The most basic tenet of writing is that you need something to write about. Think about it: how dreadful it feels when you have to write something or give a talk and you can’t think of anything to say. The result inevitably is suffering (yours ) and boredom (the audience’s).
This is important no matter what we are writing; nonfiction, fiction, drama, business writing, a letter, a tweet, a piece of promotional copy. Because it is so important, I find it helpful to review the basic guidelines of choosing a subject from time to time.
What makes a good subject for writing?
- You truly understand the subject. It is familiar to you and can be related to your personal experience, observations, readings, or (depending on the type of writing) the limits of your own personal imagination.
- The subject is limited in scope to fit time or space you have.
- The subject should interest you, the writer, greatly. It should excite your imagination, bring forth a strong set of opinions or emotions from you. If you don’t care, how will anyone else?
- It should be something you can be enthusiastic about for the whole length of time the writing process will take. A thank you to your aunt requires far less stamina than a dissertation or War and Peace length novel.
- The subject should be something that will interest your intended audience in some way.
- It is not enough that what you write about is a good subject to be discussed, it should be the best thing for you to express yourself. Sometimes you find yourself having to write something on a topic you did not choose. In that case, find the angle or tiny speck of a spark to carry you through. If you do not, and don’t develop enthusiasm, the chances are great that the writing will not work.