Who Are You Writing To? Why That Changes Everything
I once helped a friend rewrite a simple post. She had drafted something long and emotional about her NYSC experience, but it just… wasn’t landing. It sounded nice, yes. But it felt like she was talking at people, not to anyone. When I asked, “Who exactly are you writing to?” she paused and said, “I don’t know. Just everyone.” That was the problem.
When you write to “everyone,” you end up connecting with no one.
Writing is like sending a text. Imagine picking up your phone and typing, “Hey, I really miss you and I hope you’re okay.” Now tell me — would you send that to your mum? Your boss? Your ex? Your former school principal? Same message, different person… completely different meaning.
That’s how writing works. The moment you know who you’re writing to, everything changes — your tone, your words, your examples, even your structure.
Are you writing to your younger self? A confused teenager? A young hustler in the city? A Nigerian mum? A burnt-out student? A tired dreamer? Someone struggling to write? The clearer the image in your head, the more powerful your message becomes.
A lot of people write to show off. They use big grammar, complicated metaphors, and sprinkle foreign quotes to sound “intelligent.” But if you’re writing to someone who just needs help or clarity, you’ve missed them completely. And they’ll scroll past.
When I write, I picture someone I know — a real face. A struggling student. A curious friend. A 22-year-old trying to start a writing career with zero support. Once that face is clear, the words start to shape themselves naturally. I stop performing. I start serving.
That’s the secret: You don’t write to impress. You write to connect. And connection begins with knowing who’s on the other side of the screen.
