex Mathers

• Celebrate your unique creative voice by

  Dan Blank

• How To Easily Promote Your Substack Without Social Media by

  Kristi Keller

• Celebrating our Writing Milestones by

  Sarina B.

What else I’ve been up to this week

Reading: Love Marriage by Monica Ali

Listening to: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson (the audio book)

Enjoying: Celebrating my mum’s 90th birthday (which happens to fall on what is Mother’s Day in much of the world, though not here in the UK).

Not enjoying: Preparing for my mum’s 90th birthday party (it’s today - I’m still not fully prepped, but it’s mostly family - so I’m winging it).

My recent Medium posts

(Friend links, of course, so you can read for free):

• How I Generate Ideas for More Than 300 Articles a Year

• It Took Nine Months For One Article to Earn $2,000

That’s all for this week. If you’re reading this online, feel free to subscribe to get future posts straight to your inbox.

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