Who Am I Writing For?

I got some great comments on my last post that reminded me of something William Zinsser says in On Writing Well:

Who am I writing for? It’s a fundamental question, and it has a fundamental answer: You are writing for yourself. Don’t try to visualize the great mass audience. There is no such audience – every reader is a different person. Don’t try to guess what sort of thing editors want to publish or what you think the country is in a mood to read. Editors and readers don’t know what they want to read until they read it. Besides they’re always looking for something new.

Don’t worry about whether the reader will “get it” as you indulge a sudden impulse for humor. If it amuses you in the act of writing, put it in. (It can always be taken out, but only you can put it in.) You are writing primarily to please yourself, and if you go about it with enjoyment you will also entertain the readers who are worth writing for. If you lose the dullards back in the dust, you don’t want them anyway.

So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to write about things that interest me in ways that I find interesting. I’ll be honored to have a few of you continue with me on this journey.

So what are the things that interest me these days that I’d like to write more about here?

1. Crossfit. Crossfit has become a huge part of my family’s life. Not only does it keep us in shape, but it’s also helping to pay the bills. It is fascinating to watch it grow from an obscure, underground fitness community to a global phenomenon that is turning the fitness industry upside down. We’re thrilled to be in the middle of it.

2. Why I’ve seen more life-change in a crossfit gym than in the churches of which I’ve been a part. A couple of years ago someone told me that I was writing so much about crossfit that it was giving my readers the impression that I was more passionate about crossfit than church stuff. He was right about my shifting passion. I’m still sorting out why I’d rather talk about Crossfit than church. Actually, I think I’ve figured it out. Now I’m trying to figure out how to communicate what I’ve learned so that it can be heard by those who think I’m crazy and maybe help a few churches in the process.

3. Stories. I’ve a got a few stories to tell and this is a great place to share them.

4. Helping churches and ministers ask better questions of each other (and themselves) during the minister search process. This is the subject of my new ebook which will be released soon. You’ll be hearing more about it, I promise.

5. Integral Christianity. I’ve always enjoyed reading and talking about Ken Wilber’s stuff, which builds on the work of Clare Graves, but I haven’t written much about it in the past. Partly because I’m never quite sure if I actually understand what he’s talking about.

6. Preaching. I preach almost every week now. I love it. The more I travel and speak the more clearly I see that while I’m a pretty good interim preacher and guest speaker, I’m a terrible pastor. The more I lean into this realization the more I freedom I feel to find ways to exercise my gifts other than as full-time minister. I go back and forth on this one. I haven’t set fire to the ships yet, but I’ve gathered a few stacks of kindling.

Once again, thanks for reading my stuff. I’ll show my gratitude by continuing to write for myself.