I wouldn't add anything to this, and I'm grateful for you adding your flavor the the post. The big transformation I crave for the writing community is to embrace that it is good to write for readers.
From a philosophical perspective, I believe it's impossible to do anything that isn't FOR ourselves. Even Mother Teresa found gratification in her service. But somehow the modern message pushed by the loudest messengers is that it's more art if you don't "think about what readers want to write," and when you don't care about money.
I agree. Though I also think there’s a point where you must think about the art separately from the reader. If I overthink how readers might react to a piece, a sentence or a word, my writing suffers. This all, of course, depends on who you’re writing for and what genre you’re writing.
Does your audience seek only entertainment? Are your stories plot-driven or character analyses? Do you care about art, or do you just want to write quick stories that’ll please most people and cash in?
This is an interesting topic.
How about this: If I think too much of the reader, I begin writing from strangers’ imaginations rather than mine.
I don't see why you can’t write for both. I might even argue that you should write for yourself and the reader.
If I write only for the reader, I sound flat and lack the vehemence necessary to make the reader—or myself—believe in what I am saying, the story, the characters, the brand and the product.
I write fiction foremost because it allows me to explore human behavior and myself. Not to mention I enjoy well-structured sentences, snappy dialogue and the intricacies of turning phrases. Beyond that, I want to share with the world what I know and what I don't. I want to propose questions not often asked. I want to inspire readers, indulge them, and whirl them through unexpected paroxysms of emotions unfamiliar to them.
None of this is possible—for me—if I don't also write for myself. Everybody's different.
However, writing copy and blogs is a different game. Then I am merely an instrument in connecting people to brands and products, and the most important aspect here is the audience.
I love where this conversation is going, because intrinsic to the process, you’re using yourself as the avatar for how you write. I think that’s where people get confused and say they write for themselves when really they mean they’re writing what delights them.
Writing what delights you makes perfect sense but also thinking about the community and how it might receive certain things you put on the page helps you to know when you need to include more details. 
I think if you’re writing for an audience and you know thousands of people will read your work, it is impossible not to write with them in mind. Even those who write irreverent or offensive content, I believe they do it more for the reaction it will get than because they’re writing for themselves or just don't care what readers think.
There's value in getting into the mind of someone who writes to offend, and I'm not sure I've ever pushed myself there. But you've given me a great idea for a book or essay. Thanks!
I always write for the audience. Your audience is who matters the most. You want to get their opinions on what you write about. Then you know what people like and don't like. You want them to laugh, cry, and surpise them with things they don't know. People want to read interesting things. They get to know you.
If I'm doing a blog post or website content for businesses. I think of who the audience is going to be. What is it that they would want to see? When I'm forming my outline, I think like the customer. Sure, you have to think about what the business or entity is selling but you must remember who you are marketing to.
I can relate. Yes, I got into writing because I wanted to write the stories I had to tell, but from day-one, I always wanted readers. That has helped me choose what I'm willing to do, how I revise, how I edit, what I cut, and even the kinds of stories I move forward with. If there are two stories I want to write and one has more audience potential, I'll lean into the one that has the audience.
I see what you mean but I decided a long time ago that, faced with the choice, I was going to write for my own satisfaction rather than trying to write for Google's algorithms, or my ideal imagined reader. And sometimes I write just for practice. But mostly I write for both.
I wouldn't add anything to this, and I'm grateful for you adding your flavor the the post. The big transformation I crave for the writing community is to embrace that it is good to write for readers.
From a philosophical perspective, I believe it's impossible to do anything that isn't FOR ourselves. Even Mother Teresa found gratification in her service. But somehow the modern message pushed by the loudest messengers is that it's more art if you don't "think about what readers want to write," and when you don't care about money.
Those behaviors and lies fire me up!
I agree. Though I also think there’s a point where you must think about the art separately from the reader. If I overthink how readers might react to a piece, a sentence or a word, my writing suffers. This all, of course, depends on who you’re writing for and what genre you’re writing.
Does your audience seek only entertainment? Are your stories plot-driven or character analyses? Do you care about art, or do you just want to write quick stories that’ll please most people and cash in?
This is an interesting topic.
How about this: If I think too much of the reader, I begin writing from strangers’ imaginations rather than mine.
I love your phrase: think about the art separately from the reader. Very well put
Thank you, Terry.
I don't see why you can’t write for both. I might even argue that you should write for yourself and the reader.
If I write only for the reader, I sound flat and lack the vehemence necessary to make the reader—or myself—believe in what I am saying, the story, the characters, the brand and the product.
I write fiction foremost because it allows me to explore human behavior and myself. Not to mention I enjoy well-structured sentences, snappy dialogue and the intricacies of turning phrases. Beyond that, I want to share with the world what I know and what I don't. I want to propose questions not often asked. I want to inspire readers, indulge them, and whirl them through unexpected paroxysms of emotions unfamiliar to them.
None of this is possible—for me—if I don't also write for myself. Everybody's different.
However, writing copy and blogs is a different game. Then I am merely an instrument in connecting people to brands and products, and the most important aspect here is the audience.
I love where this conversation is going, because intrinsic to the process, you’re using yourself as the avatar for how you write. I think that’s where people get confused and say they write for themselves when really they mean they’re writing what delights them.
Writing what delights you makes perfect sense but also thinking about the community and how it might receive certain things you put on the page helps you to know when you need to include more details. 
I think if you’re writing for an audience and you know thousands of people will read your work, it is impossible not to write with them in mind. Even those who write irreverent or offensive content, I believe they do it more for the reaction it will get than because they’re writing for themselves or just don't care what readers think.
There's value in getting into the mind of someone who writes to offend, and I'm not sure I've ever pushed myself there. But you've given me a great idea for a book or essay. Thanks!
I always write for the audience. Your audience is who matters the most. You want to get their opinions on what you write about. Then you know what people like and don't like. You want them to laugh, cry, and surpise them with things they don't know. People want to read interesting things. They get to know you.
If I'm doing a blog post or website content for businesses. I think of who the audience is going to be. What is it that they would want to see? When I'm forming my outline, I think like the customer. Sure, you have to think about what the business or entity is selling but you must remember who you are marketing to.
I can relate. Yes, I got into writing because I wanted to write the stories I had to tell, but from day-one, I always wanted readers. That has helped me choose what I'm willing to do, how I revise, how I edit, what I cut, and even the kinds of stories I move forward with. If there are two stories I want to write and one has more audience potential, I'll lean into the one that has the audience.
I see what you mean but I decided a long time ago that, faced with the choice, I was going to write for my own satisfaction rather than trying to write for Google's algorithms, or my ideal imagined reader. And sometimes I write just for practice. But mostly I write for both.