Your Story, Their Breakthrough: How to Write for Real Connection
You have a story to tell. One that is layered with truth, emotion, grit, and growth. But let me ask you something: Are you writing for you, or are you writing for your audience?
Many of us sit down to write our next speech, presentation, or social content and think, “What do I want to say?” Don’t get me wrong, that is a good place to begin. But it can’t be the end of the process. If you stop there, your story might never reach the people who need it. Because they aren’t waiting around for you to just hurl words at them. They are silently wondering, “Why should I listen or care?”
I don’t say that to be harsh. I say that because I care about impact. Your story is valuable, but its value is only recognized when someone else sees themselves in it. When you shift your writing from what do I have to say to what do they need to hear, everything changes.
This approach, writing with your audience in mind, is what I call audience-centered storytelling. It is not about bending your truth or sugar-coating your pain to please people. It is about positioning your story in a way that meets your audience where they are and takes them on a journey. The core of your story stays the same, but the lens shifts. You are not writing in a vacuum. You are writing in conversation with someone who is craving honesty, guidance, resonance, or hope.
But how do you do that?
Start by asking, “Who am I really talking to?” Not just a vague group like “busy moms” or “female entrepreneurs,” but a specific person. Picture them. What is they struggling with? What questions are they silently carrying? What would make them stop scrolling and pay attention?
When I work with speakers and storytellers, I help them create an audience profile that fits the venue or purpose of their speech. That way they know who they are speaking to and can write the speech in the way it needs to be written to reach that audience.
Let’s say you want to tell the story of quitting your job to start a business. A self-focused version might sound like, “I knew I was meant for more, so I finally walked away and started pursuing my dream.” That is fine. But let’s refocus it a bit. An audience-first version might start with, “Have you ever looked at your life and thought, ‘This can’t be it’? That was me - commuting to a job that drained me, stuck in a loop I didn’t remember signing up for.”
Now you aren’t just sharing what happened. You are opening a door. You are saying, “Come in. I see you. Let’s talk.”
And that moment of recognition? That is the hook. That is what makes people keep reading or listening. Not because you are impressive. But because you are real.
Once you have them with you, you can focus on the takeaway. What do you want your audience to walk away with? What truth, insight, or gentle nudge are you offering? Allow your story to be the catalyst for someone else’s breakthrough!
Audience-first writing also means being intentional with the words you choose. Speak their language. Avoid jargon. Avoid the academic TED Talk voice unless of course, you are in a TED-like environment. Talk to your audience like a trusted friend or mentor who has walked the path and is offering a light. Remember, speaking is a conversation.
Now, I need you to realize that being strategic with your story doesn’t make you fake. It doesn’t dilute your authenticity or weaken your credibility. On the contrary, strategic use of your personal experiences can boost credibility and make you a better communicator. When you use your experiences and create your speech with the audience in mind, you become relatable and you focus on the impact of your words as they pertain to the listener.
This is where a lot of new storytellers get stuck. They think the act of writing or speaking is about them. It is not. Not if you are there to lead, inspire, or guide. It starts with you, yes. But it ends with your audience.
Your audience is eager to hear someone speak to them in a way that hits home.
That someone is you. But only if you are willing to do the work needed to meet them halfway.
So, the next time you feel stuck trying to figure out how to share your story, I want you to stop staring at the blinking cursor and ask yourself these questions instead:
- “Who needs this and why?”
- “What do they need to feel?”
- “How can I tell my story in a way that helps them see themselves in it?”
As Brene Brown said, “Your story is someone else’s survival guide.”
But only if you are brave enough to share it with them in mind.
That is how you make an impact.
That is how you become unforgettable.