Style and Audience

The argument seems an unending and unanswerable one: do I continue to write the way I like to write or do I alter my style so that other people will like it more?

The simple answer is that if your writing makes you truly and thoroughly happy, you should keep writing the way you do. Your audience will be those who resonate with your style. If you have to make yourself less happy just to make more people like you, then there is a problem.

However, if there is anything that you want to change about your writing, then you should do it. Maybe your audience has some thoughts or ideas that you like. Maybe you just want to experiment until you find something that is better than your current style. Whatever it is, you should always work toward making yourself more happy.

I also want to note that this goes far beyond writing. This is relevant even to relationships with people. If you are truly and thoroughly happy with yourself, then you shouldn't change yourself just to find another person to be with. But if there are parts of you that you want to change, then you should change it. Work toward making yourself happier.