Your Creative Idea Isn't Special

The other day a friend of mine told me she was interested in starting a blog about cheese.

“I have all these ideas but I’m not sure if people my age will want to read about all of them,” she said.

“Just start. Starting is the hardest part,” I responded.  

“Sarah how many people do you know are interested in the history of cheesemaking? I don’t want to write a blog if no one will read it.”

“Cheesemaking is a word?”

My friend was suffering from a case of analysis paralysis. She spent so much time thinking about her target audience (or lack thereof) that instead of just starting her blog, the idea sat in the recesses of her mind gathering dust. In other words, she was paralyzed.

An actual image of you overthinking

What she didn’t realize was that the only audience she needed to cater to was herself. There are millions of human beings with an Internet connection, some of them are bound to care about the things that you care about. You’re not the only one who’s passionate about cheese.  

At some point you’ve most likely been told that you’re unique and it’s true. If we take your experiences, your upbringing, the way you write or speak, and your interests you are an individual. There’s no one else that’s just like you. But if we filter most of that stuff out and just focus on two things- a topic you’re interested in and you’re voice/the way the message is delivered you’ll find that it’s not “special” or “unique.”

If you love woodworking but you want to write about it in a no-nonsense tone of voice then guess what? There’s definitely someone else out there who also enjoys carving wood and likes it when people get straight to the point. Not unique. Pick up that pen and become the next Ron Swanson!

Five words: PARKS. AND. RECREATION. ON. NETFLIX.

If you love super cute desk supplies and decorating office spaces but you want to focus more on photos for inspiration and less on writing guess what? There’s other people who love turquoise staplers and bedazzled paper clips but can’t be bothered to read an essay on it. Not a revolutionary idea. Make that blog sis!

If you love cheese and you want to write about how this one has a smoky flavor and this other one reminds you of the French Alps but you’re a millennial who hates reading about these topics from a stuffy 50-year-old writing for Wine and Dine magazine, guess what? There’s a 25 year old out there who is on his way to some cheese convention wishing he had more friends his age that liked cheese as much as him. Cater to that niche audience!

You thought I was joking about bedazzled office supplies?

In all of these cases these blog writers were worried about if anyone would care about the best types of knives to carve mahogany or if anyone would want to read about the pros and cons of goat cheese. But these interests aren’t sooo unique that no one other than you would care about them. At the core of your blog idea or whatever creative endeavor you are afraid to pursue there’s other people interested in what you’re interested in. That’s what’ll get people to click on your blog link. What’ll get them to stay and keep re-visiting when you publish new content is how unique you are. The way you write about saws like no one else or how you’re the only person in their 20s who has made a blog about what cheeses pair best with your favorite red sauvignon. Your voice, experiences, and how your interests in other things informs the way you write about your blog topic. That’s what’s dope and separates your work from all the other stuff online.

Pair this finely aged dry wine with cheese in a spray can

Yes, you are a special snowflake and when we take the full amalgamation of everything you’ve been through there’s no one else like you, BUT I promise you that other people share your love for neon desk accessories. When you only write for yourself and not for the numbers, readers will respond to what you’re passionate about because you’re not holding anything back for their sake. Whatever your idea is, share it with the world- share ALL OF IT with the world- not just the stuff that’ll make you go viral. There will always be an audience for it, even if it’s just you and your super supportive grandma.