Don't write for yourself- Learning from Chak De India's Kabir

Do you remember this iconic dialogue from Chak De India? Right at the beginning when the team reports for the first time, Coach Kabir asks everyone to introduce themselves. And that's when each player states their name and the state they are from. He makes each player who added the state name in their introduction stand away from the team. And that's when he delivers these iconic lines. 

The crux of the chilling dialogue is that you first play for your country, then you play for your fellow teammates, and last and least you play for yourself. 

While rewatching the movie for the 200th time, it made me think about it as a writer (probably because I was supposed to be working instead of watching a movie). 

And it made perfect sense to paraphrase it and use it to become a better writer. 

First, you write for your audience

The readers who will be reading your content are your topmost priority. So, your first goal should be writing content that provides value. Furthermore, you present the content in such a way that it resonates with your readers. 

So, that means the way you write and what you write depends primarily on your target audience. 

Then, you write for your clients

There are multiple ways in which we can write for a target audience. We can play around with the tone and voice of the content we write. And that's when our client's requirements come in. 

It is important for us to think about our client's brand voice and the image they want to build. By understanding it, we can help them nurture their brand. 

Lastly, you write for yourself

Now, even if our aim is to showcase our skill and talent, keeping it the last priority is the most helpful. Our writing becomes most effective when it accomplishes our client's goals and enriches our readers. 

However, if we do get stuck in the vicious cycle of wanting to showcase our writing proficiency, we end up providing subpar outcomes. 

In conclusion...

This one dialogue has influenced the way I write significantly over the past few weeks. It is not that we do not know that we want to write for our readers/target audience, or for our clients. But, this impactful dialogue has etched this concept into my brain. 

And now, whenever I am writing I can hear Coach Kabir saying these lines at the back of my mind. It's a gift and a curse. ☺